Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-09
Written for the Cincinnati Daily Press ]
Ire FRNTON'S WIFE.
BY o S M'oRSE.

Lee Fcnt0ns WE nau NOT as YET Oeen Heen |
There was much gossip concerning her.
She had been in the vicinity Of Chesney, re-
manned a sbort time and then had gone
South very unexpectedly. The apology for
The brides sudden disappearance was that
her father, her only remaining parent, was
dangerously ill. Some were uncharitable,
and surmised that Lee had never been mar
lied. OF late there had been stories of a
mysterious lady who had been seen mounted
srdequipped for the chase, gallopiug through
the woods. Hounds were yelpiug in ad-
vance, and she bad sped away on her feet
steed like Diana of old, and no one knew
who she was, OF from whence she came.
Oue morning Lee Fenton sat in his room at
the hotel. 1t was a little chilly, there was a
Ere burning in the CRATE, although a window
filled with plants and opening upon the bal
cony, was raised. He sat there in morning
costume smoking and musing abstractedly,
when a wild unearthly lOhoop such as is
sometimes used in Southern States for call
ing dogs and negroes, arrested his attention.
Swinging 10 his feet and deathly pale from
hfiIGhSu6iOh hO AAStShNA eGoths n ldu1t
swept through the hall carrying a fowliug-
piece upon her shoulder, followed by two
hounds, a pointer aad a huge Newfoundland,
who was f~uriously shaking his wet sides
upon the clean mating on the hall floor, and
besprinkling the walls. His mistress was
not in much better condition. Her dress a
costly silk, badly sOiled, and mud-stained,
besides reekiDg wet with the dew from the
tall grass through which she had been trail
ing. Had a ghost arisen from the dead aud
stalked through the hall it could moi have
occasioned more excitement, than the hand
some wild. looking woman as she swept
along regardless of every thing. She did not
heed my thing but the numbers on the doors,
until she came to Lees apartments, bursting
in without any ceremony, stood before the
almost speeches. Lee who could only say in
in his mortified pride, his horror and amaze
ment-"Claribell."
81 Throwing down her gun she said sarcas-
tically: "You've got a mighty nice place
here, Mr.. Fenton.' Walking direct to the
mantel where some of bis bachelor comforts
we're standing, seized a bottle ofChampagne,
knocking off the neck on the coal-grate,
poured out a trimming glass and drank the
whole. Lee began clearing out the dogs
who were making free with the elegant car
pets and rugs, putting their dirty paws on
the chair-covers and smelling about the place
as though they were in strange quarters.
Claribell sprapg to her feet as he opened the
door but seeing them eager to get out sat
down again, saying, 81 guess its about time
for me 10 take a dip" Taking a package of
Scotch snuff, from her pocket, putting a
small twig into it, the end of which she had
spliRtered and chgwed until she had made a
miniature mop began rubbing her beautiful
teeth with apparently great satisfaction.
at msy be that you don't admire this
practice, MIR. FentOn. You dld'nt know it
when you married me. but | am quite sure
YOU know it uow.n Lee looked at her with
silent contempt, she all the while regaling
berselfand looking about the room to see
bis exquisite arrangements. Just at hat
juncture, when she was settling herself, for
a regular dip, a furious barking of the dogs,
arrested her ears. IL was evident there
was a fight. Claribell fairly bounded as she
seized her gun and rushed out ofthe side door.
A huge bulldog had seized her favorIte
Newfoundland. The cry OF dog fight, 80 dog
6ehth resounded. Gentlemen, walters and
porte1s mingled iu the melee. Clgrioell was n
The thickest OF the fuss. Seeing that her
favorite's antagonist had the best of the bat
lie, and that nothing could induce him TO
loose his hold, drew up Der rife and deliOer-
q ely shot the offender. His owner a rough
man from the hilis, began a TRADE of abuse,
calling her a she.devil and similar other
epithets, but which she did not notice.
Nhooping with the same uuearthly Hot
ter tot noise to her dogs, she went back to
Lees room, followed by all three, covered
with dirt. Lee stood up before her like a
mad fend. "a splendid affair this" he said.
'Quitea debut you have made 10 Chesney,
looking like a squaw, just off from a trail,
into a dog fight among a rabble of hostlers
and countrymenl"
Claribell was on her knees beside her
f~avorite, who, painting and covered with
blood, was lying on the rug, which, but a
few minutes before, had looked like a patch
out of a Persian f,wer-garden. Springing
10 her feet AZ his Ieproach-in a passion
wished she had shot him instead of the
countrymsn's dog. Lee Fenton had as
sailed his wife in the most vulnerable point.
Had he questioned her -virtue-accused her
of infdelity, or heaped reproaches upon her,
from any other cause she could have borne it
But to blame her for siding with old Nee.
fune whom she had raised froma pup, brought
all the way from Genesee, and who was now
a faithful sharer in tueir captivity, was too
much. The blood of the SoutD s,a woman
could brook no more. Springing from the
side of her VaUquished friend, she began a
yejoinder, well calculated to silence her hus-
band. 'Sbe was his wife aud had as good a
right to those splendid apartments as he.
Neptune was her dog, and a place that was
good enough for her was none too good for
poor old Nep. What right had he to keep
bachelor apartments, and she held at arms
length in the country. She had fairly
begun and nothing earthly could stop her.
She w%entabout. like one possessed Threaten
ing fret TO clear the mantel of costly vases
and candelabras, with her rife, then to blow
the mirror to pieces with pigeon shot, added
TO her rawlings, calling down curses upon
Lee who begged Of her to drink the rest of
the Champagne if it would only lay her out.
When her rage was exhausted, she flung
put Of the room, followed by her r%etinue,
her husband TO console himself as
best be might. Poor Lee flung himself
the middle of his dsmask-covered
couch, pitifully exclaiming as he tried to
hide his face, Marrying for money, marry
ing for money"