The Trials of the Soldiers Wife | Page 3

and of offering my services, if you should ever
need them."
"I thank you for your kindness; and should I ever need your services,
you may depend upon my availing myself of your offer; although," she
added, "I do not think it likely I shall stand in need of any assistance."
"I rejoice to hear it, my dear madam," he replied; "but I trust," he
continued, on noticing the look of surprise which covered her features,
"that you will not think my offer in the least insulting; for I can assure
you, it was only prompted by the most friendly motives, and the
recollections of past days."
Mrs. Wentworth made no reply, and he continued: "I hope that, after an
absence of five years, the memory of the past has been banished from
you. With me things have changed materially. The follies of my youth
have, I trust, been expiated, and I am a different man now to what I was
when I last saw you."
"Mr. Awtry," replied Mrs. Wentworth, "I feel rather surprised that, after
your presence in New Orleans for so many months, you should not
have thought proper to renew our acquaintance until after the departure
of my husband."

"Pardon me," he quickly answered. "I was introduced to your husband
by a mutual friend; and as he never thought proper to extend an
invitation to me, I did not think myself authorized to call here. Learning
of his departure this morning, and knowing that his circumstances were
not of so favorable a character as he could wish, I thought you might
pardon my presumption in calling on you when you learned the motive
which actuated this visit--believe me, I am sincere; and now," he
continued, "will you accept my proffered hand of friendship, and
believe that my desire is only to aid the relatives of one of the gallant
men who have gone to struggle for their rights?"
Mrs. Wentworth paused a moment before she accepted the extended
hand, while her brow appeared clouded. At length, holding out her
hand to him, she said:
"I accept your offered friendship, Mr. Awtry, in the same spirit, as I
hope, it is given; but, at the same time, trust you shall never be troubled
with any importunities from me."
"Thank you--thank you," he replied eagerly; "I shall not prove
otherwise than worthy of your friendship. These are your children?" he
continued, changing the conversation.
"Yes," she replied, with a look of pride upon her little daughter and the
sleeping infant on the sofa; "these are my little family."
Mr. Awtry took the little girl upon his knees and commenced caressing
it, and, after remaining for a few moments in unimportant conversation,
took his departure with the promise to call at some future time.
As soon as he left Mrs. Wentworth sat down, and resting her hands on
the table, spoke to herself on the visit she had received. "What could
have induced him to pay me this visit?" she said, musingly; "it is
strange--very strange that he should choose this particular time to
renew our acquaintance! He spoke honestly, however, and may be
sincere in his offers of assistance, should I ever need anything. He is
wealthy, and can certainly aid me." She sat there musing, until the little
girl, coming up to her, twined her tiny arms round her mother's neck,

and asked if it was not time to light the gas.
"Yes, darling," said Mrs. Wentworth, kissing her fondly; "call Betsy
and let her get a light."
After the negro had lit the gas, Mrs. Wentworth said to her, "Should
that gentleman, who was here to-day, call at any time again, let me
know before you admit him."
"Yes, mistis," replied the negro with a curtsey.
CHAPTER THIRD.
MR. HORACE AWTRY.
Mr. Horace Awtry was a native of the State of New York, and was, at
the time of writing, about thirty-live years of age. He was a tall and
well-formed man, with light hair clustering in curls on a broad and
noble looking forehead; his features were well chiselled, and his upper
lip was ornamented with a mustache of the same color as his hair.
Notwithstanding his handsome features and extravagant display of
dress, there was an expression in his dark blue eyes, which, though
likely to captivate the young and innocent portion of the fair sex, was
not deemed elegant by those who are accustomed to read the features of
man. He was very wealthy, but was a perfect type of the roue, although
a good education and remarkable control of himself rendered it difficult
for his acquaintances to charge him with dissipation, or any conduct
unworthy of ft gentleman. As this gentleman will occupy a somewhat
conspicuous position in our tale, we deem it necessary