The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-20

W uhb6 ,IOu NSSSIo NAAOt
your first wifo being alivel"
"Just so" wns the unabashcd rcioin-
der. Simpson swept the walnut ahells
into n corner OF his plato, und helped
himself to sherry. az have now four
wives"
"Bless my soul and body n said I.
"Four wives!"
"Yes. The story OF my little n'cnage
may seem in your oars rather curious.
II it will not bore you, I'll tell you about
it."
had no words to decline the offer,
even if I wished it. My breath ,ras
fairly taken away by Simpsons four
wives. The traveller that had liked his
food uncooked had given me rather n
turn, but that was nothing to this reve-
lation OF my present companion; q man
we had always considered Of the high
est responsibility, and whom my wife
had even thought would have suited our
Jane.
"Well, it was at n picnic party Oh the
plains near Bussora that the thing first
came about. My wife and I wero both
present at it !; and my European notions
preventing my believing there could be
tho least misunderstanding about it,
since I was already married, / mAdemy-
self very agreeable to o 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 I-of embracing Moham'
mechanism. Ny attentions, however,
we're misconstrued; and her brother,
being violent man in the shah scavalry,
and knowing I had n fairish income, in
sisted upon my becoming his brother
in-law. I spare you the trouble that
ensucd. Between my No. l wife on the
one hand, and her sharp tongue, and the
officer OF Spahis on the other, with his
sharpsword, L was placed in very bad
position, I promise you ; but in the end
I married Khaledu. am sorry to say
the two ladies' got on extremely i'll to.
gether. 1t was said by great English
wit that when one's wife gets tobe forty,
one ought to be allowed to change her
for two twenties, like a forty-pound
notc, and I dare say that would bo very
nice but, unhappily, l had now two
wives, each forty, il they were day,
and there was no prospect OF getting
them changed, or parting from them in
any way.
"Pirouze and Khaleda led mo a most
unhappy life. They quarfelcd from
morning to night, and SO far from being
able to play of one against the other, ns
I had secretly hoped, was treated with
great unkindness by both OF them. They
wcro matter Of very considerable ex.
pensc, Of course, and very little salts
faction. My position, in fact, became
intolerAble; and as I couldpleaee neither
Of thom, resolved to please myself by
marrying No. g."
"a twenty, I supposed" said !, int r
estsd in spite Of myself in this remark,
able narration.
"Well, yes; that is, she would have
been q twenty in England, but in Persia
young ladies' marry good deal earlier.
She was n charming creature, and cost
me-
"What did you buy her 7" cried l,
in astonishmentand horror.
"Wel, no, not exactly; her father,
however, insisted upon something hand
some, and there wereheavyisl fees 10 be
paid to her mother, and sisters, md to
the governor OF Bussora. The custom
Of the country is curious in that respect.
After ones second wife considerable
tax is levied by tho government upou
marrying men. However, Badoura was
worth al the money; she sang, she
played divinely; that is, shO would have
done so il she had not beeu always cry
ing. Pirouze and Khalcda made her
life, utterly miserable. Hitherto they
had been at Laggers drawn with one au'
other, but now they united together to
persecute tile unhappy Badoura. Her
very life was scarcely safe with them.
Wretched as my forner lot had been, it
was now become unehdurablc, for Que
can bear ones own misery better than
that Of those We love"
Hero Simpson took out his handker.
chief, of beautiful Persian pattern, and
pressed it to his clCa. Yes, my dear
friend, they led my Bldoua q dogs life
did these two wOm, Il. l felt myself
poworless to protect her, for ! was never
very strong; and though l did not
understand one-b.lf Of the cpithets they
showered upon hcr, I could SEQ by tho
effect they had upou her that they wero
most injurious-what have no doubt
would in this country bc considered
actionable. For her, however, there
was no remedy, and think sho would
have sunk under their persecution, had
l not married Sobeide."
"No. Il" said I, AShast. "Whnt on
earth did YOU do that forl"
81 married Zobeido solely andwholly
for Badoura's sake. l choose her, not
for her beauty, her virtues, nor hcr nc
complishments, but entirely for her
thews aud sinews. | said to her: 70.
beide, you arc q strong and powerful
Young woman; il l make you my wife,
will you protect my lamb1 and she
said ~ will. 1t was the most salts
factory investment-I mean, the hap.
piest choice-I ever made. Ny home is
now tho abode OF pea.e. In one wing
OF the house abide Pirouze and Khaleda,
in the other Zobeide and Badoura; two
on the east side and two on the west.
Each respects tho other; for although
Pirouzc and Khaleda arc estrong females,
and conld each wiring the neck of my
dear Baloura, Zobeido is stronger than
both of them put together, and pro.
tects her. Thus the opposing elements
arc, as it were, neutralized; the combat.
ants respect one another, and I am the
head OF u united house. | got letters