Daily Republican., 1878-11-08
1T WAS HIS OWN FAULT

1T WAS HIS OWN FAULT,
"George Tudor, stand up. You Gre
charged with neglecting to support
your wife. How do you plead--guilty,
or not guilty"
A young man, not more than thirty,
yet old looking in the dissipated lines
and hue of his face. A good face once,
with high forehead, and the contour OF
an intellectual brain Now the bloat-
I'd cheeks and lack -lustre eyes, soiled
skin and carelessly- worn shabby attire
rendered the whole aspect ot the man
positively repulsive.
The contrast in the appearance Of
his wife, standing up erect and sternly
determined as his aocuser, was almost
incredible. The bystauders involun.
tarily started in surprise to see such a
woman announce herself as tae wife OF
such man. Enthusiastically q lady in
look, speech and manner. Tall and
shap ely in figure, elegantly attired in
well-6,ting, dark-oolored garments, her
white face, albeit now hard and stern,
had the stamp Of superior education
and high breeding; and SO great was
the dissimilarity between this woman
and her husband, It vas almost impos
sible to conceive ho~ they could ever
have lived together.
The painful story was soon told II
was the old, pitiful tale that Is CON
stantly enacted in every day lie, whose
sad denouement is brought into cur po-
lice courts every day. They had com
menced their married life nearly ten
years ago with the brightest prospect OF
happy, prosperous future. They had
a we'll furnished home, and his ability
as salesman commanded a salary much
more than vas required for their needs,
and they looked forward to the day not
far distant when he would be at the
head of luratipe business Of his own.
Each month portion of his earnings
were placed in tine savings bank, and
his wifi. ciIe-rfully assisted to the ut
most Of her power in the care and fru-
gality of her household arrangements,
in swelling the amount OF money laid
by.
In an evil how George feh in with
convivial companions, who gradually
drew him into the down path of drunk.
enness, followed by the still more
ruinous habit Of gambling. In vain
the wife pleaded, and used All er wife
ly arts Of attraction to keep him at home
and wean him from these horrible
habits; a spell OF irrepressible evil
seemed TO enthrG the whole power of
his will, and he steadily ssnk lower
and lower into the dark path Of hope
less destruction. He lost his position;
savings we're soon swallowed up, fur
niture was Sold to buy food, and now,
himself lOathsome wreck Of his once
fair manhood, and ~ ife was living in a
small, scantily furnished upper room,
skeing out half subsistence by her
needle.
'Does he not give you any,money for
your support,' asked his Honor.
81 have not received one dollar from
him in three months. He drinks and
CANDLES every cent he earns"
"She is harsh and Gold. She refuses
to live with me,' said the man, in a
husky voice.
"While he continues in his present
drbased condition would rather die
than associate with him." the woman
quickly interjected, with sludder of
disgust
"Still you insist that he shall sup
port you ?" said the Judge.
"While bear his name it il my night
to be supported by him. But all
ask now is that he will give me as mach
as will pay the rent of the room occrl-
py.I will struggle through to attain nay
livelihood"
"But would it not be better to live
together if he promises to provide for
you ?"
81 have lost faith in his promises
years ago. God only knows what |
have suffered in the meantime. And |
ask you, Judge, if you think a woman
with any sense of refinement and self.
respect could bring herself to live with
man who has sunk to the loathsome
condition to which he has attained ?"
Here the woman pointed finger di-
rect at her husbands repulsive face
and the man dropped his eyes and cow
cred in conscious abatement. The next
moment, with strange look of blend.
ed tenderness and scorn, she added
"Look at him as he is now, it brings
a sense Of shan to me to think that
once loved him with every pulse in my
heart. Now, if he will enable me to
pay the trifle of three dollars a month
rent until may be in a position to
earn it myself, and keep away from me,
will not trouble him any more"
The promise being finally given, the
woman, witt set lip and the same
white, stern face, passed out of the
court room.
George" said loafer companion of
his, as they passed out into the street,
that's pretty hard lines for man to
have to give money to woman who
treats him as scornfully as If he was
dirt under her fest.'
"It's my own fault, she did love me
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