Wives and Widows; or The Broken Life   By: Ann S. Stephens (1810-1886)

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WIVES AND WIDOWS;

OR,

THE BROKEN LIFE.

BY

MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS.

AUTHOR OF "RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY," "FASHION AND FAMINE," "THE CURSE OF GOLD," "THE REJECTED WIFE," "THE OLD HOMESTEAD," "THE WIFE'S SECRET," "MABEL'S MISTAKE," "THE GOLD BRICK," "SILENT STRUGGLES," "MARY DERWENT," "DOUBLY FALSE," "THE HEIRESS," "THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS," ETC., ETC.

When falsehood genders in a human soul, Blossoms may hide the reptile in his creeping, But every pulse will stir at his control, Or feel the burden of his poisonous sleeping, Until the tight'ning circle of his coils Binds down the heart, which God alone assoils.

In honest hearts the gentle truth reposes; As nightingales, with rapturous music filled, Nestle down, softly, in the clust'ring roses, While the sweet night and moonlit air is thrilled With perfect harmonies, truth will arise And send its voice, upringing, to the skies.

PHILADELPHIA: T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS; 306 CHESTNUT STREET.

TO

MISS ELIZA S. ORMSBEE,

OF

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND,

THIS BOOK IS

MOST AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.

ANN S. STEPHENS.

ST. CLOUD HOTEL, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER, 1869.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. LEAVING MY HOME 25

II. MY NEW HOME 31

III. A NEW LIFE 35

IV. THREATENED WITH SEPARATION 40

V. AFTER THE WEDDING 48

VI. TELLING HOW LOTTIE INTRODUCED HERSELF 53

VII. OUT IN THE WORLD 59

VIII. OUR GUEST 63

IX. FANCIES AND PREMONITIONS 70

X. NEW VISITORS 76

XI. THE BASKET OF FRUIT 81

XII. BREAKFAST WITH OUR GUEST 86

XIII. JESSIE LEE AND HER MOTHER 88

XIV. INTRUSIVE KINDNESS 92

XV. THE TRAIL OF THE SERPENT 97

XVI. AFTER DREAMING 101

XVII. LOTTIE EXPRESSES HER OPINION OF THE WIDOW 106

XVIII. THE UNWELCOME PROPOSAL 109

XIX. OUT UPON THE RIDGE 112

XX. ADROIT CROSS QUESTIONING 118

XXI. THE EVENING AFTER BOSWORTH'S PROPOSAL 121

XXII. SOWING SEED FOR ANOTHER DAY 125

XXIII. AN OUTBREAK OF JEALOUSY 130

XXIV. THE OLD PENNSYLVANIA MANSION 135

XXV. THE MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER 139

XXVI. SICK BED FANCIES 143

XXVII. THE FIRST SOUND SLEEP 147

XXVIII. THE INTERVIEW IN THE WOODS 150

XXIX. TROUBLES GATHER ABOUT OUR JESSIE 155

XXX. MRS. DENNISON GATHERS WILD FLOWERS 159

XXXI. LOTTIE'S ADVICE 165