The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-06-10


Testing the Old Mans love.
Mrs. Clark had bocn reading the Beech.
er.Tilton scandal until her faith in man
had dwindled down to very fine point;
she had poor opinion Of them.
She had noticed that her hitherto low
ing spouse had, for the past two weeks,
been low.spirited and down-heartcd.
She thought that perhaps he, too, had
been led from the paths OF virtue by the
deluding voice Of some bewitching siren,
and that his love for her was growing
cold But how to find ont ii such was the
ease. Josephus did not show any signs Of
producing Il statement or Of coniessing
his guilt to mutual friend.
Her brow corrugated and her hands
clcnched as she brOodcd over her i'm.
aginary 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 il" said she, triumphant.
ly. "lll drown myscIf-that Is, Iigur-
atively."
Clark was farmer in good circum.
satnCes, and being some years younger
than his wife, and good.loOking, it kept
her In n state OF perpetual wOrriment and
jealousy. Mrs. Clark proceeded to put
her plan into execution.
Just behind tho house was quite a deep
well that had not been used for some
time, and it was covered over with boards
to prevent the cattle from falling into II,
She removed the covering from the
Land placing her bonnet and shawl up.
on It's brink, she crawled in under large
gOOseberry bush tonwait developments.
The weather was cold, and shcwHs
nearly frozen before she saw her husband
and hired man coming from the barn
where they had been working.
Clark passed by the well without no.
ticing the clothing; but the hired man
saw them, and gave u cry Of horror.
"Nercy on us, Mr.. CLARK Your wife
has thrown herself into the we'll" he
shouted frantiCally.
Mrs. Clark expected that her husband
would tear his hair and rush to the edge
Of the well, and, after calling her all the
Gndearipg names he could think Of de-
sCend into its watery depth, in eager
search Of her cold damp corpse.
But Clark did not do anything Of the
kind. lie calmly took fresh chew Of
tobacco, and then approaching the well,
looked quietly into ii.
"Iguess the old gal has sucidcd," said
he, without any emotion worth speaking
of. "Jake, you sling them boards back
again; wouldn't have that brinde hcifcr
get in there for fifty dollars; and after
dinner we'll hoist the old woman out
"lIadn't better get some Of the neigh
bors here lirst?" asked the frightened
man.
CATER dinner will do, Jake. Business
before pleasure, Is my motto, and I'm
awful hungry"
Jake covered up the well, and the men
went into the house, leaving the old lady
bowling with rage,
"I'll old girl him I'll suicided him
Take more pains over that pcaky hciier
than lie does with me. l'll-l'll-"
Words failed her they wcT inadequate
to express her feelings.
After dinner Clark sent the hired man
alter some Of the neiyhborA, and while he
was awaiting his return he seated himself
Upon log in plain sight Of his loving
wife, and whistled "Od Hundred all
through without missing single stnye
The neighbora arrived and full Of sym.
patty for the bereavGd husband and JO.
sephus bore his hOnOrs meCkly.
Various plans were Canvasseh for
raising the body, but owing to the great
depth Of the well, they could not decide
upon the right one.
am tell you the best way, my friends"
said Clark, pathetically. "She ia gone,
and will never come to this world Of woe
and trouble; so ! think we had better let
the body remain where it ia, and Gil up
the we'll. It will save power Of trouble
and bother"
This proposition was agreed to by the
neighbors as being feasible, and the work
Of filling II up commenced, Josephus
throwing in all the large stones and
blocks Of wood that he could lay iia
[ hands on.
'There, said he, II guess that will do"
after they had thrown in couple Of cart.
loads OF miscellaneous rubbish. "Jake
can ill up the rest, odd spells and rainy
days We'll have the funeral sermon as
soon as Iget done hauling in the wood"
Near by the side Of JOsephus stood n
woman Of about thirty winters or sum.
mers, and she had been regarding the
solemn scene with mixture VI pleasure
and sorrow intermingled; and when the
rest Of the ncighbors took their depnr.
lufe, she fingered behind to comfort the
aching heart Of the bcrcuvcd wdowcr.
ut Ia great pity tob he 30 suddenly cut
down in the prime q life, like the flower
at noOntide," she said mourniullyi
ayes" said he, shifting the Guid from
ono side Of his mouth to the other, "hnt
Betsy was getting along in years, and We
must be resigned"
"Just 49, Mr.. Clark; resignation IL n
cooling balm, ns it were, to I'll the void
In the troubled breast, and ! always
thought that your wife was too old for
such smart, active man ns you are
"Did your asked Clark, with sudden
interest.
oTo be surc did. always took great
Interest in your welfare
Clark was lost in sudden meditation.
"Miss Perkins" saidhc, "can you make
good buttcrT
"Now, Mr.. CLARK" she answered, blush.
iDg, You touch me on tender point,
for, II do say ii myself, won't turn my
back To any woman in the country max.
Ing good butter"
Good Cook7'
"FiBt rate"
Cumberland housekecpingr
"None better
"Then, III tell you whot Pvebo think.
Ing about said he, picking up largo