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Dear Bradburn, I have just received your of the 26th
ult forwarded to me from Athol. I came down on Monday last—have been daily
expecting you here. In regard to Mrs. Sargeant—she and her
husband have separated—undoubtedly forever. The particulars I have not yet
learned from any authentic source. To repeat the stories I heard at Athol would
be silly now. I saw her at Hildreth’s Tuesday eveing. She appears as usual,
calm as a philosopher. The separation was not mentioned directly—but I suppose
Mrs. Hildreth intended to allude to it, when, Hildreth and I being speaking of
east winds, she asked if we had not had a “terrible east-wind at Athol?” I did
not understand her at first—and on “sober second thought” chose not to take—nothing
more was said. I called at Mrs. Sargeant’s boarding place
last evening . She was not at home. I saw a fiend of hers, Miss Johnson, whom I
had formerly seen at Mrs. S’s. She said Mrs. S was “happy as she could be”—that
she has plenty of work—at $15. a picture. I hope you will be here ere[?] long. I have
a prospect of a publisher of the first part of my book—indeed I have had an
offer—pretty reasonable one, if the man be a perfectly reliable one—I shall
probably strike a bargain with him. Hoping to see you, I am, in haste— Yours
sincerely, L. Spooner |