National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-09-26

with scream and an oathl
The first came from Mrs. Wexford,
, who, after having performed it in n
, creditable manner, flung herself on the
sofa and burst into torrent Of tears.
The second emanated from the militia
, ry chieftain, and was Of a large and gem
erous description.
In corner of the room stood the doc.
tor, gazing with anxious visage ON n
, spectral figure which has just entered.
II was Mr.. Wexford
: The military chieftan surveyed the
scene with deliberate stare, walked III
: to Mrs. Wexford, placed his brown hand
, on her fair shoulder, and bade her be
, comforted.
"Leave this house, sir"
prefer to stay"
You refuse I"
Unquestionably."
Madam" addressing his wife, ere
tire to your own apartment.
Harriet, stay where you are.
The reader is requested to bear in
mind that all the impudent answers
emanate from the military chieftain.
"Insolent II" and the sick man
grasped Z chair.
"Pray be seated, said the military
chieftain, with delicious playfulness.
Mr.. Wexford dropped the chair and
Strengthened himself like a telegraph
post.
Perhaps, sir. as you will neither
leave the house nor permit me to be
alone with you, you will so far unbend
yourself as to offer me some kind OF ex-
planation for this extraordinary con-
duct"
Certainly. l have known your wife
ever since she was n child. Then, as
now, l loved her dearly. Circumstances
compelled me to be absent a series of
years, during which period you took
advantage of an opportunity to buy her,
like toy, for the amusement of your
weary hours. To-day returned, found
that she was married and unhappy"
d" 1t is false never gave her cause.
Speak, Harriet, speak yourself have l
ever made you unhappy ?
Every, very unhappy replied the
conscientious spouse, with little cat
aract.
Mr.. Wexford was well-nigh stunned.
The military chieftain continued.
"You hear what she says Let me
continue Finding her unhappy, /
tried to solace her grief. She told me
all her woes and all her blighted pros
poets how she had been the tortured
slave of your whims and manias and,
in fact, how she had led the blankest
life it was possible for pretty woman
to lead"
"And you, sir"
81 pressed her to my bosom, and
swore by all the gods and all the devils
/ could think of to protect her against
mean to do it.
The sick mans eyes danced with fury
at these words. Once more he com
manded Mrs. Wexford to retire, but she
lay motionless, buried in her handker-
chief.
The chieftain continued:
"As there was prospect of speedy
relief, deferred taking any active meas
ures for the moment. l did not, con-
fess, anticipate this scene, for | We
led to understand that you were a dy- |
ing man. / now discover that hypocrisy
has to be added to your other virtues
Liar die when l may, l thank
Heaven l have yet strength to punish a
villain"
In another moment he was at the
throat of the military chieftain. Livid
with rage, he struggled furiously (and
with every prospect of success) to hurl
him through the window.
Time-the Goth of August, eight
o'clock in the morning. Pace-the
breakfasting-room at Lake shore House.
FoUr sons are partaking of the ma
tut4Dal repast. Mr.. and Mrs Wexford,
the military chieftain and Doctor Pill
LOCUS. The military chieftain is orna-
mented with a suspicious bandage over
the left eye, and his nose displays evi-
dence of having been, what is technical
ly called, "barked."
The only thing noticeable about Mr..
Wexford is the astonishing vigor of his
appetite. Something of a pre-eminent-
ly ludicrous character tickles the chief
tan. He throws himself back in the
chair, and laughs in a boisterous man
ner.
"You dying man Why by Jove
you had the strength of an elephant.
I am only surprised you did not fling
me to the other side of the lake ~
"Mat !" said Mr.. Wexford, stopping
in the midst of his sixteenth
egg, "please don't say anything more
about it. You saved my life by making
me jealous of your dear little sister.
"There is no mistake about that"
chimed in the doctor. "You were quite
beyond the reach of medicine"
II know it perfectly well, and know
also that Twas very great ass to allow
a foolish presentiment-"
Here there was peal of laughter.
Presentiment fiddlestick! Do you
suppose that lazy mass of tlesh-such as
you used to be-could have PRESENT.
nent of anything in the world but indi- {
yestion." s
"Call it what you like, only don't {
augh more than you can help-there's !
/ good fellow l feel so very ridiculous
o be here, eating disgustingly hearty !
after having arranged every J
hing to die last night at twelve. I
Another hearty laugh, and when that t
lad subsidized there was a smack of |
title kiss, imprinted With extreme a
on a conf ential spot of a
fr. Welford's brow by his loving S
pouse, the discoverer thereof. n
"Well, all l want to say" criel the II
loctor, rising to depart, sis this. If l II
ver write play, / shall make the plot e
urn on a certain used-up gentleman, b
5ho thinks he is going to die at GER q
ain hour, but is saved from death by II
furious fit of jealousy. The remedial il
Incident which causes this fit must in p
olive the affection of his wife and his f,
Tife's brother, who, of course, must be a.
military chieftain just returned from
Iexico "