It would be
wrong to say Alec had unscrupulously wooed Mable Hubbard and did not love her.
Actually, he loved her with all his heart. He poured into her whatever softer
feelings remained with him. He had all the circumstances and it appeared that
he was destined to love her. It was an uncanny coincidence that his father had
named him Graham Bell after his grandfather and like his grandfather he loved a
lady older than himself. Like his grandfather, he rose to be a well-known teacher
after he parted with one he loved.Most men search for their mothers in their
wives. Alec's mother though deaf was a remarkable wife and mother and stood by
her husband in his times of grief, supporting him on all his endeavors. Since
his mother was deaf he had a soft corner for the deaf since childhood and this
made him a better therapist with the deaf. And perhaps this was what made
Mr.Hubbard select her as his daughter's speech therapist. He took a liking to
the young man because of his scientific temper and enthusiasm to do and create
things.
Mable had a way of influencing men near her in a way few women could. Though handicapped at a tender age she had the will to learn and had surprised many with her grit. Her doting father had started a school for children like her and she was the brightest pupil of the school. When she saw Alec she did not consider him husband material at all. He was far too old.Alec wrote to her that if she disliked her he was ready to"alter his self for her to her liking". she wrote back that he should not talk of love but her friendship and sympathy were his if he needed.
But her
father thought highly about this young man and she developed a certain amount
of respect after being his pupil and listening to him. Gradually the care he
had for her changed her respect into affection and then she felt it was okay
to marry him.Her parents were happy enough for he was a man who had a deaf
mother so wouldn't make advances if he was not genuinely attracted
to their daughter .The fact that he was genuinely interested in their daughter
rose from the fact that Alec had first divulged his love for Mable to her
mother. Mable was only sixteen then. Her mother had asked him to wait and not
propose to her immediately. But like all lovers, Alec could not hold on
for long and made his love known.As expected he met
with resistance initially, but he persevered with his letters and
flattery and with a little help from his would-be in-laws
he succeeded in finding a way into Mable's heart.
Mable had a lot of things that Alec found attractive. Unlike Marie she had a lot in common with Alec. She had a love for arts and crafts, was attached to people she met, had a way to feel people feel at ease in her presence, a deep love for nature around and loved country life just like he did. And she had a natural inborn grit which stood by her in her difficult times. This alone was enough to bring stability in Alec's life.
The marriage was a huge success as both complimented each other like no other. He totally trusted her and she managed his life beautifully. If it was not for her, Alec wouldn't have been what he became. She was indeed the "mistress of his heart and the sharer of his thoughts" as he wrote to her later. She was the one who made bell's telephone possible and the couple had forty five years of togetherness of a loving and lively life which had abruptly stopped one day. She had held on to him and asked him not to leave her.And he had feebly promised he wouldn't. It was one promise he failed to keep and it irked his soul even in the afterlife. He was oblivious of the charms of the after-world and spent his time brooding…
(To be continued)
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