The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-05-28
MRS. JONES' ELOPEMENT.

Mr.. Jones came home that afternoon
feeling cross and tired. Business had
been duh, and the clerks had been provok-
ing. When he felt out of sorts, as lie did
that day, a nice supper and his wife's com
pany were the best antidotes he knew of,
and he hoped to have them effect cure
in this instance, as they often had in other
instances.
But Mrs. Jones was out, the girl said.
She had been busy in her room all the
afternoon; she didn't know what she was
doing. About an hour ago she had put
on her bonnet and gone out, and had
charged her to tell her husband, when he
came home, that she should not be back
until late in the evening. "Gone out
on particular business, she said,' added
Bridget
''On particular business" growled Jones.
'I'd like to know what particular business
she has. 1 should'say it was a wife's busi-
ness to stay at home. She knew, of
course, that was coming home complete
ly tired out, but that doesn't interfere
with her pleasure in the least. She can
enjoy herself just the same-probably all
the more, because l am out of the way. l
wish I knew where she'd gone.'
He went up to her room to see if she
had worn some of her best clothes.
because, if she has, reasoned Mr..
Jones, "she's gone off to have good time,
with some one she cares more for than she
does for me'
Mr.. Jones' brow was black as any thun-
der-cloud, at the thought. He was in pre-
cisely the right frame of mind to make
mountains out of mole-hills.
But she hadn't worn any of her new
dresses.
cit can't be she's going to a party,
them" concluded Mr.. Jones, cor she'd have
rugged up more. 1t must be she's going
somewhere else, and wants to keep dark
1t begins to look mysterious. A woman
don't generally so off in this way. without
saying something to her husband, and wear
her old clothes, without its meaning some
thing, I've observed" said Mr.. Jones,
Solemnly, to the Mr.. Jones in the glass.
I'D like to know what it all does mean,
anyhow"
1t was just at this juncture that Mr..
Jones discovered letter on Mrs. Jones'
writing desk. 1t was a freshly written
page, beginning:
DEAR EDWARD
Mr.. Jones, hair raised on end when his
eagle eye caught the sight Of that name.
What awful thing had he discovered
Could it be that his wife was in the habit
of writing letters to gentlemen Perhaps
she has gone out to meet one now.
He read the letter through without
stopping to take breath, from beginning to
end.
1t read as follows:
DEAR EDWARD:
al have read your touching appeal over
ard over. until every word of it is stamped
upon my heart 1t has caused me to fg ght
a terrible battle with myself. 1 love you,
and there is no use for me to deny it, I
cannot deceive myself, nor you, by 50 do
ing. But my duty is to stay with my hus-
bind. loathe him-I despise him he is
tyrant-but, he is my husband, and as
such, L suppose he has a claim upon me,
in the eyes of the world, that you have
not. But. my darling, I love you, and L
have come to the conclusion to cast my lot
with yours. / will do as you wish me to.
L will meet you at the oak tree tonight at
ten O'Clock. hope l shall
And here, at the bottom of the page. the
letter broke off very abruptly. The other
side of the page was blank.
Great JehosophatH - That was the aw-
full word that broke from Mr.. Jones' lips,
when he had finished reading. 1t was the
nearest to swearing of any word he indulg-
ed in. If ever he felt justified in using it,
he did now. His face was a sight to behold.
1t was full of anger and surprise, and COM
plete bewilderment.
"She loves him. does she" he calculated,
family. "And I'm a tyrant. am II The
wretched creature She loathes me, and
despises me, does shep I'll show her
thing or two. Let me see--ten o'clock, at
the oak tree I'll be there, my dear, and