The Van Buren press., 1877-05-15
o,-a .s@@s VAN BUREN, ARK. MAY l6. 1877.

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=" You don't mean to say he has taken
too much 2" i'' - zFe
"Well, miss, that depends. / don't
think myself, in a general way, gentle
man can take too much; the more the
merrier, l says. But he's pretty far
gone, anyhow"
The maid rushed in to her mistress,
her was sitting in the dining room.
Oh, ma am here's master come back
in cab from the Welch dinner. and the
cabman says he's fast asleep, and quite
tosticated p M nN4 u
Nonsense, Mary!' said her mistress
angriy, and advancing into the hall ;
there must be some mistake" e -
>" No mistake. MEN," said the cabman,
touching his hat respectfully; i've
brought the gent from the Welsh dinner
and here's his card. ."aaH
"Good heavens r said Mrs. Jones, re-
cognizing her husbands card, "it Is too
true, O dear, however shall l survive
this shocking disgrace2 Mary go down
stairs know l can rely upon you not
to say q word of this dreadful misfor-
tune to the other servants. 'HinHsat 11d
Mary retired accordingly, and Mrs
Jones continued: .snlaA 9dI IL sits sdI
Cabman, musta ask you to assist Mr.
Jones up to his bedroom; IL ia the front
room on the firstfoor; you will'find the
gas ready lighted gan give you no
help; foreI think itswould kill me to see
him in such a condition. u f84 u 900
"Lorj don't take on so, ma am" said
the cabman, good naturedly :'a" 1t sain't
nothing when you're used to it. Why,
some O. them nobs does .it every night
My old horse'lI stand as still as church
and Ill have the gcnelman upstairs IN d
jif'y.'s edf dti@ baia'&@p9& "oFIag aidHf
Poor Mrs. Jones returned into the
dining room, 9h6Iding her handkerchief
to her eyes !; and after moments pause
she was made aware. by sort Of scuffling
in the passage, accompanied by exclama-
ton Of Wo hoH Hold upn and other
calculations of a ,horsey nature, that the
cabman was assisting Mr.. Jones upstairs
After an interval of about ten minutes,
which seemed an age, he reappeared at
the dnning-room door, and said, in a
confidential manner:i- p4u.u.rs5. #4f5ess
"Tve got the gentleman into bed quite
comfortable. mum. He was little ok.
ard to undress, but l done him at last
proper;i aud he's sleeping like babbys"
Mrs. Jones dismissed the man with a
fee beyond his widest expectations, and
resumed her seat, as though her peace Of
mind was forever lost She felt that she
could never have the same respect for him
again. He, who had always been a mod
ell of all that was dignified and geptle
manly, pattern husband, to come home
DRINK from a tavern-dinncr 1t was in
credible, and yet the fact was beyond
mystery about the matter. Could he be
ill9 But no; he had never been in bet
ter health than when he left her few
hours previously. and to send for o doc
tor would be only to publish his disgrace,
Could his wine have been drugged But
suaely, at public dinner, at first class
place of entertainment, this was equally
out Of the question. There saemed no
alternative but to suppose that carried
awav by the excitement Of the occasion,
Mr.. Jones had fallen into one of those
sudden frailties to which poor human ma
ture. even that of the noblest, is subject
At first the weeping wife had felt as il
the offence was beyond all pardon; but
gradually a softer feeling came over her,
and she felt that, though tho wrong could
never be forgotten, it. might, in time, be
possible to forgiue it. And then she re-
hearsed the painful scene which would
take place between herself and her erring
husband, on his return to consciousness
and self respect; and she had just ar.
ranged few little speeches, to be spoken
more in sorrow than anger, when sudden
ly iatch-key was heard in the door, and
in walked Mr.. Jones, himself, calm and
unrufiied, without hair out Of place, or
a crease on his snowy shrt-front. Mrs.
Jones gazed at him moment, scarcely
believing her own eyes. ..s... a.,v. NJ,
"Owen !--and sobsrP' she exclaimed !;
then flung herself into his arms, and went
into fit Of decided Mysteries. 1ia''' 2
"My darling wife, what on earth is the
matter ?" ....-r.., ..y.L
80, Owen, am so, thankful" said the
/ little wife. as soan as her sobs would let
her sp peak--I am 81 thankful! ! But then,
who is the man in our bed 7"
"The man in onr bed" said Mr..
Jones, " whatever do you mean2'
"Oh, Owen, dear, you can't tell what
l have gone through. A cab came half
an hour ago, and brought you home
from the dinner; at least the cabman
said it was you, very tipsy, and fast
asleep, and he had your card; and SO l
told him to put you'll mean to say him
in our room, and there he is now"
:" The devil he is y said Mr.. Jones. Il
must have look at this double of mine !"
and seizing candle, he strobe up stairs.
Presently he again entered the room.
81 think l see how the mistake hap.
pened," he said. Z" This fellow up stairs
was at the dinner to night, and had more
than was good for him at an early period
of the evening. lie was rather rude to
me; but it was no use to be angry with
a man in such condition, SO l merely
handed him my card, and told him when
he returned to his senses he might come
and apologize, though can't say l had
much expectation that he would. What
became of him afterwards can't say. l
smoked cigar with our friend Gritllths,
and then walked leisurely home. Mean
while suppose the fellow Was too drund