The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-03


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.
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 60 back
to California and make another fortune.
"Lucky the old folks made me settle a
good lump on you," he said. "You are
all right and the children"
Away went stout hearted Clarke, and
left his wife behind. He knew the coun-
try, and went at all in the ring and be-
gun to make money fast.
His letters were not very frequent,
Dor models of conjugal love, but they
had good qualities; one was their con-
tents-a draft on New York.
Some mischievoLs 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 bitter remonstranoe.
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 is" said she, unmarried to this
day, for my sake"
No reply even to this.
She went to her parents, and told
them how she was used.
They said they had foreseen it, and
then, after a few pros and cons, they
bade her observe that her old lover,
Ephraim Slade, was rich man, a man
unmarried evidently for her sake; and
if she Was wise, she would look that
way, and get rid Of mock husband,
who was probably either dead or false,
and, in any case, had deserted her.
"But what am I to dol" said Mrs.
Clarke, affecting not to know what they
were driving at.
"Why, sue for q divorce"
"Divorce Jonathan! Think Of it !!
He is the father Of my children, and he
was good husband to me all the time
he was with me. 1t is all that nasty
California. And she begun to cry.
The old people told her she must take
people as they were, not as they had
been and that it was no fault of hers,
nor California's, If her husband was a
changed man.
In short, they pressed her hard to sue
for a divorce, and let Slade know she
was going to do it.
But the woman was still handsome
and under thirty, and was not without q
certain pride and delieacy that grace her
Sex even when they lack the more solid
virtues. "No," said size, 81 will never
go begging to any man. III not let
Ephraim Slade think I divorced my
husband just to get him. I'll part with
Jonathan, since he has parted with me,
and after that I vii! tako my chance.
Ephraim S!aGe he is not the only man
in tie world with eyes in his head"
So :e sued for divorce. When she
vas free she had no longer any scruple
about Ephraim. He lived at a town
seven miles from her. She had fl end
in that town. Sho paid her q Wit.
She let the other lady into her plans,
and secured her cooperation. Mrs.
Y: set it abroad that Mrs. Clarke was q
widow; and, from one to another,
Ephraim Slade was given to understand
that q visit from him would be agree
able.
"Will it1" said Eohriam. "Thon
III CO."
He called on her and was received
with sweet, pensive tenderness. "Si'
down, EpLraim Slade," said she,
softly and tremulously, and left the
room. Sue had scarcely cleared it,
when he heard her tell the female ser
want, with a sharp, i'm oerious tone, to
admit no other visitor. It did not seem
the same voice. She clme back to him
melodious. "Tho sight of you after so
many years up2et me, said she. Then,
after pause and sigh: "You look
we'll"
ooh, yes I nm all right. We are
neither OF US quite 50 young as we were,
You know"
"No, indeed" with another sigh).
"Wcll, dear friend, l suppose you have
heard. am punished, you see, for my
want OF courage And fidelity. I have
always been punished. But you could
not know that. Perhaps, after ell, you
nave been the happier Of the two. l am
sure hope you Lave"
"Well, I'll tell you, Mrs. Clarke, +"
said lie, in open, many tones. .
She stoppe him. "Please don't call
mo Mrs. Clarke, when have parted
with tho ,me forever. Call mo Sophia. !"
"Well, then, Sophia, I'll tell you the
truth. When you Tilted me-
Goa !"
"And married Cl-who shall say ?
Well, then, married another, because he
hal got more money than ] had -
Ono, no. Ephraiu, it was all my
parents. Bat I will try and bear your
reproaches. Go on"
"Well, then, of course I was awfully
cut up. was wild. I got six shooter
to Iii you and tho other"
II wish you hed," said she. She
didn't wish anything OF the kind.
"i am very glad I didn't, then. [
dropped the six shooter and took to the
moping and crying line"
Poor Ephraim !"
"Oh, yes! / went through all the
changes and ended AS other men do"
" And how is that2'
Why. by getting over it."
"What You have got over itl"
Lord, yes long ago!"
ooh, in-deed!" said she, bitterly.
Then, with sly incredulity How is it
you have never married3"
"Well, I'll tell you. When I found
that money Was everything with you
girls, I calculated to 60 in for money
too. So 1 speculated, like-tbe other,
and made money. But when lad once
begun to taste money making, somehow
l left off troubling about women. And,
besides, I know great many people,
aud I look coolly on, and what see IN
every househas set me against marriage.
Most of my married friends envy me,
and say SO. I don't envy any of them,
and don't pretend to. Maria go it is q
bad institution. You have got clear OF
it, hear. All the better for you. l
mean to take a shorter road: 1 won't
ever get into it.
This churl, then, who had drowned
l Il y,h