Bridgeton pioneer., 1908-06-04
Welcoming
a Wife.
BY Lulu Jobnsfon.
Copyrighted. 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.

nrecious letter the clerk had just hand
cd her. She had not needed to glance
Mt the foreign stamp to tell that 1t was
from Harvey Rial. The clear, bold
handwriting Of the address had told
her that before the letter had been re-
moved from the box il which 1t lay,
together with the local paper.
There was flush on the kindly lit
tie face not due to the spring breezes,
but to the hope which had risen in
her heart Twenty years before she
and Harvey Rial had been engaged to
be married A lovers quarrel and
pride too stubborn to confess fault had
resulted in Rails marriage to Marga-
ret Bond,
Then Miss Merrington had settled
herself uncomplainingly to a life of
spinsterhood. rejoicing that her ia
theirs provision for her future did not
make it necessary for her to marry in
order to find home and taking pleas
ure In the hundred little acts of kind
ness which had made Little Miss Mer-
rington" village institution.
All too soon Rial had discovered has
error. His new IDOLS feet had turned
to clay. Margaret's tongue was as
sharp as her face was fair, and, with
stole resignation, Harvey Rial had set
tied himself to lifelong penance for his
error.
The thought gave him and Miss Mer-
rington something in common, and,
though neither ever alluded to the
matter, there was a silent bond of
companionship that was none the less
sweet because it found no expression
In act or word.
Now, then, two years had passed
since Margaret had died, and Rial had
taken his son to Europe in the hope
that travel might benefit his health.
Since then letters had come by every
steamer-not the romantic epistles of
youth, but entertaining stories of trav-
el, infused with tender sentiment
that was implied rather than express
ed. There was always the note of
longing for home, with a hint that he
wished Miss Merrington to share
home with him.
The last letter had told that Ralph
was well enough to return, and it was
probable that the letter she now softly
patted in her pocket would name his
date of sailing.
Miss Merrington hurried into the
neat "front room" and with trembling
fingers slit the cover.
"I've told you all there is to tell
about London" wrote Rial. 'This is
Just to say that l am sailing tomor-
row. We are taking ten day boat for
the sake of the sea air, and this letter
goes by one Of the fiers. And now for
the surprise l promised Ia my last l
am bringing home bride. May I not
ask you to see that the old house is
opened and made fit to receive her?
We should be in Fairlands FIVE days
after you receive this. That should
give you plenty Of time to prove your
self the model housekeeper. leave all
the arrangements to you. dear friend,
and / know that nothing will be left
undone to make welcome the new Mrs.
Rial. will tell you all about it when I
arrive"
That was all, scarcely page Of the
familiar handwriting, but the light
died in Miss Merrington's eyes. and
the beauty of the spring day faded.
For an hour or more she sat quietly
In her chair. the letter in her lap un-
touched. She had felt sure that when
the time came Harvey would speak the
words that should make her the hap
piest little woman in all the world,
and now he had married another. some
foreign woman whose youth and beau
" had proved subtle attraction.
she could not altogether blame him.
She was forty. No man would care to
marry woman past her prime. 1t was
but natural that he should seek some
younger woman.
And vet had Miss Merrington faced
the tall pier glass standing between
the front windows she would have
found reflected there face unmarked
py lines of care. but lighted by the
glow of earnest brown eyes.
She had scarcely lost her youth in
the placid. helpful life she led. Her
cheeks We're still smooth and unwrin-
kied, tinted as softly as the petals Of a
plush rose. Her hair was soft and
brown, with never hint Of gray. The
sensitive, tender mouth with its con-
s.ant smile was as appealing as a
child's, mouth surely made for kisses.
Inc tiny maid with her announce
ment OF the noon dinner brought Miss
Merrington back to earth. The letter
sne tucked in her pocket, and as she
a1e ner simple meal she planned the
work that must be done to make the
olg hlal house habitable and homelike
/" spite OF Its two untenanted years.
once every week in all that time she
uao gone to see that all was well, but
now that 1t was to be opened there was
aucn 10 be done. In work she would
una forgetfulness Of her disappoint-
ment. At least she would not fall her
old friend.
rive days later Rial came. Miss
MerrlngtOE was at the station Mat