The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-11-01


The match was broken off, on an average,
about twice month, and their letters and
pictures returned. with full and solemn
assurances on both sides that no reconcile
alton should ever take place between them
Finally. however. after an unusually stOr-
my quarrel, healed by an unusually tender
forgiveness. they suddenly concluded to
put an end TO such follles, by marriage.
Some people are borr to be unhappy in
their matrimonial relations. and believe
that my friend and his were Of that kind.
They were both high,spirited. sensitive,
and changeable in feeling. George loved
the girl most passionately, but was easily
vexed by her. She, l think. was inoapa-
tie of a deep and lasting love. The ele-
meht of stability--of long adherence to
anything--was wanting in her character.
No doubt she loved George as much as
she possibly could, when she married him,
but three days afterwards she may have
experienced total revuson of sentiment.
"What would you do, Allen, he once
asked me. "if you were married, and dis
covered that your wife was false to you?"
"Well, l can't say. never was mar
ried, and from present appearances it
seems doubtful if ever shall be-"
"But. with your fine philosophy, that
makes fools of wise men, wise men of fools,
proves black to be white. and white to be
nothing at all, you certainly ought to have
some idea as to your course in such a
case" , ,, D..
"Well, l think that if I found my wife
loved another man better than me, and
that they had an understanding on the
subject, l should request her 10 go to the
man of her choice. | couldn't make her
love me by keeping her from him, and
couldn't prevent her from loving him
very easily. Therefore, as l don't be.
lieve in living with woman without love
on both sides, should send her. at once
to my rival-if that IS what you call man
whom some woman prefers to you"
"I knew you would have some cold
blooded theory about it!'
"'Cold blooded it may be; sensible il
certainly is"
"Yes, that's the trouble with you. You
are so eoufoupdedly sensible that you seem
10 have no human impulses left in you"
"Not many. I don't think much Of i'm
pulses as general thing. They are al
ways leading fellow into folly"
"Pity you hadn't lived in the days ol
the ancients. You would have made a
splendid Stole, Founded new school o
native philosophy, most likely"
There seemed to be something wrong
with my friend. and | could not help won
derlng if his question, concerning the
infdrIity Of wives, had not some immedi
ale bearing. A few days showed me thai
my half suspicion was true. George came
10 me one night, pale, haggared, excited
and evidently in state Of the most terri
Bile suffering. He had received anory
nous letters informing him that his wifi
had conceived an attachment to a rakisl
young fellow named Warren, who was in
the habit of visiting the house en- ami dC
famiHe Jealousy was not one of Georges
strongest fraillies, but ltlle vestigaIior
proved to bin that there were grounds tol
the belief. Women are not skiIlful at con
esaling love, and in a quarrel between the
young couple, odious comparisons between
the husband and Warren were made SC
pointedly that the green eyed monster was
at once awakened.
l advised calm and quiet.
"Gst over this FIRST shock" said, "anC
let things take their course. You cal
soon prove the truth or falsity of you
suspicious. For my own part, | do no
believe there is any truth in them l
seems to me that Rose is thoughtlesS, bu
nothing more"
From that day; George kept as close
watch upon his wife as was consistent witt
his highminded ideas OF honor He scorn
ed TO play the spy, but his own peale de
manded that the facts should be madeplain
and he consulted every gesture, ever,
glance, every movement OF his wife Will
) Warren was present. J.! ..o,
Too soon, alas he found thatthe anony
nous letters had stated only the truth
Affairs were really much worse tLan h
had imagined.
Within an hour of the discovery. h
dispatched chellenge to Warren, an
came to ask me 10 act as his friend. .
l reasoned the whole ground over agai
with him, but to no purpose. He sai
; that he wanted 10 shoot the man who ha
destroyed his happiness and his home, "
he could not be an assassin, If | woul
: not stand up with him, somebody els
would, for he was determined; but lie la
much rather have me than any other ma
= he knew. , ,
Feeling that this was liable to be I'll
last favor he might ever ask of me O
earth, and having no prejudice again
duelling. hey ond the philosophical know
! edge of its absurdily, above stated, col
h septed. Indeed, it was useless to max
6 further efforts to dissuade him. He wi
J. bound to fight, if Warren dared to me-
him. If not he nvowed his determinatic
If TO cowhide him in the streets, and il J
/. attempted to return the assault, 70 sho
IS him down in cold blood.
j. Warren, however, Immediately acceP
\. ed the challenge, choosing pistols as q
il weapons, and naming a neighboring fe
l as the ground he preferred. l have hi
g 10 do with several affairs, before now, al
N have heard of many more, but | nev
1T knew nothing so smoothly and quietly a
y justed as this. WarTen's friend was