The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-04-12
rMss. JosEs's ELoPsMEsr.

N~4 y +f--------
Mr.. Jones came home that afternoon
feeling cross and tired. Business had
been dull, and the clerks had been pro-
voking. When he felt out of sorts, as he
did that day, nice supper and his wife's
company were the best antidotes he knew
Of, and he hoped to have them effect
cure in this instance, as they had often
in other instances.
But Mrs. Jones was out, the girl said,
she had been busy in her room all the
afternoon; she didn't know what she was
doing. About an hour ago she had put
on her bonnet, and gone out, and had
charged her to tell herhusband, when he
came home, that she should not be- home
until late in the evening. "Gone out on
particular business, she said," added
Bridget.
"On particular business, eh 7' growled
Jones. "Fd like to know what particu-
lar business she has. Ishould say it was
a wife's place to stay at home. She
knew, of course, that was coming home
completely tired out, but that doesn't
interfere with her pleasure in the least.
She can enjoy herself just the same
probably all the more, because Pm out
of the way. wish I knew where she'd
gone"
He went up to her room to see if she
had worn her best clothes.
Because, if she has," reasoned Mr..
Jones, "she's gone off to have a good
time with some one she cares for more
than she does for me.
Mr.. Jones's brow was black as any
thunder-cloud at the thought. l. He was
in precisely the right frame of mind to
make mountains out of mole-hills.
But she hadn't worn any of her new
dresses.
1t can't be she's going to party"
concluded Mr.. Jones, cor she'd have
rigged up more. 1t must be that she's
gone somewhere else, and wsnts to keep
dark. 1t begins to look mysterious. A
woman don't generally go off in this way
without saying something to her hus-
band, and wear her old clothes without
its. meaning something, Pve Observed"
said Mr.. Jones, solemnly to Mr.. Jones
in the glass. "Pd like to know what it
all does mean anyhow"
1t was just at this juncture that Mr..
Jones discovered letter on Mrs. Jones's
writing-desk. 1t was freshly written
page, beginning:
"Dear Edward"
Mr. Jones's hair raised upon end when
his eagle eye caught sight of that name.
What awful thing had he discovered
Gould it be that his wife was in the
habit of writing letters to gentlemen2
Perhaps she had gone out to meet one
now.
. He read the letter through without
stopping to take breath from beginning
to end.
It read as follows:
DEAR EDWARD: have read your touch
ing appeal over and over, until every word
of it is stamped upon my heart. 1t has
caused me to fight terrible battle with
myself. 1 love you, and there is no use for
me to deny il. 1 cannot deceive myself,
noryou, by SO doing. But my duty is to stay
with my husband. loathe him-I despise
him; he is tyrant-but he is my husband,
and as such Isuppose he has claim upon me,
in the eyes of the world, that you have not.
But, my darling, I love you, and have come
to the conclusion to cast my lot with yours.
l will do as you wish me to. I will meet
you at the oak tree tonight at ten o'clock.
l hope 1 shall"
And here, at the bottom of the page,
the letter broke of very abruptly. The
other side of the page was blank.
"Great Jehosophat I" That was the
awful word that broke from Mr.. Joness
lips when he had finished reading. It
was the nearest to swearing of any word
he INDUCED in. If ever he felt justified
in using it, he did now. His face was a
sight to behold. 1t was full of anger,
surprise and bewilderment.
" She loves him, does she ?'' he ejacu-
lated family. "And Pm tyrant, am
L? The wretehed creaturel she loathes
me, and depises me, does she9 I'll show
her a thing or two. Let me see-ten
o'clock, at the oak tree; Pll be there,
my dear, and Pll learn your dear Ed
ward something he won't forget. I'll
60 out this blessed minute and get a
couple of officers, and we'll wait for you.
fancy we'll surprise you little. Great
Jehosophatl and she's actually been de-
ceiVing me all the time, and letting some
other man talk love to her, and coax her
to elope with him can't believe it, and
yet can't doubt it, for here it is in her
own writing. 1 would not have believed