The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-09-16
MRS. JONES, ELOPEMENT.

Mr.. Jones came home that afternoon
feeling cross and tired. Business had
been dull, and the clerks had been pro.
voking. When he fell out of sorts, as
he did that day, nice supper and his
wife's company were the best antidotes
he knew of, and he hoped to have them
effect cure in this case, as they often
had in other instances.
But Mrs. Jones was out, the girl said.
She had been busy all the afternoon in
her room; she didn't know what she was
doing. About an hour ago she had put
on her bonnet and gone out, and had
charged her to tell her husband, when
he came home, that she should not be
back until late in the evening. "Gone
out on particular business, she said, "
added Bridget.
"On particular business" growle1 I
Jones. "Td like to know what particu-
lar business she has. I should say it
was wife's business to stay at home.
She knew, of course, that I was coming
home completely tired out, but that
doesn't interfere with her pleasure in the
least. She can enjoy herself Just the
same-probably all the more-because I
am out of the way. Iwish I knew where
she's gone"
He went up to her room to see if she
had worn some of her best clothes.
because, if she has," reasoned Mr..
Jones, "she's gone off to have a good
time with some one she cares more for
than she does for me-
Mr.. Jones' brow was black as anv
thunder cloud at the thought. He was
i'll precisely the right frame of mind to
make mountains out of mole-hills.
But she hadn't worn any of her new
dresses.
1t can't be she's going to a party,
then, concluded Mr.. Jones, cor she'd
have rugged up more. 1t must be she's
going somewhere else and wants to keen
dark. It begins to look mysterious. 4
woman don't generally go off in this way
without saying something to her hus-
band, and wear her old clothes, without
It's meaning something, I've observed"
said Mr.. Jones, solemnly, to the Mr..
Jones i'll the glass. "I'd like to know
what it all does mean, anyhow"
1t was just at this juncture that Mr..
Jones discovered letter on Mrs. Jones
writing desk. 1t was freshly written
page, beginning
DEAR EDWARD"
Mr.. Jones hair raised on end when
his eagle eye caught the sight of that
name. What awful thing had he dis
covered ? Could it be that his wife was
IN the habit of writing letters to gentle
men Perhaps she had gone out to
meet one now.
He read the letter through without
stopping to take breath from beginning
to end.
1t read as follows
DEAR EDWARD
L have read your touching appeal over
and over, until every word of it is
stamped upon my heart. 1t has caused
me to fight terrible battle with myself.
l love you, and there is no use for me to
deny it. | cannot deceive myself nor
You by so doing. But my duty is to
stay with ny husband. 1 loathe him-I
despise him /; he is tyrant-but he is
my husband, and, as such, suppose he
has claim upon me in the eyes of the
world that you have not. But, nv
darling, love you, and l have come to
the conclusion to cast my lot with yours.
L will do as you wish me to. l will meet
you ut the oak tres tonight at ten
O'Clock. | hope L shall
And here, at the bottom of the page,
the letter broke off very abruptly. The
other side of the page was blank.
Great Jehosophat I" That was the
awful word that broke Mr.. Jones' lips
when he had finished reading. 1t was
the nearest to swearing of any word he
in. If ever he felt justified in
using it he did now. His face was a
sight to behold. 1t was full of anger.
and surprise, and complete bewilder-
ment.
"She loves him, does she Z" he eiacu-
lated, family. "And I'm tyrant, am
L! The wretched creature She loathes
me, and despises me, does shea I'll
show her a thing or two. Let me see
ten o'clock, and I'll learn your Dear
Edward something he won't forget. I'll !
go out this blessed minute and get a
couple of officers, and We'll wait for
you. I fancy well surprise you little.
Great Jehosophat and she's actually
been deceiving me all the time, and let |
hing some other man talk love to her,
md coax her to elope with him 1 can't |
believe it, and yet L can't doubt it, for
here it is in her own handwriting. 1 |
have believed it if 1 hadn't
seen it in black and white. Dear me 1
wonder if can bear up under the awful
Dlow9 What will folks say2 1 shall be
ashamed to meet anybody. It's awful
lwfulr and Mr.. Jones wiped his face
With his handkerchief and looked the
complete picture of grief. ..
Mr.. Jones was so "struck all of
leap," to use his own expression, by the
errible intelligence that he didn't stop
% reason over the matter. He never
,nee thought that dear Edward "
.ouldn't by any possibility have received
his letter, since it hadn't been sent. He
'nly realized that she was going to meet
Ter lover at ten O'Clock.
"Iu be tl-r", my lady," said Mr..
Tones, signli, i,aAtiy, ltting on his over