The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-12-11

aud you did yonr own housework
you were as well and as happy a
anybojy, and no man ever had
pleasantcr little home than Johi
Stephens; but what have | now Il
leave, or corno back tor and this
Doctor, is what he ended NJ
with.--
"'Kate,' says he, 'you are moth
ing more nor less than drunkard
and in the sight Of God, more
culpablc than most of the mel
who stagger through the street
because the majority Of those poor
de, lis have some sort of an excnst
for their conduct, andy havcu''
the slightest. You have a luxur-
ious home, a husband doing hi'
level best to make you happy
everything under the light Of the
sun to please You, and yet you
will persist in swill'ng tea Yes,
Doctor, saoiiting was the word he
used = boo! hoo! hoo! Oh, dear me
to think | should ever have lived
to have heard such a language
out Of my husbands mouth; and
then says he-'and making me as
miserable Il wretch as walks the
earth. F."
"Pre,ty plain talk" interrupted
the Doctor, with a shrng Of his
broad shoulders.
"Oh, yes" sobbcd the victim,
'and SO awtulIy coarse and uukind.
Ii l had had u spell; and died
there before his very face, l don't
believe he would have cared a
snap of his finger. ltell you, Doc
tor Ellis, there as such thing as
a mans getting hardened"
"Evidenlly," replied the physi-
clan, with laconiCism absolute y
painful,
"But my husband has nothing
in the world to trouble him bnt
just my poor health; and | am
sure | can't help that" This re-
mark was more in answer to her
companion's tone and manner,
than the one single word that had
atcidently escaped his lips, and
tins the Doctor felt.
"Any body would think, by the
way he goes on" continued the
irnte woman, "that l enjoyed my.
self with spas'ns, and cramps, and
fainting fits. Anybody would
,hink it was a pleasure to me to
feel, every time | see a funeral
procession, as it the hearse was
going to stop at our door next.
Oh, yes! such a life is very enjoy.
able, very indeed"
u, ctor Ellis took no notice CT
these last words; the mans Dyes
grew luminous, and his whole
face declared that lie considered
himself master of the situation:
and if Mrs. Stephens had not been
SO entirely taken up with her own
ailments, mental and Physical,
that honest countenance would
have betrayed him.
"You say" he began, settling
hi,nsslfin the large easy chair,
and assuming strictly profession
al air, "that your husband has
nothing to trouble him but yonr
health; how do you know that,
Mrs. Stcplcns!"
"Hows why how do l know
anythingl BY the evidence of my
senses. Don't l know that John
Stephens has splendid business
tllat looks after itself, a magnifi-
cent income, and money enough
10 live on tho bare interest, as
we'll as a family need to live, if he
never entered his Office again
while he has brcath2'
"But money isn't everything,
Mrs. Stephens" proceeded the
physician, with calmrcss almost
mempbist ophelian, "Thcf are
other troubles bc-ide money troub
les. How about health. .madam2"
"Hcallh!" repeated the lady
with a smile, she intended to be
sarcastic, TO the last degree.
"lealthl Doctor Ellisl Why, there
isn't a healthier or a soundcr man
than my husband in the whole
United States. lie eats more in
one meal than l do in three
months"
"Thcre is nothing the matter
with your husbands stomach. Mrs.
Stephens. DR.. Ellis shaded his
face with his hand, and waited
further developcmsnts. Mrs. Ste
phens mistook this attempt at
forced concealnent tor emotion,
and Immediately assumed asittinR
brushed her hair away