The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1904-01-15
HIS SECOND WIFE


"a 1T down, dear, and while 1 am
~ waiting for John. 1 will tell you
- all about it. l know people won
dered when we were married, and
said I was an old fame, and that it
was preposterous for old people like us
to marry But, my child, l 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 1 was just your age, and John
and l 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 l do say it.
Far prettier than l. 1 never did count
much for good looks, but for all that
l took pretty well with the beaux.
But l didn't care a jot for any one Of
them but John. He was five years
older than l, and from the time l was
mite of three, my constant compan-
ion 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. Well, matters
went along smooth enough until l was
nearly nineteen. Then the first and
hardest trial 1 ever had to contend
with, came like thunder-bolt from
a clear sky.
John and 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, l was the
only child, and John was a fine, man
ly fellow, fully capable of making his
own way in the world, and always
like son to father and mother. How
they loved that boy! They never SEEM
ed quite the same after he disappoint-
ed them so. And to think they never
knew the truth. Oh, it was shame
full But there, 1 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
were the best of friends, and 1 never
suspected till afterward how much
she cared for John, but l 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 / came home, John and Eunict
had a little one by that time, and some
how those baby fingers helped to hea
the breach; and before knew ii was
loving Johns baby as well as l die
him, only in a different way, perhaps
for there would come times when i
seemed as If my life was a blank. Thel
were apparently so happy, l so lone
ly, trying to crush out the love 1 nov
felt it a sin to harbor. Somehow
though, it survived the years; To-
John is as dear to me to-day, m!
child, as in the long ago; when be
meath the apple-boughs he placed thi
ring upon my finger. 1t was in tn,
fair spring-time and the old orchard
was like a dream Of falry-land."
Again the sweet voice quavered ant
broke, and tear dropped from tn,
down-cast eyes and glittered like
diamond on the worn circlet of gold
Once more memory carried her bacl
to the time when she was light-heart
ed girl. with not cloud to dim tn