The Van Buren press., 1872-06-18
VAN BUREN, ARK, JUNE IS, 1872.

been with somebody besides that sister,
Mr. Docile. can see it in your sneak
ing, sheepish looks
"Dclcctable, what do vou mean z" eN-
claimed the puzzled David, his astonlsh
ment at such an insnuatiou getting the
better Of his customary timidlty.
"Oh! it is very well for you to pre-
! tend not to know what mean, David
| Doclle; but YOU are not smart enough
TO play off any Of your mock honesty on
me, sir. But | will find out who 1t Is
| that has caused you to outrage and DIS
grace the wife of your bosom; mark
that, you depravcd man" And mutter-
ing something to the effect that 1t was a
sad day that saw a sweet and tender Pars
nip the legal property OF such monster,
the aggrieved woman turned her face to
the wall and was soon, despite her indig
nation, snoring with her wonted vigor.
| With heavy heart poor David crcpt
INTO bed likewise. cordially lamentlng
the unhappy hour that saw him the pos
SCISSOR Of a Parsnip so much more Ike
q horse radish.
1t was not until nearly fortnight had
elapsed after the scene above recorded
that David again ventured to absent him
self from the family circle 1t was
beautiful, moonlight evening, and he
made bold to intimate that he would like
to make a short call on his sister Very
much to his surprise, his wife interposed
no objection, and with a lighter heart
than lie had known iorsome time, David
departed, promising to return at an carly
hour.
Now. Mr.. David Docile, we'll see
where it is YOU find so much to attract
YOU till midnight. thought I'd catch
vouw Saving which, Mrs docie threw
Oh her bonnet and shawl, and was on the
trail Of her husband ere he had proceed.
ed many steps on his journey.
She had followed him for several
blocks, keeping at short distance 80 as
to avoid any probability of observation,
when suddenly he turned an unexpected
corner and disappeared from view But,
as luck would have it, Mrs, Docile Ms
quickly caught sight OF her game again.
or at least she thought she did--and that
too just as he ascended the steps OF an
aristocratic looking house and entered
And this is where my gentleman
comes when he tells me he goes to see
his sister, No wonder lie neglccts and
stints his poor family when he helps to
support such palace as this Really
Mr., Docile, You are more knave than
fool after all. But You shall suffer for
your perfdy, now, or I'm not Pars
nip"
AS Mrs. Docils delivered herself Of
this apostrophe she few up the steps and
seized the bell pull But rs suddealy
she changed her mind, for instead Of
ringing she raised herself on tip.too and
peerod in through the blind Of an ad.
adjoining window. thinking to CLEAN what
knowledge she might before making a
demons ration She WAS intcn " ongag.
ed in thi. blind pursuit of Information
under difficulties when policeman who,
unobserved, had been watching her sus
picious proceedings, accosted her from
the sidewalk
"Ilello, there, what are you dom here,
miss ~
Il am attending to my own proper
business, sir" replied Mrs Docile, in
the cxubcrance Of her wounded, yet ram.
pant spirit.
mighty proper business it looks like,
pceking into peoples houses after dark,
said the officer mounting the steps and
looking hand at her "Who arc you,
and what are yor doing here, anyhow =
Il tell you am about my business,
replied Mrs Docile, dcterminedly,
That won't do, ina'am you look like
a respectable enough sort Of woman, but
it's likely you're one o the other sort at
any rate, If YOU don't give an account or
Yourself, | shall have to arrest you for
suspicious character. Come, out with
it,
Mrs Docie saw there was no altsrna-
tive but to comply with the officers de
mands SO she replied
"Well, if you must know, my name is
Mrs. David Docile. and | am here in
quest Of my husband
Then, why the deuce don't you ring
the bell and inquire il your husband is
IRE, like any other bodyf said the Off
, er, becoming more suspicious. "Well
Re about this, " he added, as he rang the
II, before Mrs Docic had time 10 make
ol'v reply to his question Blow me il
lon't believe you're burglar, after
81
The door wa opened and by the very
~.n whom Mrs Docie bad mistaken for
l. husband, after he had disappeared
und the corner The deluded woman
once saw her blunder, aud made haste
- Iectify it
II That won't go down, old gal "
mpty intcrposed the officer, 81
|ught knew my lady from tho first.
10 me with me now and III give ye
~, nee - peek TO your hearts content
G, D nobody TO molest or make ye
hrd ~ And the facetious guardian OF
r, lives and property Of his telow'men
''arghcd heartily at his own joke.
ut was in vain that Mrs. Docilc threat
I'd aud cntreated the officer was mex
bic. Visions of promotion, or OF he
onld reins,a,ed in the good graces of his
Ihciucant, position sacrificed for some