Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-25
MRS. CAUDLE'S CURTAIN LEG.
TURE.

CaudIe, whilst Walking with his
wife, Has Been Bowed TO by
Younger and Even PreItier Woman
than Mrs. CaudIe.
s. "IfI'm not to leave the house without
being insulted, Mr.. Caudle, l had better
stay indoors all my life.
s'Whatl Don't tell me to let you have
one nights rest! / wonder at your impu-
dence! It's mighty fine, 1 never can 90
out with you-and goodness knows. it's
seldom enough without having my feel
ings torn to pieces by people OF all Sorts
A set of bold minxes! What am TGUing
about? Oh, you know very well-very
well, indeed, Mr.. Caudle. A pretty person
she must be, to nod to man walking with
his own -wifei Don't tell me it was Miss
Prettyman-what's Miss Prettyman to me?
Oh! Y0u'Ue met her once or taoice at her
brothers house? Yes, dare say you have
no doubt of it. always thought there was
something very tempting about that house,
and now know it all. Now, it's no use,
Mr.. Caudle, your beginning to talk loud,
and twist and toss your arms about as if
you were as innocent as a born babe-I'm
not to be deceived by such tricks now. No;
there was time when l was a fool, and
believed anything; butt thank my stars!
s-I've got oyer that.
see her laugh, too, when she nodded to you!
Oh, yes, / knew what she thought me: a
poor, miserable creature, of course. could
see that. No-don't say So Caudle. don't
always see more than anybody else-but l
can't and won't be blind, however agree
able it. might be to you; l must have the
use of my senses. / am sure if a woman
wants attention and respect from a man,
she'd better be anything than his wife. l
always thought so, and to-day's decided it.
mo, I'm not ashmed of myself to talk so
certainly not. a good, GnsiabIe young
creature, indeed Yes; l dare say; very
amiable, no doubt. Of course, you think
a bonnet she had on? Oh, very good
creaturel And you think didn't see the
smudges of court plaster about her face !?
You didn't see en-? Very likely; but did.
Very amiable, to be sure! What do you
say? made her blush at Dsy iLl-11aGnners? /
should like to have seen her blush J
sTwould have been rather difficult, Mr..
Caudle, for blush to come through all that
paint. No-Tm not a censorious woman,
Mr.. Caudle; quite the reverse. No; and
you may threaten to get up if you like. l
will speak. | know what color is, and /
say it tods paint. believe, Mr., Caudle,
once had a complexion; though, of course;
you've quite forgotten that. I think once
had color, before your conduct destroyed
it. Before knew you. people used to call
me the Lily and the Rose; but-what are
you laughing at? l see nothing to laugh
at. But. as 1 say, anybody before your
own wife.
I aAnd ] can't walk out with you but
you're bowed by every, woman you meet
What dol mean By eveIy aoonaGn, a0hen IT'S only
Miss Prettvnean? That's nothing at all to
do with it. How do / know who bows to
you when Pm not by? Everybody, of
COURSE And if they don't look at you,
why you look at them. Oh I'm sure you
do. You do it even when I'm out with you
Il
Now don't tell me Caudle-dOn't deny it.
The fact is, it has become such dreadful
habit with you. that you don't know when
YOU do il, and when you don't. But do.
miss Prettyman, indeed! What do you
say? You acOTt lie still and hear me scandal
ize that eccelLeat young aconaGa. Oh, of course
You'll take her partl Though, to be sure,
she may not be so much to blame, after all.
For how is she to know you're married
You're never seen out of doors with your
own Wife-never. Wherever you go, you
20 alone. Or course people think you're a
bachelor. What do you say? You aoetz
knOeo you're not. That's nothing to do with
it, only ask what must people think,
when I'm never seen with you? Other
women go out with their husbands; but as
T'ye often said, Pm not like any other wo-
man! What are you sneer1ng at, Mr.. Cau-
die? HotC do I klaOao you're sneerSngY Don't
tell me; know well enough, by the move
ment of the pillow.
mo; you never take me out-and you
know it. No; and it's not my own fault.
How can you lie there and say that? On,
ali a poor excused That's what you always
saw. You're tired of asking me, indeed,
because / always start some objection? OF
course can't go out figure. And when
Won ask me to 90. you know very well that
nv bonnet isn't as it should be-Or that my
Gown hasn't come home-Or that l can't
leave the children-or that something keeps
me indoorsi You know all this, well
enough. before you ask me. And that's
you're art. And when do go out with
yyoII Pm sure to suffer for it. Yes; you
needn't repeat my words. Suffer for tt.
But YOU suppose have no feelings; oh,
no. nobody has feelings but yourself. Yes;
I'd forgot Miss Prettyman, perhaps-yes,
she NAV have feelings, of course.
= "And. as I've said, i dare say pretty
dune Deople think me. 70 be sure; poor
forlorn creature, / must look into every
bOdy's eyes. But knew you couldn't be
at Mr.. Prettyman's house night after night
till eleven o'clock-a great deal you
thought of me sitting up for you'll knew
voir couldn't be there without some cause.
And now I've found it out! Oh, 1 don't
mind your swearing, Mr.. Caudlel It's 1.
If / wasn't woman; who. ought to swear.
Biit ies1ike you men. Lords of creation,
as vou call yourselyesl Lords, indeed
and pretty slaves you make of the, poor
creatures who're tied to you. But III be
eparated, Caudle; I will; and then I'll
H