Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-02-02

most likely for some other woman, and
then be whistled back into her place like q
! dog ! No man shall use me so !"
"Why what is the row? aas a mad dog
bitten you, ye cantankerous critter?"
mot 4 letter for ten months, that is the
matter /" cried Mrs. Clarke, loud and ag-
gressive.
THAT is not my fault. I wrote three
from China, and sent you two drafts on
New York"
1T is eas, to say so | don't believe it,"
Louder an &; aggresslver.)
Clarke, MUllng in his turn. 81 doa'l
care whether You believe it L not. Me-
body but you calls Johnny Clarke d liar"
Mrs. Clarke, comp ting i'll violence. Il
believe one thing, that YOU were seen al
about San francisco with a lady. Twas
to Der you directed my letters and drafts I:
that is how [ lost them. 1t is always the
husband that is i'll fault, and not the post"
Very amicably all OF d suddenly elbow
long were you iii California after you came
back from China 2"
"Two mOnths.'
"How often did you write in that time p"
(SharplY.)
"Well. you see, I was always expecting
to start for home"
"You never wrote once" Very loud.)
"That was the reason.'
"That ard the lady" Screaming aloud
"Stuf! Give me a kiss, and no more
nonsense"
! (Solemnly.l 'That [ shall never do
again. Husbands must be taught not
to tritle with their wives affections in
this cruel way (~Tenderly,) Oh. Jona-
than, how could you abandon me What
could you expect? I am not old, [ am not
ugly"
Thunder if you have been playing any
! games !"-and he felt at the back of his
neck for a observation-disclosures in
~stincts
''Sirl' said the lady, in an awful tone,
that subjugated the monster directly.
'Well then" said he, sullenly, s'don't
talk nonsense. Please remember we are
man and wife"
Mrs. Clarke VERY grayely). Jonathan,
we are mol"
Gracious! what do you meant"
IF you are going into q passion, won't
tell you anything; I hate to be fright
ened."
"Well, that's neither here nor there.
You go on"
"Well, Jonathan, you know 1 have al
ways been under the influence of my par
ents. 1t was at their wish l married you.'
"That is not what you told me at the
time"
sob, yes, 1 did! only you have forgot
ten. Well, when no word came from you
for so many months, my parents were ins
dignant. and they worked upon me SO and
pestered ne so-that-Jonathan, we are
diqorced.'
The actress thought this was a good
point to cry at, and cried accordingly.
Jonathan started at the announcement,
swore a heartful, and then walked the
room in rage and bitterness. $50,
then," soliloquized he, ''you leave
the woman you love, and the chill
dren whose smiles are your heaven;
you lead the life of q dog for them, and
when you come back the wife of your boz
som has divorced you, just because a letter
or two miscarried! That oQtweighs all
you have done and suffered foN her. Oh!
you are crying, are you? What! you have
given up facing it out, and laying the
blame on me, have you?"
Eyes, dear; 1 find you were not to
blame; it was my-my parents"
"Your parents Why, you are not a
child, are you? You are the parent Of my
children, you little idiot have you for
gotten that?"
mo. Oh oh oh l have acted has
tily and very, very wrong?"
''Come, that is a good deal for q pretty
woman to own There, dry your eyes, and
let us order dinner"
"What, dine with your"
"Why, it is not the first time by a few
thousand"
LA, Jonathan, 1 should like but I
MUSTN'T"
'Why not?"
81 should be compromised"
"What, with me?"
eyes; with any gentleman. Do try and
realize the situation, dear. I am a single
woman.
AS soon as Mr.. Clarke was in a state to
listen quietly, Mrs. Clarke compelled him
to realize her situation. "You see,;' said
she, II am obliged to be very particular
just now. Delicacy demands it. You re-
member poor Ephraim Slade?"
your old sweetheart. Confound him
has he been after you again?
"Why. Jonathan ask yourself. He has
remained unmarried ever since; and when
he heard | was free, of course he enters
tanned hopes. but I kept him at a distance;
and 50 (tenderly and re%gretfully) I must
you. / am a single woman"
LOOK me in the face, Sophy. You won't
dine with me?"
"rd give the world but 1 mustn't,
dear"
"Not if J. twist your neck round-dar-
ling-if you don't?"
mo, dear. You shall kill me, if you
please. But 1 am a respectable woman,
and l will not brave the world. But l
know 1 have acted rashly, foolishly and
deserve to be killed. Kill me, dear-you'H
forgive me Them With that she knelt
down at his feet, crossed her hands over
his knees, and looked up sWeetly in his
face with trimming eyes, waiting, yea,
even requesting, to be killed.
He looked at her with glistening eyes.
"You cunning hussy!" said he; you know