The Republican journal., 1875-10-14
Soper's Fatal Error.
From the Alcghany Mail. !

:
Mr.. Sopcr's wife had been sick tor some
weeks, but, although extremely reduced
in body and mind, there is still enough OF
the true woman remaining in her which
led her last Monday, in 4 faint Whisper to
ask her husband. who had entered the
sick room with Il tlnereal cast Of features
what was the news,
"Well," answered Mr Sopcr, sitting I'M
easily down on the extreme edge of Il chair
and balancing his hat on his fingers by
the brim, "there amt nothing to speak
oin pticler. S'posc you heard Of Miss
Coles death; she was tlken tAe same
time you was"
Il should think, james" said Mrs. So
per, with a feeble emphasis, tina, il you
couldn't find somethin' more cheerful to
say to your poor sick vile, you'd hold
your tongue"
"Ccrtanly," said Mn Soprr, mtehly,
''onlS news i 50 era' "a. nnlnr go" =" hn
continued looking thoughtiuIly iuto the
| crown Of his hal, rs il he has i re~nrH ed
fund Of gossip therein, "you heard bout
Mathy Carriers breakiu her leg
a snappish nod Of the head from tlle iu-
valid slgnllled to Mr.. Soper that he was ON
dangerous ground, but after II moment $
reflection he frightened sbly as he said
''4 on ortcr BEN to town ntetin' u Mon
dy. The towns voted to have Il new
hearse, and never was 50 mIal Of any
thing in al my life"
"James Edward Sopert " " hsperrd Hi.
wife, with painful intensity, '.bc You a
| natural born foot or be Nou Ioulli' for
rard to gettln' rid Of me ?
tho l1ttGr ,,iny, ltY,l ,.7-.t. ,,-n.,,t.t L
itself to Mr. Soper in thl light OF hs wilp'~
inquiry, he looked very much subduod,
and scratched his head with au air OF pain
tul abstraction as Mrs %oper >aid again
with a fearful voice:
'Oh, You en- 60. tyou can, spare Il
few moments to set with me, All ipe civ
me some little interestin' neWs-I don't
want You to stay ag'in yogr Inclination,
she continued with the SIGH of y martyr
Mr.. Soper hastily expressed his wiling
ness to remain anu desire to please. 50
after a brief interval OF Thought ne con
tinued rellectively:
''Well lemme think. was over to die
Widdcr Stacy's las night to see # couldn't
make a trade for u Jersey heilcr an | tell
YOU, Myria," said Mr. Sopcr. enthusiastic
cally, ''if she aiut halnSrm critter, |
never see one
An ominouS light appeared in Mrs So
per's sunken eyes, and if her husband had
been observing closely, ne would have
seen a restless motion Of the hands, indi-
cative Of an apparent desire to make {
personal attack upon some one or some
thing, but he saw nothing, and continued
| "She's Jest about the right size. ;ln her
| skin as white rs snow She's GOT the pooli-
est legs" continued the unreilectin@ Mr.
Soper, with q descriptive motion ot the
hand; 'an' when you come to talk about
shape-why, M'ria,n said Mr.. Sopcr, ris-
ing from his chair in his warmth, "sAr'l]
measure two feet across her breast
| The scream which came from the aillict
ed invalid ut this juncturc was of sucl
piercing shrilncss that Nh Soper placed
his fingers in his ears. and Mrs Sopcr'>
mamma, who was in the next room ap-
peared on the scene in the twink LING Of IN
] eye.
'Oh, You awful brute :" she exclaimed
rs She bathed her daughters brow witn
hair oil and camphor, wnile the wretcI.cG
man ieebly endeavored to explain that ht
was only telling Mrs Soper about Jer-
sey heller that he was going to buy.
"There, ma" said Mrs Soper with /
grasp, "I'm better now"
''4oud better leave the room,n SAID tho
matron, with Il world OF significant wratl
| in her eye. and the unfortunate Sopcr de
parted, muttering us she slammed the ont
side door behind him, that he'd be master
in his own house some day; but he hasn'
been yet, for Mrs. Soper has recovered
and her mother has taken up a permanen
residence with them.
TO this day they don't speal, to the Wild
ow Stacy, and Mr.. Soper's reiterated cN
planation has always been received in dig
| nified and incredulous silence.