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

earnest request Slade kept away from the
ceremony by that means she was no
compelled to wear the air of a victim, but
could fling the cloak of illusory happiness
and gayety over her aching heart; and she
did it, too. She was as gay a bride as had
been seen for some years in those plrts.
Ephraim Slade was very unhappy. How
ever, after a bit, he compreheilded the
character of Sophia Clarke, nee jackson:
and even initiated her. She had gone. IN
for money, and so did he; only, On the
square-a detail she had omitted. Years
went on; he became a partner IN the
house, instead of a clerk. The girls set
their caps at him. But he did not marry.
Mrs Clarke observed this, and secretly ap
proved. Say she had married, that was no
reason why he should.
Now you will observe that by all the
laws of fiction Mrs. Clarke ought to have
learned to her cost that money does not
bring happiness, and ought to nave been
miserable, especially whenever she en-
%countered the pale face Of him whose love
she valued too late.
Well, she broke all these laws. and went
in for life as it is. She was happier than
some wives. Her husband was kind, but
not doting; a gentle master, but no slave;
and she liked it. She had two beautiful
children, and they helped fill her life. Her
husbands gold smoothed her path, aud his
manly affection strewed it with flowers.
She was not passionately devoted to him,
but still, by the very laws of nature. the
wife was fonder of Jonathan than the maid
had ever been Of Ephraim; not but what
the latter remaining unmarried tickled her
vanity and so completed her content.
She passed six years in clover, and the
clover in full bloom all the time. Never
theless, gilt happiness is apt to get a rub
sooner or later. Clarke had losses n upon
another, and at last told her he was done
for; he must go back to California and
make another fortune. LUCKY the old
folks made me settle a good lump on you,"
he said. "You are all right and the chill
dren."
Away went stout hearted Clarke, and
left his wife behind. He knew the country,
and went at all ia the ring and begun to
make money fast.
His letters.were not very frequent. nor
models of conjugal love, but they had good
qualities: one was their contents-a draft
on New York.
Some mischievous person reported that
he was often seen about with the same
lady; but Mrs Clarke did not believe that,
the remittances being regular.
But presently both letters and remit
tances ceased. Then she believed the
worst, and sent a bitter remonstrance.
She received no reply.
Then she wrote o bitterer one, and, for
the first time since their union, cast Eph-
RAIN Slada in his teeth. "There he is,'
said she, summarized to this day, for my
No reply ven to this.
She went to her parents, and told them
how she was used.
They said they had foreseen it, and then,
after a few pros and cons, they bade her
observe that her old lover, Epllraim Slade,
was a rich man, Il man unmarried evident
ly for her sake; and if she was wise, she
would look that way, and get rid of a mock
husband, who was probably either dead or
false, and, ia any case, had deserted her.
But what am [ to dor" said Mrs.
Clarke, affecting not to know what they
were driving at.
"Why, sue for q divorce"
divorce Jonathan! Think of it! He is
the father of my children, and he was a
good husband to me all tho time he was
with me. 1t is all that nasty California"
And she began to cry.
The old people told her she must take
people as they were, not as they had been;
and that it was no fault of hers, nor Cali
fornia's, if her husband Vas a changed
man.
In short, they pressed her hard to SUE
for a divorce, and let Slade know she was
going to do it.
But the woman was still handsome and
under thirty, and was not without a GER
tain pride and d%elicacy that grace her sex
eyer when they lack the more solid virtues.
NO." said she; 81 will never go begging
to any man. I'll not let Ephraim Slade
think / divorced my husband just to get
him. I'll part with Jonathan, since he has
parted with me, and after that I'll take
my chance. Ephraim Slade? he is not the
only man in the world with eyes in his
head"
SO she sued for a divorce. When she was
free she had no longer any scruple about
Ephraim. He lived at q town seven miles
from her She had a friend in that town.
She paid her d visit. She let the lady into
her pla MS, and secured her cooperation.
Mrs. X. set it abroad that Mrs. Clarke was
a widow; and, from n to another, Eph-
rain Slade was given to understand that
a visit from HIM would be agreeable.
evil it?" said Ephriam. "Then FIJI
GO"
He called on her and was received with
a sweet, pensive tenderness. "Sit down,
Ephraim-Mr. Slade," said she, softly and
TREMENDOUSLY, and left the room. She had
scarcely cleared it, when he heard her tell
the female servant, with a sharp, imperious
tone, to admit no other visitor. 1t did not
seem the same voice. She came back to
him melodious. 1.-THE sight of you after so
many years upsets me-" said she. Then,
after a pause and a sigh: "You look we'll"
ooh, yes! | an all right. We are neither
of US quite so young as we were, you
know"
mo, indeed" with another Sign.
"Well, dear friend, L suppose you have
heard. I am punished, you see, for my
want of courage and fidelity. l have always
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