The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-16
POORMRs. HAYES.
The Interview that Preceded the
Reputation OF Her Good Name
byaTemperance Society.

III
The Interview that Preceded the
Reputation OF Her Good Name
byRTemperance Society.
From the Buffalo Express.
The severity Of the Mrs. r. B. Hayes
temperance society toward the lady Whos0
name Il had adopted was not resorted 70
until every effort had been made 70 show
that the lady was not guilty Of the clarei
punch business. A committee oil several
called upon and interviewed her. They
were as gentle as possible under the cir.
cumstances, but firm. They had armed
themselves with clubs, that they might
kill her II necessary; but the weapons
were considerately left at the door, and
they advanced upon her as peaceful citi.
Iens with the single exception Of the pis.
tolls in their hip.pocke.s.
aSohop said the speaker Of the com.
mittee, you've been at Il again, have
you? II Ii claret.punch this time, IL III
A beverage both seductive and destruc.
tive, wearing the purple 10 deceive with,
and having upon its boron various pie.
ces Of the deleterious lemon WhereWith
TO give 1t an aspect Of spice and variety.
hate III And what have you to say
about Il, madam
"sir," said Mira. Hayes, her eyes filling
with tears, 1t wasn't my fault. l assure
you that l saw no elaret punch during
the whole excursion"
9WhAtl" said the speaker Of the com.
mittee, cycling her suspiciously. Did
you not smell IL Do you mean to tell
me il wasn't floating 10 the air? I will
20 further. Am i 70 believe, madame,
that you drank no claret.punch while on
that wicked excursion2'
aIdid not, sir!" replied Mrs. Hayes,
with some indignation. @And what
should have donei Make & spectacle Of
myself by wasting the beverage on the
floor or throwing It oyerboardf' Got up
and become disagreeable by making .
speech against il? l could not have done
IL II l had tried, gentlemen. cannot
make speeches"
ashe cannot make speeches even for
Temperament said the speaker Of the
committee to his companions, with . look
Of horror. "She Is likewise afraid Of be.
ing improper in such a cause As ours.
Oh, shamel where is thy blushS" he
turned upon the terrified lady and remar.
ked, ave will proceed 10 another branch
Of the subject. Permit me to ask II, dur.
ing this unhappy excursion, you permit.
ted your shameless. your unworthy hus-
band TO kiss you. Let me inquire II that
iraud-I speak plainly, madam-assu-
med to pollute your lips with his own
those lips Of bis which were undoubt-
eddy reeking with the filth known as-as
claret.punch. Answer me at once, II you
please.n
"But what could I DOR said Mrs.
Hayes, hesitatingly. is be not my hus-
band? And II he did kiss me, could /
helpii? What would you a wife should
do in such emergencies7 Pray think and
be little merciful."
"Never mind that now" said the spea.
ker gloomily. "You did kiss that base
wreck OF long-forgotten manhood then
you have the audacity TO confess II and
the shAmelessness 10 ask for mercy. But
let US proceed. Did you discover in that
unchaste salute anything Of the nature
Of this-this diabolical claret-punchf"
al did not" returnednMrs. Hayes
promptly. Rutherford may have said
nothing against the wicked beverage, but
! do not think he touched 1t. detected
nothing In his breath which was objec-
tionabie, and | think-I know, sir, his lips
were not sticky"
"H'mp said the speaker, suspiciously,
glaring around as II TO say that be was
not to be deceived. $50 far, 80 good.
Now, tell me, il you please, are you in
the habit, for deceitiul or other purposes,
OF wearing cotton in your nose I?
a!Truly am not" said Mrs. Hayes, ap-
parently shocked at the question, and
trembling with agitation.
sYou seem to Be frank" returned the
speaker Of the committee, "bnt am not
to be caught with mere chat. Listen mad.
am what means that look OF guilt on
your countensnce2 Why the paleness Of
that complexion? What makes you
tremble 90, and why Is your voice husky?
But never mind. fshall be merciful. II
will give you chance for your life. You
have but TO do little thing and our
society Will retAln your name anu relESin
from criticism Of the claret-punch in
EQUITY. viii you, madam, apply TO the
courts at your earliest convenience for
divorce from the base person who seems
To be your husband p
"No, sir - said Mrs. Hayes rather
indignantly. at is impossible, sir-im-
possible"
HThen all is lost" said the speaker OF
the committee, with great frmness Of tone
and the look OF one who has sentenced
fellow being to death. ~ think our sad
duty Is accomplished. No, William
he laid his OBTAINING hand on the arm Of
member OF the committee who had
drawn 4 whip-"let US not harm her.
Let US leave her to her own conscience
for the present. Let US go to our society
and annihilate her by resolution.
MORAL BY THE EDITOR.
Whoever names a temperance society
after US will be prosecuted for libel.
The honor Is we'll enough; but Is apt to
be conferred as an excuse for setting spies
after the person honored, and with the