LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 381, 1 September 1875, Page 4

LITERATURE.

THE COLONEL’S WIFE, When we first heard that the Colonel was to bring home a wife when he returned from leave, we all entirely disbelieved the rumour. The idea that Colonel Carlton would ever marry seemed utterly absurd: we had all settled that years ago ; and, indeed, in every respect he appeared the most confirmed old bachelor imaginable. . When my husband first joined the regiment, years before the time I am speaking of, Colonel then Major Carlton, used sometimes to be made the object of attack by some match-making mother or mature damsel; but even these had desisted long since : and at length it seemed to a recognised fact, that nothing would ever induce him to change his condition. His extreme uusociability, even with his own brother officers, and the great dislike he evinced to ladies’ society, strengthened us in this opinion ; so that, when one morning we saw the rumour confirmed by the announcement of his marriage in the paper, it created quite a little stir among us; and when my husband read it out to me at breakfast: ‘On tlie 28th instant, at St. Jude’s, Parkhill, Surrey, Colonel Thomas Carlton, to Mabel, youngest daughter of John Percy, Esq.,’ I confess that I put down my cup in quite a little flutter of excitement and curiosity, ‘So it is true, after all,’ said my husband. ‘ I’m not easily surprised, but I must own this does astonish me. I did not think any woman living could have caught Carlton. ■ • Caught V retorted I, rather indignantly ; * how do you know she canght him ? I am sure I pity her, poor thing, whoever she is ; his fussy, fidgety ways would drive me distracted in a month.’ ‘Ah! yes, but then you’ve been spoilt, old lady, by having caught me,’ ‘By having caught a goose,’ I reply. * But seriously, George, dear, I wonder what sort of woman could have been induced to marry such an old fossil as Colonel Carlton? You must confess it’s not likely to be an enviable fate.’ ‘ Oh ! I suppose he’s found some middleaged woman with money. By-the-way, Mary, you’ll be deposed from your position as senior lady. I hope, for your sake, she’ll be pleasant, and not take the entire management of your schools and old women out of your hands.’ And so saying, my lord and master betook himself to parade. As I went about my usual occupations that morning, my thoughts would continually wander away to Colonel Carlton’s new wife. It .was a matter of some importance to me that she should be nice and pleasant. The Colonel having been so long a bachelor, I, in virtue of my husband’s position as senior major, had had all arrangements for the comfort of the women and children vested in my hands; and I was conscious of a slight thrill of vexation, as I reflected that I might have to give all this up to a woman, quite unacquainted with the troubles and worries which beset the soldier’s wife, and with which I had been familiar for the last fifteen years. I had my own pet theories, too, about the schools, and one or two clothing-clubs I had established; and I knew I could not bear to see them upset without a pang. Of course, it did not follow that they would be upset; but thinking it probable that a middle-aged woman, such as the Colonel’s wife would surely be, would very likely have theories of her ov/n also, I tried to prepare myself to surrender the reins of government with a good grace. I did not think I should mind it so much, if I saw her tender and pitiful to my poor old women; but should she be (oh ! horror) a strong-minded woman, full of wise sayings and good advice, I felt as if I should be obliged to rebel against her authority. Going out in the course of the day, I met Captain Davis’s wife, a nice, bright, merry little Irishwoman, who seemed to have friends everywhere, and to know something of everyone. Of course we spoke of the Colonel’s marriage. ‘I know something of soim Percys in Surrey,’said the little woman, ‘neighbours of some friends of mine ; but Mr Percy is a briefless barrister, who has never done any good either for himself or anybody else, and has a large family. I remember hearing of him when I was there, but I never saw him. I don’t fancy he was over respectable,’ continued she, confidentially ; ‘ but of course Colonel Carlton would be the last man to marry into a family of that sort; besides which, Mr Percy’s youngest daughter is scarcely twenty, so of course they can’t be the people. Colonel Carlton would never make such a goose of himself at his time of life as to marry a girl,’ concludes she, disrespectfully. ‘My dear,’ I say, oracularly ; ‘no man is ever too old to make a goose of himself; though I must confess that I don’t expect to find Mrs Carlton much under forty,’ ‘ Well, whether she’s twenty or forty, I’ve no doubt she will live quite long enough to repent her marriage,’ Mrs Davis says, with a little laugh. ‘ I don’t think the saying about an old man’s darling is likely to hold good in this case—do you ?’ ‘Hardly,’ replied I, smiling; for, truth to tell, the idea of Colonel Carlton ever petting anything living, whether wife, child} or dog, seemed absurd. He certainly was, as the young officers used to say of him, ‘ as hard as nails!’ ‘ However, Mrs Davis, let us hope for the best,’ I say, with a twinge of remorse, for it seems unkind to settle the poor woman’s fate off-hand as we have been doing: * perhaps a good sensible middleaged wife may humanise the Colonel a little.’

‘ Ah! I wish he'd retire, and let your husband take command, for you’d be the dearest Colonel’s wife in the world,’ observes the affectionate little soul, to whom I had once been able to render a slight ser vice. ‘ Hush !’ I say, for she is giving voice to some ambitious thoughts which have been worrying me all the morning; * Colonel Carlton is a good officer, and would be a loss to the regiment; and, Pussie, dear ’ (my pet name for my little friend), ‘ let us all welcome her cordially among us : remember it is a trying position for any woman to occupy just at first.’ Pussie gives me an impetuous hug as we part in my garden, under the shade of a friendly hawthorn. ‘I will be sure to be very good to her, if it’s only to please you,’ is her parting salutation. For a couple of months we heard no more of the Colonel and his bride, and had almost given up talking of them, when one morning my husband, coming in from parade, said to me, ‘ Well, Mary, your curiosity will be gratified at last. The Carltons are back.’ * Is biff leave up already ? dear [me I I am

sorry,’ said I, thinking of my schools. ‘ However, it can’t be helped. Have you seen her ? What is she like ? Where are they staying ? and when do you think we had better call ?’ ‘ One question at a time, my dear. They are staying at the Royal, and I really think it would be only kind if you called at once. As she is quite a stranger, you might be of some use to her. ’ ‘We will call this afternoon,’ I decide promptly. * But have you seen her ? Now don’t be provoking, but tell me the truth. ’ ‘ No, I’ve not seen her.’ * Has any one ?’ ‘ Yes. Smith came down from town by the same train.’ ‘ And what is she like ?’ ‘ My dear child, I really didn’t ask. ’ And he really hadn’t. A want of curiosity, for which I did not forgive him for at least ten minutes. However, we agreed that we would call in the afternoon; and I was so impatient to start, that I was ready full half an hour before the time, and had to wait for my husband, who did not come in until my patience was nearly exhausted. However, in due time we arrived at the Royal. Mrs Carlton was at home, the waiter said, but the Colonel had just gone out; would we walk upstairs. We followed him upstairs and into the room, and 1 was struck speechless with surprise ! There rose out of the depths of a luxurious armchair, a lovely child. A fairy-like creature, with bright auburn hair and large beseeching blue eyes, a tender, half-tremulous smile lurking round her lips, as though she were imploring you to love her, and my heart went out to her at once; and since the moment I first clasped her hand in mine that afternoon we have been firm friends. Of course on that occasion I did not learn much of her beyond her youth and extreme loveliness. She was gentle and quiet in manner; self-possessed beyond her years; and, in spite of her childlike appearance, seemed quite at home and at ease in her new position. The impression she made on every one in the regiment was decidedly favourable ; although, of course, the comments on Colonel Carlton’s folly in marrying so young a girl were numerous. Nevertheless, the men were all vanquished by her beauty, and the women —in spite of it. She never interfered with anybody ; my schools and poor women were left entirely in my hands as before; and, though she was invariably gentle and courteous to all who approached her, she never made a favourite, and consequently (as those know who have ever been one of a little world like ours) never an enemy. The only approach to an intimacy which she made was with myself. She would drop in occasionally for an hour’s chat; and was invariably a pleasant companion, talking on all subjects with a more than average amount of intelligence ; but the talk never dropped into a confidential strain. She never mentioned her husband, or alluded to her girlhood ; nor did she manifest a healthy interest in the arrangements of her new home, as a young wife should. It pained me to see her so apparently indifferent to everything ; but once, when I tried to draw her on to speak of her girlish days, she answered with so much constraint, and the subject was evidently so distasteful to her, that I left it at once, and, indeed, she did not come near me for fully ten days afterwards. Colonel Carlton remained as unsociable as ever; never taking his wife anywhere unless absolutely obliged, and never by any chance asking anyone inside his doors. It was a dull life for her, poor young thing ! and the Colonel but a dull companion ; but if she found it so we never knew—the gentle, placid manner never varied. Whether the Colonel married her for love or for money we did not know either. His manner to her was kind, certainly ; but he scarcely ever noticed her, left her a great deal alone, and, in fact, departed from his bachelor life as little as h'e possibly could. One thing about her pleased me much. Although she was so young, so much alone, and so lovely, she never gave any of the gossips of the regiments a chance of meddling with her name. All the admiration she excited, and it was much, she received with the same quiet indifference which she manifested about everything; and her wouldbe admirers were speedily made aware that their attentions bored her. To he continued.