Year: 1875

CHAPTER XII.


AM CALLED UPON TO FULFILL MY PROMISE.


| had sufficient occupation, for the first few
days after my arrival, fully to engross my
time and thoughts. Everything, of course,
possessed great interest for me, both in the
house and about the place, and was constant
ly busy exploring my new domain, and getting
my own personal possessions arranged to my
satisfaction.


My husband had provided me with every
indulgence which the utmost kindness and
thoughtfulness could suggest, or procure.
Quantities of new books, pictures, hand
some piano, and living pets, in the shape of
canary. birds, goldfish, and a beautiful King
Charles Spaniel, we're provided for my amuse-
ment. I had authority placed in my hands
to direct the arrangement of the gardens and
conservatory as chose-for, in anticipation
of my arrival, he had had large portion of
ground, surrounding the house, laid out and
planted in choice flowers and shrubs, that /
might not miss my own floral treasures at
home l found good friend in old Barbara,
who seemed to take fancy for me, from the
first, and by her 1 was initiated into sundry
housekeeping mysteries, Of which l had hlth-
erto remained in ignorance. She always ad-
dressed me by the appellative of "little mad
am" seeming to regard me partly with defer
ence, partly with the indulgent superiority
she would feel toward child. And, indeed,
I was child, or little more than one, in years,
in experience and in wisdom. The joyous
freshness and ignorance of early youth and
country breeding still hung over me, and it
did not seem likely that they could be soon
dispelled, in my new sphere, by much contact
with the outer world. Half dozen families
were scattered around US, within radius of
perhaps ten miles or more, and ont Of this
number, not more than three or four we're ell
gible as visiting acquaintances. DR.. Ward.
law had long since given up the practice of
his profession, except on rare occasions, when
he was called in to some consultation, or sent
for in haste, in the absence Of the regular ply
sician. His health, though much improved
of late years, had, for some time, been far from
strong, and incapacitated him for the fatigue
of riding about over rough roads, at unsea-
sonable hours and in all sorts of weather.
Some years after his arrival in America, he
had fallen heir to considerable property, left
him by an uncle in Scotland, after whom he
was named and this, combined with what he
had already accumulated by his own exertiens,
placed him beyond the necessity of farther
labor, and enabled him to follow the mode of
life best adapted to his inclnations.


The quiet and seclusion of my new sphere
we're not devoid of charm, even to disposi-
ton as naturally gay as mine. had enter
ed upon my married life with many ardent
resolutions and high purposes in my heart,
which it seemed to me could be better real
lied, afar from the distractions of society,
which might sometimes have proved unwel-
come interruptions to the perfect harmony Of
intercourse which 1 desired should subsist be-
tween my husband and myself. OF course,
there was a good deal of high.Aown romance
in these notions of mine, which it would take
some months, or even years, of experience to
rub off; but the source from which they rose
was the healthy and pure one of deep and
ever upspringing affection, which no parch-
ing drought of adversely could dry up, but
would bless US, trusted, with its refreshing
influence as long as our lives should last.


used to take my work-such trifiing
work as it was-into Barbara's room, when l
got tired of the little upstairs parlor where
my mornings we're usually spent; and from
her CLEANED many particulars of my hus-
bands former life, which we're very interest
ing to me. She had known him from child
hood, having been one of the retainers Of his
fathers family; and when he married and
came out with his girl.bride, she accompanied
him, .eselve ed that the young pair, of whom
she was very fond, should not come to a
strange country without one familiar face
within sight. 1 asked many questions re-
garding Edith, OF whose memory l felt no
jealousy, because it was so impossible for me
to realize that she had ever occupied the po'
stion which ! now 6lled-so impossible to
connect the identity of the youthful Arthur
Of those days with that of the grave middle
aged man of the present time.


"How long were they married, Barbara
Did she die suddenly?" 1 asked one day,
when the subject had been introduced between
us.


"They had been married only year, or a
little over, when she died. Her last illness
wasn't very long"


"How was it that DR.. Wardlaw bought this
place2 1t seems to me that they would rather
have gone to some city atany rate tosome more