Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-06-12
Testing tlie Old Nuns love.

faith IN man had dwindled down
to q Very fine point; she had poor
opiMion OF them.
She had noticed that her hithe.-
to loving spouse had, for the D s~t
two weeks, been low-spirited aud
down-hearted.
She thought that perhaps he,
too, had been led from the paths Of
virtue by the deluding voice Of
some bewitching siren, and that
love for her was growing cold. But
how 10 find out if such was the
case, Josephus did not show any
signs OF producing a statement, or
Of ~coufessing his guilt to a mutual
friend.
Her brow corrugated, and her
hands clenched as she brooded
Over her imaginary wrongs, aud
She determined to put the fidelity
Of her husband to the test,
But how TO do it, that was the
question
.Aha!I have IL said she, tri-
umphantly. iii drown myself
that Is, figuratsvely.'
Clark was a farmer In good cir
cumstances, and being some years
younger than his wife, and good
looking, it kept her in a state Of
perpetual worr mcntand jealousy.
Mrs. Clark proceeded TO put her
plan into execution.
just behind the house was quite
a deep well that had not been used
for some time, and it was covered
over with boards 10 prevent the
cattle from falling into III,
She removed the covering from
the we'll, and placing her Bonnet
and shawl upon its brink, she
crawled in under a large ~gooseber-
nv bush ID await developments
The weather wa cold, and she
was nearly frozen before she saw
her husband and hired man COM
ing from the barn where they had
been working
Clark passed by the well With
out noticing the clothing ; but the
hired man saw them, and gave a
cry Of horror.
Mercy on us, Mr.. Clark !! Your
wife has thrown herself into The
wellp he shouted frantically.
Mrs Clark expected that her hus-
band would tear his hair and rush
TO the edge of the well, and, after
calling herall the endearing names
he could think Of, descend into Its
watery depth, in eager search Of
her cold, damp corpse.
But Clark did not do anything
Of the kind. He calmly took a
fresh chew Of tobacco, and then
approaching the we'll looked quiz
city into it.
Il guess the old gal has suicid-
ed said he, without any emotion
worth speaking of. Jake, you
sling them boards back again /
wouldn t have that brindle heifer
get in there for fifty dollars; and
after dinner We'll hoist the old wo-
man OUT
Hadn't / better get some Of the
neighbors here first" asked the
frightened man.
After dinner will do, Jake. Blu
siness before pleasure, Is my mot
to, and I'm awful hungry.
Jake covered up the well, and
the men went into the house, leav-
ing the old lady bowling with
rage.
sI'll old girl him! I'll suicided
him! Takes mOre pains over that
pesky heifer than he does with
me. I'll-I'll--
Words failed her they were in
adequate to express her feelings.
After dinner Clark sent the hir
ed man after some of the neigh
bors, and while he was awaiting
his return he seated himself upon
a log in plain sight of his loving
wife, and whistled old Hundred
ali through without missing a sim
gle stave.
The neighbors arrived and were
full OF sympathy for the hereaved
husband and Josephus bore his
honors meekly.
Various plans were canvassed
for raising the body, but, owing TO
the great depth Of the well, they
could not decide upon the right
one
'I'j tell you the best way, my
friends said Clark, pathetically.
She is gone, and will never come
TO this world of woe and trouble
SO / think we had better let the
body remain where it is, and fill
up the well. 1t will save a power
of trouble and bother
This proposition was agreed to
by the neighbors as being feasible,
and the work OF filling il up COM
menced, Josepiius throwing in all
the large stones and blocks of wood