Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-02-26


thar was a man for you Washington
He never told lie, sir. And he was
elected President twict."
Sproul ventured to hint that politics
were vastly different in the days of Wash
ington from the present time.
Yer right, Sproul, yer right What
with the niggers voting, and the China
men that's gon' to vote, and the women
what wants to vote things are mixed
What do you think of this woman vot-
ing business ?"
1t was my friends weak side. Defer
ence to tie fair sex and an innate belief
that lovely woman can do no wrong were
strong characteristics of that gentleman
when in love. For awhile after having
been "throwed" he was generally strong
the other way but Mt this moment he
was in love again, and female stock was
above par in his estimation. SO he un-
hesitatingly declared himselfan advocate
of the theory.
"Of course" said the Colonel 81
} mout a-knowed it without akin. It's
jist like you Yanks to go in for sich new
tangled lodges. For my part I'm agin
it all the time"
Mr.. Sproul was no ways set back by
this declaration. He entered into la
bored argument to prove the justice of
his position, and was encouraged by SEQ
| in hnf 4
| tener.
II go farther, sir" added Sprowl in
conclusion. al go farther than many of
the advocates of woman suffrage. be-
lieve, sir, that woman should have
rights that are as yet but limited Mt. |
think, tor instance, that she should have
an equal privilege with man in the selec-
tion of II life partner. In short, | think
a woman should be privileged to propose
marriage to one whom she thought she
could be happy with, without laying
herself liable to the charge ot being deem
ed immodest and unwomanly."
"Air you in airnest, Mr.. Sproul p"
cried the widow.
"Was never more in earnest in my
life" said Sproul ; Don't you think
am right ?"
The widow was decidedly non-com-
initial, and the Colonel, having finished
his supper was too busily engaged in cut
ting tobacco for his pipe to pursue the ar
gument any further Tho company was
soon after increased by the arrival of n
Miss Tibbits, who had engaged the Colo
nel's nephew, Curg (short for Lycurgus)
Smiley as partner, and as the widow
was the head manager of the affair and it
was therefore highly necessary that she
should be on hand in good season, the
two couples proceeded to the hotel whore
the dance was to be given.
Need we say that the Leap ear party
was n success The ladies', who had turn
ed ont en- m0SSe, were most assiduous in
the attentions they avished upon their
partners, and it was not until daylight
appeared that the assembly dispersed and
the widow and my friend started home
ward. She did not, however, accompany
him to the door of his lonely abode, but
when they reached the Colonel's, asked
him to stop and rest n little-to which he,
nothing 10th, consented, and they were
soon seated, side by side upon the little
squatty sofa which ornamented the Colo
nel's parlor.
The time and the occasion seemed so
fitting, that the ardent Sproul felt that he
could no longer smother his feelings. He
drew yet closer to her, took her unresist-
ing hand in his own, and was about to
press her to his manly heart, when she
Topped her head over on his shoulder
saying:
"Sprouly, dear won't you holp me
get divo'ce %
Sproul started back in dismay. Wis
ions of six-foot Mssourian, in butternut
breeehes rose before him, causing his
love, like Bob Acres courage, to "ooze
out at his fingers ends" "What di-
vorce? Why, / thought you had no
husband !"
=" only wish | hadn't I" sobbed the
widow. "lIe says he won't neither live
with me nor get "A divoce. Holp me get
one won't yer, Fred ?"
At this added bit of information Sproul
felt all his love returning. "Well, Eli
"a, we'll sec about it. I'll send Quibble
up tomorrow to SEQ what grounds you
will apply on"
"Groun's oh, yes, you mean reasons
You bet the the dod-rotted old fool gave
me groun's enough. Holp me out, won't
you, Sprouly ?"
Mr.. Sproul took his leave with re-
newed assurance Of his aid. In sooth, /
believe that after he had received two OF
three slight responsive pressures Of the
hand, he had worked himself up TO the
belief that the widow was an angel who,
like most angels on earth, had fallen tenn
porariy into the power Of one OF the OPP
posite extreme. For in this country it
seems to be fact that the best of women
appear 10 tie themselves to some Of the
most wretched scamps they can find, in
the whole country. Now, as every man
that is man, thinks his own wife is one
Of the best women in the world, that last
remark of mine may cause me broken
head.
BY morning my friend had became SC
excited that he concluded it best to ac'
company Mr.. Quibble on his visit instead
Of merely sending him. Accordingly
the worthy pair called that afternoon on
the widow, and she rehearsed her troub
les to their sympathzing ears.
"a clear case, madam" said the law
yer "as iair and clear a case as ! should