The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-01-22
TESTING THE OLD MANS LOVE.

MIS-. SIdIh HAS Ueei iedtiltlS luc DSeCNeI-
| Titon scandal until her faith in man has
dwinded down to a very fine point; she has
poor opinion of them.
She had noticed that her hitherto loving
spouse had, for the past two weeks, been
low spirited and down hearted. y
She thought, perhaps, he too, had been
led from the paths of virtue, by the delud-
ing voice Of some bewitching siren, and
that his voice was growing cold. But how
to find out, if such was the case; Josephus
did not show any signs of producing the
statement, OF confessing his guilt to mu-
tual friend.
Her brow corrugated, and her hands
clenched as she brooded over her imagin-
airy wrongs, and she determined to put the
fidelity of her husband to the test.
But how to do it, that was the question
"Ah. l have it, said she triumphantly.
"I'll drown myself; that is, figuratvely."
Clark was a farmer, in good circum-
stances, and being several years younger
than his wife and good looking, it kept her
in a state of iealosy, and MIS-. Clark pro
ceeded to put her plan into execution.
Just behind the house was very deep
we'll, that had not been used for some time
and it was covered over with boards to
prevent the cattle from falling into it.
She removed the covering from the well,
and placing her bonnet and shawl upon the
brink, she crawled in under large goose
berry bush to await developments.
The weather was cold, and she was nearly
frozen before she saw her husband and
hired man coming from the barn, where
they had been at work.
Clark passed the well without noticing
the clothing; but the hired man saw them
and gave cry of horror.
"Mercy on us, Mr.. Clark Your wife
has thrown herself into the wenr' he
shouted frantically.
Mrs. Clark expected that her husband
would tear his hair, and rush to the edge
of the well, and after calling her all the
endearing names he could think of, descend
into its watery depths, in eager search OF
her cold, damp corpse.
But Clark didn't do any thing of the
kind. He quietly took fresh chew of
tobacco, and then approaching the well,
looked quietly into it.
81 guess the old girl has suicided," said
he, without any motion worth speaking of.
"Jake, sling them back again. l would
not have that brindle heifer get in there for
fifty dollars; and after dinner we'll hoist
the old woman OUT
"Hadn't l better get some of the neigh
bors here first ?" asked the frightened man.
after dinner will do, Jake. Business
before pleasure is my motto, and I'm awful
hungry"
"Jake covered up the well, and the man
went into the house, leaving the old lady
bowling with rage.
"I'n old girl him! I'll suicide him.
Take more pains over that pesky heiier
than he does over me. I'll, Fll-'
Words failed her; they were made
quate to express her feelings.
After dinner, Clark sent the hired man
Il
was awaiting his return he seated himself
on log in plain sight of bis loving wife
and whistled Old Hundred through with
out missing stave.
The neighbors arrived and were full of
sympathy for the bereaved husband, and
Josephus bore his honors meekly.
Various plans were canvasscd for raising
the body, but to the real depth of the well
they could not decide upon the right one.
"Ill tell you the best way, my friends, -
said Clark, patheticaliy. "She is gone.
and will never come back to this world of
woe and trouble: 50 thinl; we had better
let the body remain where it is and fill up
/ the well. 1t viii save a power of trouble
and bother"
The proposition was agreed to by the
neighbors as being feasible, and the work
of filling it up commenced. .Josephus
/ throws in all the large stones and blocks
of wood that he could lay his hands on
"There," said he, q guess that will
do after they had thrown a couple OF
] cart l'1'tuS vi lubDlNh illLD llc we'll, Jake
! can fill up the rest, at odd spells and rainy
| days. Wen have the funeral sermon
preached as soon as ! get done hauling
wood"
Near by the side of Josephus stood a
woman of about thirty Summers or Win
/ tiers. and she had been regarding the sol
/ emn scene with a mixture of pleasure and
/ sorrow intermingled, and when the rest OF
/ the neighbors took their departure, she
/ fingered behind to comfort the aching heart
/ of the bercavcd widower.
1t is a great pity to be so suddenly cut
down in the prime Of life, like the flower
at noontidc,' said she, mournfully.
eyes, said lie, shifting lis quid from
one side of his mouth to the other; "but
Betsy was getting along in years, and We
must be resigned"
Just SO, Mr.. Clark; resignation is {
cooling balm, as it were, to fill the void il
a troubled breast, and l always thought