The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-06-29
CORA'S STRATAGEM.
BY EMMA GARRISON JONES.

CORA'S STRATAGEM.
! BY EMMA GARRISON JONES.
Harry"
"All right, Coral"
He sat before the glowing CRATE, his
feet on one corner of the mantle, his
chair tipped back. His young wife look
at him, and her pretty black eyes, which
only a minute before had been brimful
with tears, emitted sparks Of fire. Her
rosy mouth closed with firm expression
and her dainty foot came down upon the
rug in a very decided manner.
Il won't stand it," she said, under her
breath; Il can't-'twill kill me- To see
him thus, night after night, besotted,
degraded, running both soul and body.
l must save him, for my baby's sake"
Then she sat and meditated. They
had been married little over two years
end the babe in the wicker cradle was Il
thriving boy. No happier woman than
Cora the wide world held, but for one
thing. Her young husband would
drink.
He loved his social glass, his wine
suppers, his club dinners.He did not
neglect his wife, but often he came home
in the small hours, in rather an unsteady
condition.
Cora tried everything-tears, and en-
treaties, and persuasions-but he only
laughed her off.
"Where's the harm, Cora? Can't 4
fellow be merry now and then with his
friends?"
But Cora saw the fatal evil growing
upon him day by day, and knew what
the end would be. She shuddered and
her eyes filled with tears; but the next
minute they flashed fire, and she smiled.
@Ill try it." she said to herself "but if
it does no good, neither can it do much
harm"
Then she called
Harry"
Her husband reused up, and opened
his eyes with an imbecile stare.
"All right, Coral'
Harry, you believe that wife should
follow in her husbands footsteps, don't
your"
ITO be sure. You're sensible woman
Cora"
"And you're a sensible man, Harry.
What's right for you to do is right for
me, isn't it?"
Precisely, Cora, just so, exactly, Cora
You're wise woman, you are"
Cora smiled quietly.
"Very well, Harry, if you go to the
tavern any more of nights, am going
there, too"
Her husband looked up, half sobered.
Nonsense, Cora" he said, "that's run
ming the thing into the ground. You'll
do no such thing"
You'll see that 1 will, Harry" she
answered, resolutely Il love you, and
what you do shall do to- Ifyou see fit
to ruin yourself, soul and body, and
shame your son, shall follow your ex-
ample. / care for nothing that you can
not share. AS you do, so will l."
His cheek paled, and his lips quivered.
Her words touched him to the quick
He sat silent minute, Then he got up,
and said:
Nonsense, Cora Come to bed little
girl
She followed him obediently, and
nothing more was said on the subject.
For three or four nights Harry came
home punctually, then his old habit
mastered him.
Cora had her supper all waiting, and
his slippers and dressing gown before
the fire, but he did not come. She
waited patiently till ten o'clock, then she
called the housemaid from the kitche
and put on her wraps.
aSit by baby's crib, Mary, and when
Mr. Mayfield comes tell him | have gone
to the Reindeer. Askno questions now,
and take good care ofthe baby, and you
shall have dollar extra this month"
@Very well, ma'am," said Mary, with
wondering eyes.
Twelve o'clock, one, then the young
husband let himself in with his latch-key,
and came reeling into the sitting room.
There sat the maid beside the sleeping
lchild,
Harry looked about him somewhat
anxiously.
GAh, fast asleep, fine little fellow" he
said, bending over the crib. Mary,
my CIR, rl,where's your mistress? Comet
bed?"
NO, sir, she's gone to the Reindeer.
He stood and stared.
@What do you say, girl?"
1 SShe went out at ten, sir, and babe me
tel you when you come as she'd gone to
the Reindeer"
Il The young husband stifed something
like an oath, and sat down before the
hearth, Half an hour went by, and
then he started up, and glanced at the
clock.
@Great Heaven, 'tis nearly two otlock
and she not here"
He seized his hat and rushed from
J the house like one mad.
. By the time he was half way to the
Reindeer, he was perfectly sober
"Could she have meant what she said?'
he asked himself over and over again.
Presently carriage came down from
the lighted tavern ON the hill, and as il
passed him a womanis voice rang out
singing the chorus, I'VE won't 60 home
till morning"
: 1t was his wifels voice. He caught al
| The hnrse,s head frantir, with rage