The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-08-13

IEOvv Mrs. Clark Fat saer EHus
baaSS Affection Outae Proof

Mrs. Clark had been reading the
Beecher-1 iltOn scandal until her
faith In man had dWindled down To
u very fine point aud she had poor
opinion OF them.
She had noticed that her loving
spouse had for the past two weeks
been lOw-spIrited aud down heart
ed.
She thought that perhaps he, too.
had been led from the paths OF Vir-
tue by the deluding voice of some
bewitchiDg siren, and that his love
for her was growing cold. But now
TO find out If such was the case.
Josephus did not show any signs of
producing q statement, or OF con-
Tossing his guilt to mutual friend.
Her brow corrugated and her
hands clenched as she brOOded over
her imaginary wrongs, and she en-
deavOred- to put the fidelity of her
husband to test.
But how to do it, that was the
question.
"Ah, have It," said she triumph
antIy. "Ill drown myself, that is,
figuratively."
Clark was q farmer, in good cir
cumstances, and being several years
Younger than his wife, and good
looking, il kept her in = state of
perpetual wOrriInent and jealousy.
Mrs. Clark proceeded TO put her
plan into execution.
Just behind the house was q very
deep well, that had not been used
for some time, and il was covered
over now with boards to prevent
the cattle from falling into it.
She removed the covering from
the well, and placing her bonnet
and shawl upon its brink, she
crawled in uAder q gOoskberry bush
to await developments.
The weather was cold, and she
was nearly frozen before she saw
her husband and hired man coming
from the barn where they had been
working.
Clark passed the well without no.
ticing the clothing; but the hired
man saw them anu gave = cry OF
horror.
"Mercy OH us, Mr.. CLARK! Your
wife has thrown herself into the
WELT he shouted Graniically.
Mrs. Clark expected that her hus-
band would tear his hair, and rush
to the edge of the well, and, after
calling her all the endesring names
he could think of, descend In TIT
walery depth, in eager search of hel
cold, damp corpse.
But MIR. Clark did not do any
thing Of the kind. He kindly tool
fresh chew of tobacco aud then APP
preaching the we'll, looked qHietl!
into il.
az guess the old girl has suicid
ed" said he without any emotion
? worth speaking of. "Jake, yol
sling them boards back again;
wouldn't have the brindIe heife
get in there for fifty dollars aud af
ter dinner we'll hoist the old wO
}. man out"
Hadn't better get some of tn
neighbOrs here first !" asked TIA
frightened man.
4 "After dinner will do Jake. BUS
a mess before pleasure is my motto
and AIN awful hungry"
Jake covered up the well, aud ia
4 men went into the house, leaVin
o the old lady bowling with rage.
n an old girl him! Pll suicid
S him! Take more pains over Oh
% pesky heifer than he does with M
r pIl-Pll-"
~ Words failed her they were il
Il adequate To express her feelings.
Is After dinner Clark sent the hire
y man after some of the neighbor
y and while he was awaiting mis- n
~ turn he seated himself upon q 10
in plain sight of his loving wife, All
Is whistled "Old Hundred" all thrOug
without missing staVe.
The neighbOrs arrived, and wei
full of sympathy for the bereaYC
husband; and Josephus bore b
honOrs meekly.
q Various plans were canvassed f
raising the body, but owing TO Il
!" great depth OF the well they cOu
Is not decide the right one.
# an tell you the best on
. friends" said Clark patheiicall
! She is gone, and will never come
g this world of woe and trouble so
e think we had better let the body T.
main where it is and Nil up Il
y well. 1t will save a power {
p trouble and bother"
20 This proposition was agreed c
by the neighbors as being feasibl
Is the work of filling up commence
ut JOsephus throwing in all the lari
a blocks of wood and stones that
could lay his hand on.
N "There," said he, al guess tn
It. will do" after they had thrown
couple of cart loads of miscellan
:" GUS rubbish into the we'll. "Jal
TO can fill up the rest at odd spells al
Ill rainy days. Wen have the fnner
IN service as soon as | get done haulil
wood.
r. Near by the side of Joseph
We stood u woman of about thirty SUI
mers or winters, aud she had be
"' regarding the solemn scene with
IT mixture of pleasure and sorrow
or termingled and when the rest
the neighbOrs took their departul
=" she fingered behind TO comfort {
Nv aching heart OF the bereaved wi
AT over.
ats a great pity TO be so suGlde
''' ly cut dswn in the prime of Ii
Ii like the flower at nOOnIide," 8
nd said mOurnfully.
, "Yes," said he, shifting his gu
-, from one side of his mouth to {
lr other, "but Betty was getting alO
no In years, aud we must be resigned
"Jusi so, Mr.. CLARK, rcsignaIi
Oh Is a cooling balm, as it were, to
ror the void in the troubled breast, q
,al always thought your wife was I
old for such a smart active man
'es yOn."
he Did you, really 7" answer
- CLARK, with sudden interest.
"rO be sure, did l always to
,st an interest in your welfare"
AL Clark was lost in meditation
some time.
"a "Miss Perkins," said he sudden
)st ''can you make good butter z"
,ty "NOW, Mr.. Clark" she answer
blushing, "you touch me on n Il
10 der spot; for, If do say il mysel
Vlll won't turn my back to any wOn
IL ia the country"
"GOOd cook 2"
INT "First-rate."
,ad understand housekeeping? ?"
"a "NOne better"
Then, I'll tell you what l
'ur been thinking about" said he, pi
er- ing up another large stone q
III throwing it in the well, "supp'
o yOn aud get married 2"
Is "NOW, really Mr.. Clark, you
SO sudden and take me by surpri
but my heart bleeds for YOU ia y.