The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-09-02

the sympathizing Mrs. Kennedy. "But
friends, do you thinks 2"
&c don't think he can have any friends
the heartless fellow; but there are a
gr, at many people who call, stylish peo-
pie, too, in carriages; and there is he
the wretch !-often with his half sleepy
look, smiling and handing the ladies out
as if he were the most exemplary hus-
band in the world"
81 Has she children? I hope she has,
as they would console her in his long
absence"
"No-even that comfort is denied her.
She has no one to cheer her-her own
thoughts must be her companions at
such times. But perhaps it is bless
ing for what kind of father could such
man make2 Oh, L should like to know
her And yet dread any acquaintance
with her husband. Barton, you know,
wouldn't know such a man"
My dear Mary, you have made me
quite melancholy. Let us go out. You
know | have much to see, and many
people to call upon; and here we are,
losing the best part of the day in some
thing not much removed from scandal. ="
The ladies hereupon set out, saw all
the cloves Of bonnets " and "sacri
fees" that were voluntarily being Of
fered up, bought great many things
for "less than half the original cost, I"
made calls, and laughed and chatted
away a pleasant, exciting day for the
country lady, who, happily for herself,
forgot, in the hustle, the dropping,
crest fallen bird who was fretting itself
away in it's pretty cage at Merton road.
The next day lady friend called on
Mrs. Barton.
81 ind," she said, in the course of
the conversation with that lady an6 her
guest, "you are near neighbor of a
friend of mine, Mrs. Morton"
"Mrs. Morton p exclaimed both her
hearers, pale with excitement and curl
osity. Mrs. Morton Oh, how sim
gular that you should know her-poor,
miserable creature Oh, do tell us
about
Poor-miserable ! What can you
mean? You mistake. My Mrs. Morton
is the happiest little woman in town."
"Oh, it cannot be the same !" said
Mrs. Barton. 81 mean our opposite
neighbor, in Hawthorn villa. thought
it couldn't be -
"Hawthorn villa. The very house
You surely cannot have seen her or her
husband, who ~
"Oh, the dreadful, wretched, gam
bling fellow !" interrupted Mrs. Barton.
"I wouldn't know such man." -
He," in her turn, interrupted her
friend, Mrs. Law" he gambler He
is the most exemplary young man in
town-a pattern of every domestic vir-
tue-kind, gentle, amiable, and passion
ately fond of his young wife p
My dear Mrs. Law, how can you. say
all this of a man whose conduct is the
common talk of the neighborhood-a
man lost to every sense of shame, l
should suppose-who comes home to his
desolate wife at all hours, whose only
ostensible means of living is gambling,
or something equally disreputable-
who"-
"You have been most gr1evously mis-
led" again interposed Mrs. Law. "Who
can have so grossly slandered the best of
men? He cannot help his late hours,
poor fellow That may be safely called
his misfortune, but not his fault !" And
the lady warmed as she spoke, till she
had to unite her bonnet, and fan her
glowing face with her handkerchief.
His misfortune" murmured Mrs
Barton chow can that be called a mis-
fortune which man can help any day
he pleasesl"
But he cannot help it he would be
too pleased to spend his evenings at
home with his dear little wife, but you
know his business begins when other
peoples is over!"
"Then what, in Heavens name, is his
business ?"
"Don't you know?" said Mrs. Law,
looking extremely surprised. "Why,
he's the editor of a morning newspaper !"