Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-06-29
MfscELIANE Gus.
TESTING THE OLD MANS LOVE,

5RS. CLARK had been reading the
ass Beecher-Tilton scandal until her faith
in man had dwindled down TO q very fine
point; she had poor opinion of them
She had noticed that her hitherto loving
spouse had, for the past two weeks, been low
spirited and down. hearted.
She thought that perhaps he, too, had been
led from the paths of virtue by the deludipg
voice of some bewitching siren, and that his
love for her was growing cold. But now to
fad out if such was the case. Josephus did
not show any signs of producing q statement,
or of confessing his guilt to n mutual friend
Her brow corrugated, and her hands
clencEed AS she brooded over her imaginary
wrongs, and she determined to put the fidelity
of her husband to the test.
But how to do it, that was the question.
"Aha! have it, said she, trium phantly
"1'll drown myself; that is, fguratively."
Clarke was farmer in good circumstances,
and being several years younger than his wife,
aud good looking, il kept her in a state Of per
Petual worriment and jealousy. Mrs. Clark
proceeded to put her plan into execution.
Just behind the house was a very deep we'll,
that had not been used for some fine, and it
was covered over with boards to prevent tho
cattle from falling into II.
She removed the covering from the we'll,
and placing her bonnet and shawl upon its
brink. che crawled in under large goose,
berry bush to await developments
The weather was cold. and she was nearly
frozen before she saw her husband and hired
man cunning from the barn where they had
been working.
CLARK passed by the we'll without noticing
the clothing; but the hired man saw, them
and gave cry of horror.
''Mercy on US, Mr.. Clark! Your wife has
thrown herself in the well !" he shouted fran
tically.
Mrs. Clark expected that her husband
would tear his hair and rush to the edge OF the
vel, and, after calling her all the endearing
names he could think of, descend into its
wstery depth, in eager search of her cold,
damp corpse.
But Clark didn't do anything of tho kind.
He calmly took fresh chew of tobacco, and
then approaching the well, looked quietly into
81 guess the old girl has suicided, J" said he,
without any emotion worth speaking Of
"Jske, you sling them boards back again
wouldn't have that brindle heller get in thore
for fifty dollars; and after dinner we'll hoist
the old woman out"
"Hadnt better get some Of the neighbors
here first Z" asked the frightened mau.
"After dinner will do, Jake. Business
before pleasure" is my motto, and Pm awful
hungry"
Jake covered up the we'll, and the men
went into the house, leaving the old lady
bowling with rage.
I'm old girl him! I'll suicided him!-
Takes moro pains over that pesky heifer than
he does with me. Tll-I'Il-"
Words failed her I; they were inadequate to
express her feelings
After dinner Clark sent the hired man after
some of the neighbors, and while he was
awaiting his return he seated himself on log.
in plain sight of his loving wife, aud whistled
Old Hundred all through without missing .
stave.
The neighbors arrived and were full Of
sympathy for the beresved husband; and
Josephus bore his honors meekIy.
Various plans were canvassed for raising
the body, but owing to the great depth of the
we'll they could not decide upon the right one
Il II tell you the best way, friends" said
Clark, psthetically. ''She is gone, and will
never come back to this world of WOO and
trouble; 30 think We had better let the BODY
remain where it is, and fill up the we'll Il
will save power Of trouble and bother"
This proposition was agreed to by the neigh.
bors rs being feasible. and the work Of filing
it up commenced. Josephus throwing In al
the largo stones and blocks of 1ood that he
could lay his hands on
"There, said he, al guess that will do, =
after they had thrown a couple of cart loads
of rubbish into the we'll Jake can I'll mp
the rest. odd spells and rainy days Well
have the funeral sermon preaehed as soon as
get done hauling wood" sss.-
Near by the aide of Josephus stood woman
of about thirty summers. or winters, and she
! had been regarding the solemn scene yith :