Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-06-04
HIS SECOND WIFE

fS IL uOWu uedr, anu Willie ulu
~ waiting for John, I will tell you
all about 1t. ] know people won
dered when we were married, and
said was an old flame, and that 1t
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 1t brings back the old times
when 1 was just your age, and John
and 1 was counting"
There was a pause, and one small,
wrinkled hand was raised to brush
away tear. Then the sweet old voice
continued
"You see, John was what they call
a bound boy. He 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 1 do say it.
Far prettier than 1. never did count
much for good looks, but for all that
l took nratty woN with tho beoux.-
But l didn't care a jot for any one of
them but John. He was five years
older than 1, and from the time 1 was
mite Of three, my constant compan-
lon 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
pert Of us on the other. Well, matters
went along smooth enough until I was
nearly nineteen. Then the first and
hardest trial 1 ever had to contend
with. came like a thunder-bolt from
q clear sky.
John and l became engaged on my
eighteenth birthday, and father and
mother were well pleased. Don't very
often happen that way, does It? But
it did in our case. You see, 1 was the
only child, and John was a fine, man
]y fellow, fully capable of making his
own way in the world, and always
like son to father and mother. How
they loved that boyl They never SEEM
ed quite the same after he disappoint-
ed them so. And to think they never
knew the truth. Oh, 1t was shame
full! But there, must not judge her.
She was young and thoughtless, and
sorry enough in after years. I'll show
you the letters some time. 1t was
them that wrought all the mischief.
They were written while l was West,
visiting my mothers brother and his
family. You see, dear, Eunice and 1
were the best of friends, and I never
suspected till afterward how much
she cared for John, but never blamed
her for taking him when he wanted
her.
II tried to think 1t was the Lords
will, and stayed West two years try
ing to reconcile myself to the newt
able. Then mother was taken sick,
and 1 came home, John and Eunice
had little one by that time, ed some
how those baby fingers helped to heal
the breach; and before knew II I was
loving Johns baby as we'll as I did
him, only in different way, perhaps,
for there would come times when it
seemed as If my life was a blank. They
were apparently 80 happy, so lone
ly, trying to crush out the love 1 now
felt 1t a sin to harbor. Somehow,
though, it Survived the years; for
John is az dear to me to-day, my
child, as In the long ago; when be-
meath the apple-boughs he placed this
ring UPON my finger. 1t was In the |
fair spring- time and the old orchard |
wal like dream Of fairy-land."
again the sweet voice quavered and |
broke, and a tear dropped from the
1own-cast eyes and glittered like a
on the worn circlet of geld.
Once more memory carried her back
o the time when she was light-heart- /
ID girl. with not a cloud to dim the