Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-01-11
THE EVENING STAR.
MRS. REAUCHAMP,s VENGEANCE.

We'll" said, 90 congratulate you. Your
Happiness is now about to begin. never Was
ia That condition myself. but have always
fmas med that man, when he has received
permission 10 get the ring and the license for
the woman he loves, must be supremely hap
py.'
was almo comic, and said
Yes, suppose am happy now
"Weii, to be quite candid, don't think /
should ever have discovered that was happy
ii you had not told me go. Perhaps bride
xToe me- happiness is OF serious Kind Certain
il 10 that am awfully serious. It's devillsh
tickIsh thing, let me tell you, to feel yourself
about TO take such plunge in an unknown
gulf.
but you love her. don't you 70
"Passicnately." .....-
"Then how is it that the idea ---.
my dear fellow, love is all very well; but
30 m an can be expected TO be gay when mar
riage comes tumbiing on his head like a chim-
ney.pot. You wouldn't like it yourself"
"Then give her mp
"Thats easily said" Ass.
/" DO you want 10 be her husband or do you
not rs -- :
"Yes-and no. Look here, tell You Whist
outside a shop window looking at a picture OF
= military execution, where the faithful dog is
fawning upon the kneellng wretch, who Is
awaiting his execution. 4 would sell myself
to the devil for that picture said the energetic
soldier in his enthusiasm. a horrible old wo-
man heard the words, rushed into the shop
hands, and said, with witch.like savageness
There's the picture, and your soul is mine
1t seems to me that 1 am very much like that
soldier" =
al can't understand you. The other day You
were in rsp:ures about Mrs. Beauchamp
$50 am still. No woman could be more
charming. and IL I wanted 4 wife-but you see
don't, and that's the fact"
/" Wen you had better tell her so before it's
too late.'
"lt's too late already. Besides don't like
hpr mn, na-c
creature, and that's the truth. Don't you think
marriage very absurd institution ~
s. No, can't say do" said l.
"1ben why are You q bachelor 90
d" w ny Probably because I'm not married.
NOW be serious. Help me with your ad-
vice.
MY advice is, if you love her, marry; if
you d. ont, don't" a ~ =,
The announcements of Srnythe Briggs inter-
rUptsd our conversation. Rackg had only
Now I'm in for a scene. But II Briggs has
come here to dispute my claim, he snail fluid
that I'm not nose-of-wax. may want your
aiG.'' r.. .s-
Briggs entered, and after the usual futile at
Temps to slave Oft the real object of his visit, he
turned away from the portrait of Mrs. Beau
champ, ana said TO me
al say, Johnson, it's a deuced hard thing
that we should always be dupes OF women
though, isn't it !"
"rhey make us all as blind as moles-extreme
asses - rs
"SEeik for yourself, Briggs" said l, laugh.
ing.
= Well, do speak for myself. That woman
there" pointing to her portrait, Is doesn't she
look The soul OF truths She isn't the woman
she seems"
Indeed %
"She seems mild, gentle, smiling, tender,
doesnt she +! Well, then, she is -. if my
marriage were not irrevocabIy fixed, and ii
1t were not fer those disgusting dam
You don't mean to say J" said Rackit
eagerly. -~
"Yes, do, though. Bless you the cat is q
gentle, quiet, graceful, purring animal, but we
all know the claws she sheathes in velvet"
You astonish and alarm mel mean for
yop,'' said Rackit.
.s am astonished and alarmed for myself,
he retorted. "GOu haven't to marry her.
have
p Racki. looked mons trously uncomfortable.
lyon KNOW" continued Briggs, "I'm not
very particular. Women aren't angels. We
call them SO, but of course that's all CANNON.
And il Mrs. Eeauchamp had only shown a lit
tie skIttis hness. shouldntmUch have minded
Nay, had she GlicGys shown her real temper,
could have made allowances. l could ha e
made up my mind to it. as she makes up hers
70 my lot having roman nose. We are none
OF Us perfect"
:. Especially some of u.s. said.
GAS you say, some of us. She's of the some.
I'll tell You what ii is which makes me so UNI
comfortable. For SO many years-eyer since
! can Iemember-she has only shown her vel
vet paws now, you'll own that never once to
give hint of the claws, locks suspicious!y
ny pocrincal, don't 1t ~ 49,
"Surely you must be exaggera.lng," said
Rackit.
-" Not bit. Now place yourself in my posi-
ticn." t
IL can per fectly.' ~
g No, You can't; not until you know all
Su pose you had chosen wife whom you be-
ueyed 10 be tender, amiable, without bit OF
deceit, and then suddenly you fiud the lee
cracking beneath your feet, While yon are ska
ing tar away from the banks, and no Humane
Society at hand"
"Yes, yes" said Rackit, very nervousiy
.. Fell -
"You suddenly discover that your angel has
a temper-a feminine temper-a temper a /, and
NO mistake ! All her gentleness then was hypo-
crisy, and you are left to guess what remains
behind
Had Briggs come expressly to heap Goals OF
could not more maliciously have chosen his
words. l asked him what was the source OF
this change in his opinion of the widow.
cause Yesterday made few in ocent remarks
on per portrait, and when we got into the
brougham, she was in SUCH a tantarem In
fact had regular .ToW'-the first and q
sUrpriser! Observe, don't lay SO much stress
on that Perhaps 1 was wrong. Be it so; but
she showed herself to be so unjust uaressona-
BILE, fantastic, and irritable, that saw, as in a
nash. my whole married life before me-a hor-
rible vista OF brats and bickerings.'
"Ioyers' quarrels ~ said 1, apologetically.
Lovers fidd .esticks,' he replied uRackjt
old fellow, you have an irritable temper: take
warning in time and don't marry
81 WON'T said the unhappy man, very
gloomily.
AT any rate do not not marry one OF those
gentle CT. atures-they are lambs till they get
yoI in their clutches, and then they're tigresses
Be w arneo by me-"
81 will"
"Dye think" said Briggs to me, 81 could
manage to put of the match for q few monthsl
Suppose were to break my leg, now, would
there be chance OF her marrying some one
else -
mo" said Rackit, ait would only rouse her
sympathy for you"
Here bob came in TO say that a messenger
was below, waning 10 see MIR. Briggs. That
gentleman went down stairs, leaving me alone
with Rackit, who looked questions at me-
This is awkward, said.
al thought" said Racket, " Briggs had come
10 dispute my claim, and l armed myself to re-
sIst him fierceiy. Instead OF that, 1 fud him
willing TO break his leg on the chance OF getting
Iid OF her,
Briggs returned, crushing note in his hand,
and showing the greatest agitation. We asked
him if amy Thing was the matter, if there was
Any had news.
me- he said. "nothing. At least nothing
unexpected"