Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-12-19
HIS SECOND WIFE

~ waiting for John, / will tell you
al! about it, | know people Won
dered when we were married, and
said | was an old flame, and that it
was preposterOus for old people like us
TO marry. But, my child, | don't care.
Yes, you do seem like a child TO me;
eighteen, did you say? And this is
your engagement ring. Pretty, isn't
it? How it brings back the old times
when | was Just your age, and John
and | was counting"
There was a pause, and one small,
wrlnkled hand was raised to brush
away tear. Then the sweet old voice
continued
.'.1Ou see. John was what they call
a bound boy. lie was just eight years
Old when he came to live with us:
and he stayed until, well. until he
married her. You knew Eunice? She
was handsome girl. If do say it.
Far prettier than |. | never did count
much for good looks, but for ali that
l took pretty well with the beaux.
But didn't care jot for any one of
them but John. He was five years
older than |, and from the time | was
mite of three, my constant compan-
lou and protector. How he did stand
by me if there was any fracas at
school, as there always was more or
less with part of us on one side, and
part of us on the other. Wei, matters
went along smooth enough until | was
nearly nineteen. Then the first and
hardest trial | ever had to contend
with. came like Il thunder-bolt from
clear sky.
John and ! became engaged on my
eighteenth birthday. and father and
mother We're well pleased. Don't very
often happen that way. does it? But
1t did in our ease. You see, | was the
only child, and John was fine man
ly fellow, fully capable of making his
own way iii The world aud always
like son to father and mother How
they loved that boy, They never seem
ed quite the sane after he disappont-
ed them SO, And to think they ne"er
knew the truth. Oh, it was shame
tul. But there, must not judge her.
She was young aud thoughtless. and
sorry enough in after years. III show
you the letters some time. 1t was
them that wrought all the mischief
They were written while | was WesI
visiting my mothers brother and his
family. You see, dear Eunice and
were the best of friends, aud | never
suspected tin afterward how much
she cared for John. but never blamed
her for taking him when he wanted
her.
i tried 10 think IL was the Lords
viii. aud stayed West two years try
Ing TO reconcile myself 10 the newt
able Then mother was taken sick
ard | came homo, John and Eunice
had little one by that time. and some
hov those baby fingers helped TO heal
the breach; and before / knew il WAS
loving Johns baby as well as | did
lim, only ia - different Way. utrhaps
ior there would come times whom II
seemed as il my life was a blank. They
We're apparently So happy. I SO lone
~. trying to crush out the love now
felt it a sin TO harhor. Somehow
though, it survived the wears; for
-Iolu is rs dear 10 me TODAY. my
ehiid. as In the long ago. when ba
ucath the apple-boughs he placed This
ring upon my finger. 1t was in the
fair sprius-time and the old orchard
was like dream OF fairy land"
Again the sweet voice quayerrd and
broke. aud tear dropped from the
doWu-cast eyes ANA gIittered like q
diamond on the Worn ctrclct of cold
Once more memory carried her back
to the time when she was light heart.
"a girl, with not cloud 10 dim fine
Sunshine of the hour; when beneath
the apple-houghS She plightcd her troth
to the man she loved.
All child" she resumed finally oif
my life could have been like that m.
ways; but IL was not destined to be So
MethinkS. sometimes, the trial was
needed to strengthen ana perfect what
otherwise might have been a weaker
character; one that knowing naught Of
trouble. failed In that deep sympathy
for less fortunate mortals How well
1 remember the day I received that
letter. | felt sure IL was from John
by the writing on the outside. You