The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-10-31
A Husbands Story.

| terial for play or novel, took place
in the Quarter Sessions Saturday. His
Honor Judge kirkpatrick was dispo-
sing of the complaints of matrons
whose husbands had deserted them.--
So many cases of an aggravated char.
acter had been brought up that it be-
gan to look as if the man biped in a
domestic state was a great and consti
tutional offender. The sympathies of
the audience were growing in favor of
oppressed women. This tendency was
heightened BY the entrance of a very
pale, spare, benign looking lady, ap-
parently of culture and refinement.
dressed in neat, dark fabric. She
was accompanied by a 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 or
four years, in light and also tasteful
dress.
Great was the sympathy for the lady
like mother when she arose and in a
low voice and refined language told
how she had been deserted by her hus-
band, how he had failed toprovide for
her support and that of her two inter-
esting children. An old and accom-
plished lawyer, her counsel, drew her
statement with an effect almost dra-
matte. His Honor was affected. ANY
man with sympathetic nature would
be. His Honor called upon the hus-
band to stand up, and all eyes turned
upon the culprit.
He was tall, thin Irishman, aged,
perhaps, fifty, haired and with
mild, care-worn features. His boots
were too large; his coat hung about
him in folds that suggested be had
once been a stouter man he wore no
collar, his shirt at the neck was fray
ed, but clearly. He stood before the
bar trembling, not with fear but sor
row, and big tear had gathered in
his eye.
"What answer have you to make to
this charge, sir Z" said the Court, rath-
er severely, but with some astonish-
ment at the apparition, which was
quite different from what had been
expected.
Well, indeed, I don't know, yer
Honor" said the man in low Tone
"Tm but poor man and have done
the best could"
"Your Honor" said counsel for the
defendant, "this poor man has been
ruined by the folly and extravaganza
of his wife, WHO is now here suing
him."
The Court proceeded to investigate.
He found that the mild featured old
man defendant was a puddler, though
he did not look as if he had the
strength for hard labor; that he had
some property and sold it
for $4,000 to meet the demand of his
comparatively fashionable wife and
family; that they moved to $40 per
month house, and afterwards one a
little cheaper, bought marble-top ia
bles, 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 mon
ey they got his wages until he bad not
money enough to pay board where be
was living in Shapsburg; that be 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 well
come to.
A universal feeling of indignation
ran through the courtroom. Even
His Honor could not help sharing it.
Said he, turning sharply to the prose-
cutor and her fashionably dressed
young daughter, "You have no bust
ness in this Court, madam. You can
90, madam-you can go at once. You