The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-09-23
Two Ways OF Killing a Wife.
BY II. y. OSBORNE.


Townsley, the richest farmer in Tuckl-
hoe county, had Just growled down his
breakfast. The meal had been served
ten minutes late, and ToWnsley never
failed to growl when such was the case.
He arose from the table and scowled at
the little woman who sat, trembling and
weak, behind the bic colfee-pot. That
little, faded piece of humanity was
T0Wnslev's wife. and trembling was good
enough for her, and if her white face had
been flushed with shame, it would have
been tar more becoming.
"A woman" said Townsley, glancing
ut his wife, "Will toss out of the window
with Il teaspoon faster than Il man can
throw IN at the door with 4 shovel. Time
is money, Mrs. Townslcy, and if YOU go
ON wasting it in this way, we shall all be
in the poor-house before winter"
Green wood and wouldn't kintile p
Well. You should have found some that
would! Weren't You up two hours be-
tore | was? What on earth women find
to do with all their time is more'n know
But don't sit there making excuses. There's
been enough time lost already, should
think 1t is now half-past six. Bring me
my thick boots. You can get me clean
collar, too. while you're about it. I'm
going to town. BY the way" said Towns
ley, as the little fingers Of his wife fastened
the fresh collar around his throat. run to
the barn and bring Judy's horse-blanket
around to the front door If I'm not there,
roll it up and throw it into the buggy.
Wait q minute" detaining her. " on
,l,,r ~,
clothcs-wringer. | haven't any money to
throw away on gimcracks. My mother
never had n wringing machine and never
asked for one. Takes all can rake and
scrape to keep the farm supplied with
moving machines and corn-planters.
Pretty soon you will be teasing again for
n piano, and then like enough for a sew
ING machine or some other invention to
encourage idleness. Hands were given
us to use, Mrs Townsley, not to dilly-
daily here and there, keeping meals wait
ing"
Delivered OF his speech and ready for
town-going, Townsley allowed his wife
to depart in search Of the horse-blanket,
while he strobe to the front door, dis
patched Bob to open the gate, and jump
cd into his buggy.
4" Jane" said Iownsley, unbending Il
little, as the small lrail figure drew closer
and lifted in the heavy blanket, ''if the
butcher stops to-day, you Won't need TO
get any meat for the house. [ shant be
home to dinner and the men folks will be
over to Dawson's Well" running up Il
thin cheap smile to his face to signal
goodbye, "l'm off at last. Whoa, judy.
Jane, there's some potatoes in the bin; /;
therere sprouting. Better see to them
to- day Good morning.
Good morning it was-lair, fresh and
beautiful The blue overhead was new
and bright and the earth was clean-laced
and rain washed For 4 mile or two
Townships route lay through woods,
where blossoming flowers filled the ;tir
with fragrance. He cut at the flowers
with his whip and left them bruised and
mangled by the wayside. The birds in
the trees tossed him q greeting as he
passed; but all the notice that he took
was to turn songs to screams by striking
at the branches where they swung. Not
that Towne!ey was any longer lll-llatured,
| or that he had been ill-natured any OF the
time Had you charged him with such
feelings he would have denied their exist
ence But he liked to teel his power, and
this slashing at everything was habit he
had resulting therelrom.
Judy was Townsley's best horse. When
they got through the piece of woods, and
Iownsley had nothing to crack his whip
at, he tried his snapper on her and made
her dance. judy was in fine spirits this
morning She needed no urging. Towns
| lev continued to fret her with his whip
| But when he touched ner with the tassel
end if was more than the spirited animal
would brook. She reared and paved the
air, and then plunged forward as if to free
herself, and finally dashed down the road
at a break-neck speed. For 4 mile she
flew like the wind; but Townships firm
being. the horse recognized her master
But Judy's eyes glittered; She LOOKED
wicked. Townships eye glistened he felt
lingly drew lines to chat with Ricketts,
who was riding from town on horseback
'.Well, what's the news?" with pat
roAizng nod. in exchange for Ricketts,
neighborly greeting,
:. Wal, ther hain't much news, Mr.
Townsley," said Ricketts,, shifting to al
easier position in his saddle and leaning
down comfortably on the pommcl. mo
much news of any kind, everybody's $,
tarnal full of the hangin'"
"krieff, ch ! The fellow that murdere,
his wife? So he has had to swing for it
has he? lIanging's too good for such q
cuss as he was"
judy plunged and reared and snorte,
fire.
''1a-as. Papers full ont; considerable
excitement. lfthey'd pardoned him, thinl
the boys would have lynched him"
The spirited Judy gave a leap; bu
Townsley quieted her
"Yes,' sald Townsley, he's hare
case"
"Oh, desput hard, - interrupted Ricketts,
"Y ou read the account, didn't youp'
"Oh, yes, yes. | recollect the who'll
miserable affair A man who will abus,
a woman as he did, man who, in col,
blood, shoots down the mother of hi
child as Kreff did-hangng isn't enougI
for him; it isn't enough. Whoa, Judy
whoa, you beast! Yes; fine horse
pretty fine horse. Whoa! Judy. Stan
still there! How did he behave ON til
gallows?"
Like man, the paper says. For th
fust time in his life, 1 reckon. Yes, die
without ilinchin'; didn't seem to care wha
become of him."
ats dreadful" said Townsley, jerkin
his horses mouth, and with difficulty cor
trolling her. 1.-The way crime - whoa
is increasing-whoa! Mrs. Punch, or l.
get out and whip you till you know VIII
/ am. That's the third case of wife mur
der we've heard of within"
Here Judy dashed off at full speed, an
Townsley was obliged to leave his ser
tence unfinished.
/ What allied the brute that morning