The Lake County star., 1877-11-01
A Husbands Story.
PittshurQ Dispatch. J

(fittsDurg Dlspatcn)
An incident that would suggest ma.
terial for play or q novel TOOK place
in the quarter sessions, Saturday. His
Honor Judge kirkpatrick was dispos-
ing of the complaints OF matrons
whose husbands had deserted them.
So many cases Of and aggravated char
acter had been brought upithat 1t be-
gan to look as If the man biped in U
domestic state was great and consti.
tutional offender. The sympathies oi
the audience were growing In favor
of oppressed women. This tendency
was heightened by the entrance of
very pale, spare, benign-looking lady,
apparently. of culture and refinement,
dressed in q neat, dark fabric. she
was accompanied by sweet young
girl of about fifteen, very tastefully
dressed in the latest fashion OF hat,
onyx ornaments, and also some dark
texture, and little child OF three OF
four, in light and also tastesul dress.
Great was the sympathy for the
lady-like mother when she arose and
in q low voice and refined Language
told how she had been deserted by her
husband. how he had failed to pro-
vide for her SUPPORT or that of her two
interesting children. An old and &C.
cOmplished lawyer, Ounsel, drew her
statement with an effect almost dra-
matte. His honor was affected. Any
man with q sympathetic nature would
be. His honor called upon the hus-
band to stand up,and all eyes turned
upon the culprit.
He was q tall, thin Irishman, aged,
perhaps, fifty, gray-haired, and with
mild, carewOrn features. His boots
were too large his coat hung about
him in folds that suggested he had
once been stouter man he wore no
collar his shirtat the neck was frayed,
but cleanly. He stood before the bar
trembling, not with fear but with sor-
row, and a big tear had gathered In his
eye.
"What answer have you to make to
this charge. sir" said the court, rather
severely, but with some astonishment
at the apparition, which was differ
ent from what had been expected.
"Well, indeed, I don't know, yer
honor" said the man in q low tone.
"I'm ut poor man and have done
the best could.v
"Your honor,n said counsel for
the defendant, "tnis poor man has
been ruined by the folly and extrava-
gance of his wife, who is now here su-
ing him."
The court proceeded to investigate.
He found that the mild-featured old
man defendant was q puddler, though
he did not look rs II he had the
strength for hard labor that he had
accumulated some property and sold Il
for So. 100 to meet the demand OF his
comparatively fashionable wife and
family; that they moved into $40
per month house, and afterwards one
q little cheaper, bought marble-top
tables and lived high until this money
was spent, allowing the old man
meantime to work over the furnace
and keeping the luxuries measurably
to themselves; that when out of money
they got his wages until he had not
enough TO pay board where he was
living In Sharpsburg; that he had
given them all he had that he could
get work sometimes but about three
days In the week but all he made they
were welcome to.
A universal feeling Of indignation
ran through the courtroom. Even
his honor could not help sharing it.
Said he, turning rharply to the prose-
cutOr and 1ier fhshionably dressed
young daughter. "You have no buss-
ness In this court, madam. You can
60, rlsAdafn--y0u can 60 ~ once! You
pushed this poor man into hardspipe
by your extrAvnGanCo, and now you
come here In your Grapes and reps And
your stytlsh cl0th>g 20 prooeCute him
bocouoo he II no lonx0g able % nnain-
tain Won Thfo nonrk <v111 ma 1870