Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-07-03
A Flirting Husband.

LHdI buC mho toDohuNsCu az pCAioH
when the sugar and spice and every
thing nice, which DR.. Watts assures US
are the chiet ingredients of girls, were
apparently exhausted, and there were
no materials except vinegar and m as
tard. In spite other severe acrid dis
position, no one doubts that she is
sincere and earnest woman. She has
soul above frivolity and pleasure, and is
unsparlng in her denunciations Of the
wicked. Of course she i, not the sort Of
q woman with whom one would care to
take long walk, in the country, but her
boldness and infexible adherence to the
path of duty compel public respect.
To this good woman her husband Is a
constant trial. Col. Lewis IS man Of
excellent moral character and sandy
hair, but he has an undeniable fendness
fer innocent Irritation, ,whioh in his wife's
estimation, is the gravest of al crimes.
Naturally, she throws all possible OBJ
stacles in her husbands Objectionable
path. But the world is full OF girls, and,
except when the Colonel is looked up in
his bedroom by his determined wife,
she can never be absolutely sure that
he i. not wrecking her domestic happi-
ness by bowing to youny ladies, or BY
saying good morning to wicked married
women who have the audacity to be
beautiful, and who aggravate that crime
by assuming a pleasant and genial man
ner. Three weeks ago Clinton resolv-
cd to have its first masked ball. 1t is
needless to say that Mrs. Lewis was
shocked when see learned that this in
famous scheme was advocated by
several hitherto respectable people, and
was reasonabley certain to be sue
ce.sfully carried out. To her de-
light Col. Lewis expire ssed to her strong
dicapprobatlon OF masked balls, and
said that he was really glad that busi-
ness interests would require his presence
in Chicago on the night Of the eontem-
plated crime. A week before that date,
however, she was horri6ed at discover
ing in the Colonel's desk catalogue Of
fancy costumes which Chicago trades
man offered to let upon very reasonable
terms to persons about to attend mask
ed balls. Among these costumes was
one which designed to enable the wear
er to per,onate horse. 1t consisted
chiehey Of a horse, head and sill tights.
An unfinished letter in the hand writing
of her treacherous husband showed that
the wretched man intended to be pres
ent at the masquerade in this revslting
costume. and that his pretence OF busi-
ness in Chicago was merely designed to
deceive tho wife OF his bosom. 1t was
crushing blow, but that intrepid woman
bore it nobly. Instead of acquainting
Col. Lewis, in stantly wrote to the cos
tuner, ordering dress of a jocky to be
sent to her. When twelve hours before
the evening of the ball, her husband
bade her good-by and left ostensibly for
Chicago, she never intimated that she
knew his plans, but she took leave OF
him most tenderly. That misguided
man went no further than the next
street, where he concealed himself in
the house Of depraved friend, and
chuckled over the way in which he had
sold the old woman
1t was not until 10 o'clock in the
evening that Col. Lewis, beautifully ar
rayed in that costume, aud exhibiting
the faultless proportions Of his manly
legs, entered the ball room. The beau
ty and fashion OF Clinton were already
assembled and among thsm was close
ly-masked lady wearing the dress OF a
horse jockey and carrying riding whip.
No one dreamed that she was the Sc.
we're Mrs. Lewis, and lavish use ofthe
great staple Of the Gulf States had
wrought so marvellous change in di.
mensions that her husband mistook her
for a blooming corn-fed beauty OF Peoria.
In fact she was the very first lady to
whom he addressed himself, and when
his first compliment was answered BY a
blow of the whip on his unprotected
legs. he almost doubted whether he
would not follow her even at the risk OF
second blow.
Prudence, however, prevailed, and
the gallant Colonel selected another
lady as the object Of his attentions. lie
was just beginning promising Irritation
when the avenging jockey smote his
calves, and in thoroughly professional
tone ordered him to 'g'lang now His
tights were very thin, and the blew
wrung frem him hasty theological ex-
preston, which caused the object ofhis
attentions to hurriedly leave him. Mean
while, the cruel jockey had passed on
and vanished in the crowd, and it was
several minutes before Col. Lewis could
bring himself to cease rubbing his suffer.
ing legs, and to resume the attempt to
enjoy the ball. When next he accosted
fair masker, he looked apxiously
around for the jockey, and not percelv-
ing her, took courage and began a new
Irritation. He was just about TO re-
ouest the honor of a waltz when TIVE
swift and cruel blows descended upon
his already lacerated extremities, and
the voice of the terrible jockey counsel
ed him to 's'lang,' and likewise to get
up The miserable man forgot his part
ner. and limping to a seat, sat down