The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-16

What you married a second wife,
your first wife being alive2"
"Just So" was the uuabashed rcioin-
der. Simpson swept the walnut shells
into corner OF his plate, and helped
himself to sherry. "I have now four
wives"
Bless my soul and body p said 1.
"Four wives!"
"Yes. The story of my little n,cnage
may seem in your ears rather curious.
If it will not bore you, I'll tell you about
it,"
I had no words to decline the offer,
even if L wished it. My breath was
fairly taken away by Simpsons four
wives. The traveller that had liked his
food uncooked had given me rather a
turn, but that was nothing to this reve-
lation of my present companion; man
we had always considered of the high
est respectability, and whom my wife
had even thought would have suited our
Jane.
"Well, it was ut picnic party on the
plains near Bussora that the thing first
came about. My wife and were both
present at it; and my European notions
preventing my believing there could be
the least misunderstanding about it,
since [ was already married, made N.Y.
self very agreeable to a certain Persian
lady. She was neither young nor pretty
just like what my wife herself, indeed,
had grown to be by that time-and no
more thought of making her my No. 2
than-dear me of embracing Moham-
mechanism. My attentions, however,
We're misconstrued and her brother,
being violent man in the shah s cavalry,
and knowing l had c fairish income, in
sisted upon my becoming his brother
in-law. L spare you the trouble that
ensucd. Between my No. wife on the
one hand, and her sharp tongue, and the
ofAcer of Spahis on the other, with his
sharp sword, 1 was placed in very bad
position, promise you ; but in the end
married Khaleda. 1 am sorry to say
the two ladies got on extremely i'll to-
gether. 1t was said by great English
wit that when ones wife gets to be forty,
one ought to be allowed to change her
for two twenties, like a forty-pound
note, and dare say that would be very
nice; but, unhappily, L had now two
wives, each forty, if they were day,
and there was no prospect of getting
them changed, or parting from them in
any way.
"Pirouze and Khaleda led me most
unhappy life. They quarreled from
morning to night, and so far from being
able to play off one against the other, as
had secretly hoped, was treated with
great unkindness by both of them. They
wero matter of very considerable ex-
pense, OF course, and very little salts
faction. My position, in fact, became
intolerable; and as I could please neither
OF them, resolved to please myself by
marrying No. g."
GA twenty, I suppose2" said I, int +
ested in spite of myself in this remark
able narration.
Well, yes; that is, she would have
been twenty in England, but in Persia
young ladies' marry good deal earlier.
She was a charming creature, and cost
me-
"What did you buy her 2" cried 1,
in astonishmentand horror.
Well, no, not exactly; her father,
however, insisted upon something hand
some, and there were heavyish fees to be
paid to her mother, and sisters, and to
the governor of Bussora. The custom
of the country is curious in that respect
After ones second wife considerable
tax is levied by the government upon
marrying men. However, Badoura was
worth all the money; she sang, she
played divinely; that is, she would have
done so if she had not been always cry
ing. Pirouze and Khaleda made her
life utterly miserable. Hitherto they
had been at daggers drawn with one an
other, but now they united together to
persecute the unhappy Badoura. Her
very life was scarcely safe with them.
Wretched as my former lot had been, it |
was now become uuendurable, for Que |
can bear ones own misery better than
that of those we love-"
Here Simpson took out his handker-
chief, of beautiful Persian pattern, and
pressed it to his ey es. " Yes, my dear |
friend, they led my Badoura dogs life !
did these two wom'n. felt myself /
powerless to protect her, for was never
very strong; aud though / did not |
one-half of the epithets they |
showered upon her, I could SEQ by the |
effect they had upon her that they were
most injurious-what L have no doubt |
would in this country be considered
actionable. For her, however, there
was uO iSIucuy. anu blluh SIG WOulu
have sunk under their persecution, had
L not married Sobeide."
"No. |" said I, aghast. "What on
earth did you do that for r.
81 married Zobeide solely and wholly
for Badoura's sake. l choose her, not
for her beauty, her virtues, nor her ac-
but entirely for her
thews and Einews. l said to her 10
beide, you are a strong and powerful
young woman; if / make you my wife,
will you protect my lamb?' and she
said l will 1t was the most salts
factory investment-I mean, the hap
piest choice-I ever made. My home is
now the abode of peace. In one wing
of the house abide Pnouze and Khaleda,
in the other Zobeide and Badoura; two
on the east side and two on the west.
Each respects the other; for although
Pirouze and Khaleda are strong females,
and could each wiring the neck of my
dear Badoura, Zobeide is stronger than
both of them put together, and pro-
tects her. Thus the opposing elements
are, as it We're, neutralized; the combat
ants respect one another, and 1 am the
head of united house. / got letters
rom all of my four wives this morning,
each of them most characteristic and in
teresting; Badoura forgot to pay the
postage-she has soul above pecuniary
letails-and her letter was the dearest
Of all.
"Don't cry, Simpson," said l.
' don't cry, old fellow. The steamer
n |