American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-12-06
A DANGEROUS CURE.

6.
forced laugh. "I-"
"Mistakenp p interrupted Tom anot l,
indeed. When did you ever find me
mistaken2 No, no; I'm great deal too
clear-sishtea for that. ] never in my life
beheld such change as | see in you
since sinee-well, it's no good mincing
the matter-since you we're insane enough
to marry. There, that's the truth. Why,
my good fellow, you are no longer the
jolly, merry, good-tempered, easy going
fellow you we're, but miserable, wretch
ed, detected, surly-"
"Tom, for goodness sake, stopT' ex-
claimed Harry, excitedly. IL shall go
distracted, mad, if you continue in this
jocose strain. I've been annoyed and
worried lately. Pm not in fit state to
stand chatf. But, as regards my mar
riage, I believe I'm as happy as most mar
ried men; in fact, my happiness would
be complete, but"
"Bdt-ah that's it, Harry; we are COM
ing to the point now. That little word
'6ut' tells long tale. Chatting aside,
Harry, old friend there is a change in
yon, lamentable change. Come, now,
you had better unburden your mind
whatever you tell me, rest assured, will
be kept strictly private. d
Harry remained thoughtful some time.
He certainly was in avery awkward posi-
ton. To con fess that his wife was get
ting very self-willed, and almost unman-
ageable, was not at all pleasant; and yet
it was evident Tom guessed something
was wrong; ne was such sharp, shrewd
fellow; it would be perfectly ridiculous
attempting to disguise the truth any lon
ger. So in a hurried manner he related
his domestic grievances, how he was al
most wearied out with the continual erup-
tions which disturbed his domestic hap
piness. The slightest opposition on the
most trivial subject would send his wife
iuto violent Mysteries, till at last he was
obliged to give in for the sake of peace
and quiet; in fact, he might say his life
was becoming a burden to him.
eyes, and so it will be, " said Tom, "un-
less something desperate is done.'
desperate % reiterated Harry, in an
alarmed voice.
ayes, desperate" answered Tom; "but
don't alarm yourself unnecessarily. What
I mean is this :ryours is desperate case,
and therefore requires desperate means to
effect a cure. Now, take my advice, the
next time your wife creates any disturb
ance, or you see any signs of coming
storm, instead of giving in apd bathing
her head with Eau-de- Cologne, and call
ing her by every endearing epithet under
thesun, and terming yourself brute of a
husband for causing your own darling lit
tie wife such unhappiness, and kissing
away her tears, promising that in the fu-
ture she shall reign supreme, and all kind
of absardities-spedk in loud soice ; say
your patience is worn out with such nom
sense; you'll stand it no longer; something
must be done; it will be impossible to go
on living in that wretched state. You
might, in an undertone, but audible en-
ough for her to hear, suggest such thing
as separation; then wind up by putting
on your hat to go out, but take care be-
fore you go to dash a jug of cold water
over her face; it has a marvellous effect of
bringing hysterical people to their senses
particularly if nature has not benefcent-
ly bestowed a becoming wave to the hair,
and art supplies its place. Ring the bell
in a decided manner, and place her under
the maids care, with strict orders not to
spare cold water. But be sure, my dear
fellow, to bang the street-door loudly af
ter you. so as to leave the impression that
your ten per is seriously aroused, and that
it would take some time and great altera-
tions in her conduct to bring you around
again. The great object to be achieved
is to make her fear the consequences of
exciting you into passion. Ooce do that
and you'll have very little trouble with
her afterward."
"Impossible, Tom could never do it.
Indeed l could not Liliaa IS SO fragile
such harsh treatment would kill her."
"KiIl her, nonsense! Women are not
so easily killed as that. But I'll tell you
what, Harry; if you don't take my advice
you'll repent"
x X
"Lilian, dear ~
Lilian,,was buried in the luxurious cush-
ions of the sofa, reading, and did not, or
would not, hear her husband.
"Lilian?" he repeated, in louder
tone.
"Good gracious, AIRY, how you start
led me WHAT
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