, 1875-07-24
A TEST OF LOVE.

Beecher-I1lt0n .Scanual unIh SnO
acquired a poor opinion Of men IN
general, and she thought that per
Raps her own husband might have
been led from the paths of virtue
by some bewitching siren, as his
love for her was evidently grow
ing cold. But how to find it out,
was the question. He did not
show any signs of producing a
statement, or Of confessing his guilt
to mutual friend.
Ah!I have it, said she trium-
phantly. I'll drown myself, that is
fguratively.
Clark was a farmer in good cir
cumstances, and being several
wears younger than his wife, and
od-looking, it kept her IN a per-
petual worry.
Just behind the. house was a
. deep well which was covered over
to keep the cattle from falling into
it. She removed the covering,
and placing her bonnet and shawl
upon its brink, she orawled in un-
der large gooseberry bush to wait
developments.
The weather was 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
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
we'll! he shouted wildly.
Mrs. Clark expected that her
husband would rush to the edge
of the we'll, and after calling her
all the endearing names he could
think of descend into the watery
depths in search of her cold damp
corpse.
But Mr.. Clark did not do any
thing of the kind. He calmly ap-
preached the well and looking into
it, said:
Iguess the old girl has suicided.
Jake, you sling them boards back
again l wouldn't have that brindle
6eifef get in there for fifty dollars;
and after dinner we'll hoist the old
woman out.
Hadn't 1 better get some of the
neighbors here first? asked the
frightened man.
After dinner will do, Jake.
Business before pleasure, is my
motto, and Pm awful hungry.
Jake covered up the well, and
the men went into the house, leav-
ing the old lady bowling with
rage.
III old girl himl I'll suicided
himl Take more pains over that
pesky heifer than be does with me.
I'll---I'll---
Words failed her; they were
Inadequate to express her feel
ings.
After dinner Clark sent the
hired man after some of the neigh
bors, and while he was awaiting
his return he seated himself upon
log in plain sight of his loving
wife, and whistled Old Hundred
all through without missing a stave
The neighbors arrived, and were
full Of sympathy for the bereaved
husband; and Josephus bore his
hoDora meskly.
Various plans were canvassed
for raising the body, but owing to
the great depth of the well, they
would not decide on the right one.
I'll tell you the best way, said
srk,pathetically. She is gone,and
I never come back to this world
woe and trouble; so l think
had better let the body remain
sere it is, and fill up the well.
At will save power of trouble.
This proposition was agreed to
by the neighbors as being feasible,
and the work of filing up COM
menced, Josephus throwing in all
the large stones and blocks Of
wood he could lay his hands on.
There, said he, l guess that will
do, after they had thrown a couple
ofcart-loads of miscellaneous rub
bish into the well. Jake can fill
up the rest at odd spells and rainy
days, Well have the funeral SER
mon preached as soon as 1 get
done hauling wood.
Near by the side of Josephus
stood q woman of about thirty
summers, and she had been re-
gsrding the solemn scene with a
mixture of pleasure and sorrow,
intermingled; and when the rest
of the neighbors took their de- !
parture, she fingered behind 20 |
comfort the aching heart of the
bereaved widower.
1t is q great pity to be cut down
In the prime Of life, like the flower
at noon-tide, said she, mournfully.
Yes, said he, shifting his quid
from one side of his mouth to the
other; but Betty was getting along
in years, and we must be resigned.