The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-08-27
TESTING THE OLD MANS LOVE.

She had noticed that her hitherto low
ing spouse had, for the past two weeks,
been low~spirised and down>hsarted
She thought perhaps he too, had been
led from the paths of virtue by the delu~
ding voice of some wtching siren, and
that his love was growing cold But now
to find out if such was the case. Jose
phus did not show any signs Of produ-
chg a statement; or confessng his guilt
to mutual friend.
Her brow corrugated, and her hands
clenched "a she brooded over her imag~
mary wrongs, aui she determined 10 put
Ihe fidelity of her husband to the test
But how to do it, that was tie ques~
ton
AHA l have it, said she tr:um-
phantly an drown myself; that Is fg-
uratvrly."
Clark was a farmer in good circum~
stances. and being several years Younger
than his wife, and good looking, it kept
her in state Cf perpetual woTTiment
and jealousy, and Mrs. Clark proceeded
to put her plan into execution.
just behind the house was IL very deep
we'll, that had not been used for some
time, and It vas covered over with boards
to prevent the cattle from falling into it
She removed the covering from thA
we'll aud Placing her bonnet and shawl
upon the brink, che GTawled in under
large gOoseSerry bush to await develop
ments
The weather was very cold, and she
was nearly frozen before she saw her
husb baud and hired man coming FROM
the barn where they had been at work
Clark passed BY tie well without noti>
cling the c,Uthiug; bnt the hired man
saw them and gave a cry of horror
Mercy on Us, Mr. Clark Your
wife has thrown herself in the well r be
shouted fUanticaIly.
Mrs. Clark expected thai her husband
would teag his hair and rush to the edge
of the well, and after calling her ali The
eniearing names ne could think Of, de-
scend inso It's wate.y depths, in ea ger
search Of her cold, damp corpse
BHt Clark didn't do Anything Of the
kind. lie quietly took a fresh chew of
tobacco, ahd tAen,arproackinS the well,
% .led quietly into il
gue-s the old girl has suicided."
said lie wilhCat any emotion worth
| speaking Of Jake, you Stag them
"oards 1.es again; wouida'5 have that
brindle haifer get in there for fifty dol>
aTs AMI after dinaer we'll hoist ths oil
woman out
Hadn't | better get some Of she
neigEEors here first? asked the fright
eRed EIun-
Alter dinner will do, Jake. Business
before pleasure is my motto aud II aw
/ fol hungry.
Jake ca7ered mp the we'll, and the men
vent into the hoIsa, leaving the old lady
/ howlinE with rage.
"IiI oli girl him I'll suicide him !
/ Takes more aims over thet Tesky heit-T
/ thaa be does over me. I'LL I4.-''
WoTds failed her, thy were inaie~
/ quaJe to express her feelings.
After dinner Clark sent the hired nan
after some sf the ncightors, and while he
was awaiting his return he seated him,
self on To-, in plain sight Of his loving
wife, and wuis;ied Old Hundred all
through without tnissin1 a stave.
The neigh bors arrived and were full
Of symp thy for the bere we'd husband
and Josephus bore his honors meek'T-'
Various plans were canvaSSsd for ralss
ing the bOiy, but owing u ia re Il depth
of the We they could nos decide upen
the rig { uHe,
iil tell you the BIT way, my
FRIENDS, raid CIa: k. p.theJieaI.y "Sae
Is gur C. AMI will never COME htek tu 5his
world 81 wos and trouble SO ,h.ok ne
tad better Ic. zoe body remain .itarg it
Is, asd I'll up the we'll. IL viii save q
power uI 5r0ubie auI bother.
Tins proposition was agreed O ~ the
ne'@nbags as being feasible, an [ c cork
OF u.Eug 10 up commenced !o-"uhu~
t'Tows l.. al. the large stones aud b ook=
Ut Nod that he could lay hss hands on.
iii
d., after they had thrown cnu.Ig OF
cart loads of Iubb IN into the we'll
Jake can fiji up the rest, odd spells and
rainy days Wen have the funtrd SER
sGou preached as soon IS l get done haul
! M wood,
Near by the side f Josephus stood q
Z woman of about thirty summers or win
tiers, aud she had been regarding the sO}'
emn scene with a mixture Of pleasure
aud sorrow, IaterminGlcd, and " hen the
rest of the neighbors took their depart,
ure, sha fingered behind 20 com Tort the
. aching heart Of the bereavei wid0wer
" IL iS a great pity To be 80 sudden!y j.
cut down IN the prime Of lie, like tht
Hswor 1T n0outjdc,' said size mourniulIy
Ges, said be, shifting his quid from
one side Of his mouth to the oyher, bu
Betsy WAS getting along in years, and wt
must be resigned
" ,'uzt 50, Mr.. Clark resignation Is {
cooling balm, as it were, to fill the v0iC
In troubled breast, and always though
= Ut wife as too old for such smaT
active man as you
Did you, really ? answered CIarl
With sudden inter est
To be sure, did ! .awsys took
: gre t interest in your welfare.
Cbrk vas lost in med Ia ion for sor0O
tine
Miss Perkins" sail lie can goa max
good Iuuer7
Now Ne Clark she answere,
b.ushiag, YOU touch me on a ten ie
. sFo', for If 90 say j: myself Not'
turn my back to any woman IN the cJun
l try making good butter
Good cook p
First rate
: " Understand housekeeping
" None better.
"Then, r.i tell Won what have bsel
thinking about, sand be, picking u
T another iarz, stone and th,oning i5 int
the we'll suppose You AMI get mGr
r-d2
"No.g really, Mr. Clark. you are 2,
udie4 and ,..ke me 10y surprise; bus u
h-aTt bieeI, for you in your ber5ave
meu', and-aud | consent IaSe me
s am ., ,urs
n a f.-3 .--.f, a. l--,,..r &, 1-- .