Smyrna times., 1873-07-30
Mrs. Tretherick
BY BRET liARTE.

In 1858, Fiddletown considered her a very
pretty woman. She had quantity of light
chestnut hair, good figure, dazzling com
plexiOn, and certain languld grace which
passed easily for gentlewOmanlness. She
always dressed becomingly, and in what Fld'
dletown accepted as the latest fashion. She
had only two blemishes: one of her velvety
eyes, when examined closely, had slight cast,
and her left cheek bore a small scar lett by
single drop Of vitriOl-happily the only drop
of an entire phial thrown upon her by one OF
her own jealous sex that reached the pretty
face it was intended to mar But when the
observer had studied the eyes sufficiently to
notice this defect he was generally incapacl-
tate d for criticism, and even the scar on her
cheek was thought by some to add plquancy
to her smile The youthful editor OF the tld-
dletown Aralanche had said privately that it
was 'an exaggerated dimple. Colonel Star
bottle was instantly reminded Of the beauti-
flying patches of the days of Queen Anne, but
more particularly, sir, of the blankest beauti-
ful woman, that, blank you, you ever lald your
two blank eyes upon. A creole woman, sir,
in New Orleans And this woman had scar
"a line extending, blank me, from her eye to
| her blank chin. And this woman, sir, thrilled
you, sir, maddened you, sir, absolutely sent
your blank soul to perdition with her blank
! fascinations And one day L said to her,
! Celeste, how in blank did you come by that
| beautiful scar, blank youY And she said tC
me, Star, there isn't another white man thai
I'd confde in but you, but | made that seal
myself purposely, | did, blank me. These
were her very words, sir, and perhaps you
think it blank lie, sir, but I'll put up any
blank sum you can name and prove 1t, blank
NE.
Indeed, most of the male population of Fid
| Jlotouy, hoA bnaO in love w h bpr q
this number about one-h half believed that thei
love was returned, with the exception, posi-
bly,, of her own husband. lie alone had beef
known TO express skepticiSm.
The name of the gentleman who enjoyed
this infelctous distinction was Tretherck
He had been divorced from an excellent wifi
to marry this Fiddlctown enchantress. Sh
also had been divorced, but it was limited tha
some previous experiences OF hers in that lt
gal formality had made it perhaps less move
and probably less sacrihcial. l would nc
have it inferred from this that she was defc
ent in sentiment or devoid Of its highest mora
, expression. Her intimate friend had write
ton the occasion Of her second divorce
''The cold world does not understand Clar
yet" and Colonel StarbOttle had remarked
blankly, that with the exception of a sing
: woman in Opelousas Parish, Louisiana, sh
/ had more soul than the whole cabOodle
t them put together. Few indeed could rea
those lines entitled "Infelissimus," commen
ing, "Why waves no cypress Ger this brow,
5 originally published in the Aoatdnche over tt
8 signature of "The Lady Clara without feel:r
4 the tear of sensibiity tremble on his eyelid
or the glow of virtuous indignation mantle h
y cheek at the low brutality and pitiable jocula
j ity of the Dutch Fiat MtslliQencer, which th
]. next week had suggested the exotic charact
e of the cypress and its entire absence from Ri
It dletown as areasonable answer to the query
.ScriJmer for Au0ust..