Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-11-08
Testing the Old Mans Love.

in men had dwiudled down to a 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-hearted.
She thought perhaps be, too, had been
led from the paths of virtue by the de-
luding voice of some bewitching siren,
and that his love was growing cold. But
how to find out such was the case? Jo-
sephus did not show any signs of pro
ducing the statement, or confessing his
guilt to mutual friend.
Her brow corrugated, and her hands
clenched as she brooded over her imag-
mary wrongs, and she determined to put
the fidelity of her husband to the test.
But how to do it, that was the ques-
ton.
"Ah have it," said she, triumph
antly. "Ill drown myself; that is, fig
uratively."
Clark was farmer in good circum-
stances, and being several years younger
than his wife, and good looking it kept
her in state of Jealousy and Mrs.
Clark proceeded to put her plan into ex-
ecution.
Just behind the house was very deep
well. that had not been used for some
time, and it was covered with boards to
prevent the cattle from falling into it.
She removed the covering from the
we'll and placing her bonnet and shawl
upon the brink, she crawled in under a
large gooseberry bush to await develop
ments.
The weather was cold, and she was
nearly frozen before she saw her hus-
band and hired man coming from the
barn, where they had been at work.
Clark passed the we'll without notic-
ing 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 well !' he
shouted, frantically.
Mrs. Clark expected that her husband
would tear his hair, and rush to the
edge of the we'll, and after calling her
all the endearing names he could think
of, descend into its watery depths in ca
ger search of her damp corpse.
But Clark didn't do anything of the
kind. He quietly took fresh chew of
tobacco, and then. approaching the we'll,
looked in to it quietly.
Il guess the old girl has suicided, y
said he, without any motion worth speak
ing of. Jake, you sling them boards
back again; wouldn't have that brin.
die heifer get in there for fifty dollars
and after dinner we'll hoist the old wo
man out.
Hadn't l better get some of the
neighbors here first p asked the fright
ened man.
after dinner will do, Jake. Business
before pleasure. is my motto, and In
awful hungry"
Jake covered up the well, and th'
men went into the house. leaving tn
old lady bowling with rage.
"I'll old girl him I'll suicide him
Take more pains over that pesky heife
than he does over me. Fll-I'll-"
Words failed her; they were made
quate to express her feelings.
After dinner. Clark sent the hire
man after some of the neighbors. an'
while he was waiting his return he seat
! ed himself on log, in plain sight o
his loving wife, and whistled Old Hund
red through without missing a stave.
The neighbors arrived and were ful
of sympathy for the bereaved husband
and Josephus bore his hOnOrs meekly.
Various plans were canvassed for rails
, ing the body. but owing to the grea
, depth of the we'll they could not decid
on the right one.
'I'll tell you the best way my friends,
said Clark, pathetically "She is gone
d aud will never come back to this worl
of woe and trouble. so | think we ha
better let the body remain where it
, and fill up the we'll. 1t will save pow
' er of trouble and bother"
This proposition was agreed to by tt
neighbOrs as being feasible, and tn
work of filling it commenced. Josephu
threw in all the large stones and block
t of wood that he could lay his hands oil
There" said he. Il guess that wi
p, do" after they had thrown couple {
cart loads of rubbish into the well
Jake can fill up the rest at odd spell
, and rainy days. We'll have funer;
e sermon preached as soon as L get don
a hauling wood"
: Near by the side of Josephus stood
: woman of about thirty summers or vii
: tiers. and she had been regarding ii
a solemn scene with mixture of pleasul
g and sorrow intermingled, and when tt
rest of the neighbors took their depa
ture. she fingered behind to comfort ii
r aching heart of the bereaved widOwer.
d "It is great pity to be so suddenl
r cut down in the prime of life. like