Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-03-20


alive with people alarmed by the cries of the
woman. They tried to stop him, but he was
not to be stayed. He took the stairs at leap,
and landed somewhere near the bottom, among
the wreck of three chambermaids, and as many
white-apron walters.
And before any one could seize him he was
rushing down over the front steps. A lady
and gentleman were slowly ascending the stairs,
and George, in his mad haste, ran right against
the lady and broke in the rim of her bonnet!
:" You rascal cried the gentleman with
her, g. what do you mean by treating lady in
this manner?" and he seized our hero by the
collar
Then, for the first time, George looked at the
couple before him.
'aTis Katie Oh, Katie - cried he-for this
time there was no mistake; it was Katie and
her uncle Charles ''Oh, my wife! my dear
wife!''
He tired to take her in his arms, but she fled
from him in terror.
'Take that dreadful man awayr' she cried.
II am sure he is insane, or drunk. Only see
his boots and his awful hatp'
u tell you | am your own George!' ex-
claimed he. ''Oh Katie! where have you
been?'
Katie looked at him now, and recognizing
him, began to cry.
"Oh, dear that ever 1 should have lived to
have seen this day! My George, that /
thought so pure and good, faithless and intoxi-
Gated Oh, uncle Charles what will become
Of me?'
''My dear niece, be patient" said her uncle
IL think this is George, and we will hear what
he has to say before condemning him. Mr.
Jameson, [ met your wife in the cars yesterday,
and she informed me that you had deserted
her at the Windham depot. Ofcourse could
not believe that your absence was intentional,
and persuaded her to remain here while
telegraphed to the principal stations along the
road for information ofyou. Why did receive
no answer
Because the telegram does not run into old
Mrs. Shark S huckleberry swamp, where l had
the honor of spending last night, said George,
losing his temper.
| ''But this extraordinary disguise
My clothes were muddy, and | have got on
Mr. Stark s. said George: and though the ex-
planation was not particularly lucid to those
who heard it, they were satisfied.
My dearest George" cried Katie rushing
into his arms, so you did not desert me, and
shan't have to be divorced T.
Never, my darling and We'll never be sep
arated again for moment"
.'No, not for all the baggage in the world !
Oh, George! you don't know how l have suf-
fered!''
| Ihe crowd cOuld De kept Ignorant no longer,
for scores had assembled around the hotel,
drawn thither by the disturbance Matters
were explained, and cheers long and loud rent
the air.
The landlord got up an impromptu wedding
dinner, at which Katie presided; and George
looking very sheepish in Mr.. Stark's swallow
tail did the honors.
They proceeded on their tour next day, and
soon afterward Dir. and Mrs. Starks were de
lighted to receive box by express containing
the lost suit of the old gentleman, and the
wherewithal to purchase him another, besides
the handsomest drawn silk bonnet for Mrs
''There, old man., said she, turning from
the glass at which she had been surveying her
self in the new bonnet, II alters told ye thai
huckleberry swamp would turn to something
if it was only to raise frogs in! Guess [ hi
things sometimes.