Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-12-20

ter, but no slave; ana she 1KeQ IL. O1o
had two beautiful children, and they
helped to fill her life; her husbands gold
smoothed her path, and his manly af
fections strewed it with flowers. She
was not passionately devoted to him.
but still, by the very laws of nature, the
wife was fonder of Jonathan than the
maid had ever been of Ephraim; not
but what the latter remaining unmar-
ried tickled her vanity, and SO completed
her content. So Vs.
She passed six years in clover, and
the clover in full bloom all the time.
Nevertheless, gilt happiness is apt to
get rub sooner or later; Clarke had
losses one upon another, and at last
told her he was done for; he must go
back to California and M ke another for
tune, "Lucky the old folks made me
settle q good lump on you," he said.
"You are all right, and the children. %
Away went stout-hearted Clarke, g.
left his wife behind. He knew the
country, and went at all in the ling, and
began to make money very fast. ..f
His letters were not very frequent,
nor models of conjugal love; but they
had their good qualities; one was their
contents-a draft on New York.
Some mischievous person reported
that he was often seen about with the
same lady: but Mrs. Clarke did not be-
lieve that, the remittances being regu-
lar.
But presently both letters and remit
tances ceased. Then she believed the
worst, and sent q bitter remonstrance.
She received no reply.
Then she wrote bitterer one, and,
for the first time since their union, cast
| Ephraim Slade in his teeth. ''There he
u.s." said she, " unmarried to this day,
for my SAX"
No reply even to this.
She went to her parents, and told
them how she was used. f.. 3D. .'..
They said they had forseen it-that
being lie some people think 1t neces-
sary to deliver themselves of before
going seriously into any question--and
then, after few pros and cons, they
babe her observe that her old lover,
Ephraim Slade, was a rich man, a man
unmarried evidently for her sake; and
if she was wise, she would look that
way, snd get rid Of a mock husband,
who was probably either dead Or false,
and. in any case, had deserted her.
"But what am I to do g" said Mrs.
Clarke, affecting not to know what they
were driving at.
"Divorce Jonathan 4! Think of it
He is the father of my children, and be
was good husband all the time he was
with me. It is all that nasty Califor.
MIA" And she began to cry. -...
| The old people told her she must
take people as they were, not as they
had been; and it was no fault of hers,
nor CALIFORNIA;, if her husband was a
changed man. 7aai.oae eao;.naE
In short, they pressed her hard to
sue for divorce, and let Slade know
she was going to do it. -..s I... s.r:
| But the woman was still handsome
and under thirty, and was not without O
certain pride and delicacy that grace
solid virtues. NO. said she, 81 will
never go begging to any man. I'll not
let Ephraim Slade think [ divorced my
husband to get him. I'll part with
Jonathan, since he has parted with me,
and after that I will take my chance.
Ephraim Slade2 he is not the only man
in the world with eyes in his head"
So she sued for divorce, and got it
quite easy. Divorce is beautifully easy
in the West. t..-.-.-. .- u
When she was free, she had no longer
any scruple about Ephraim. He lived
at town seven miles from her. She
had friend in that town. She paid her
a visit. She let the other lady into hel
plans, and secured her cooperation.
Mrs. x set it abroad that Mrs.
Clarke was widow; and, from one tc
another. Ephraim Slade was given tc
be agreeable. 81.
CIVIL it?' said Ephraim. s'Ther
I'll co. - 81 '' 'sa. -@ %
He called on her, and was received
with sweet, pensive tenderness. Sit
down Ephraim-Mr. Slade," said she
softly and TREMENDOUSLY, and left the
room. She had scarcely cleared it,
when he heard her tell the female ser
want, with a sharp, imperious tone, tc
admit no other visitor. It did not seen
the same voice. She came to him me
lodious. "The sight of you after sc
many years upset me, '',said she. Then
after pause and a sigh, ''You lcol
we'll" .. .....-..... e, Co. e.. ite~rrzs, q
"Oh, yes I am all right. We are
neither of us quite SO young as VT
were, you know" ~ 1''' os
"No, indeed" with another sigh
swell, dear friend, I suppose yor
have heard. [ am punished, you see
! for my want Of courage and fidelity. ]
have always been punished. But you
could not know that. Perhaps, after
all, you nave been the happier of the
two. [ am sure I hope you have - I'D
Swell, I'll sell you, Mrs Clarke,
said he, in open manly tones. yosads
/ She stopped him. a''Please DOM
call me Mrs. Clarke, when L have part
ed with the name forever (Sotte
voce "Call me Sophia. y g..
swell, then, Sophia, I tell you the
truth. When you Tilted me- $3.50
Oh !" gi 8l4 al .ro2.4a19
Sand married Cl--who shall ]
say? Well, then, married another, be,
cause he had got more money than ]
had" 80. 800 ess.sa ar
/ ssNol no Epbro;r, - voc OIL nv