The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-30

morning to night, and so far from be-
ing able to play off one against the
other, as L had secretly hoped. Twas
treated with great unkindness by both
of them. They were matter of very
considerable expense, of course, and
very little satisfaction. My position,
in fact, became intolerable; and as |
could please neither of them, resolved
to please myself by marrying No. g."
"A twenty, suppose?' said 1, in
terested in spite of myself in this re-
markable narration.
"Well, yes-that is, she would have
been a twenty in England, but in Persia
young ladies marry good deal earlier.
She was charming creature, and cost
me-"
"What! did you bug her?" cried 1
in establishment and horror.
"Well, no, not exactly. Her father,
however, insisted upon something hand
some, and there were heavyish fees to
be paid to her mother and sisters and
to the Governor of Bussora. The Gus
tom of the country is curious in that re-
spect. After ones second wife con-
siderable tax is levied by the Govern
ment upon marrying men. However,
Badoura was worth all the money; she
sang, she played divinely -that is, she
would have done so if she had not been
always crying. Pirouze and Khaleda
made her life utterly miserable. Hither-
to they had been at daggers drawn with
one another, but now they united to-
gether to prosecute the unhappy Ba-
doura. Her very life was scarcely safe
with them. Wretched as my former
lot had been, it was now become unen-
durable, for one can bear ones own
misery better than that of those we
love-
Here Simpson took out his handker-
chief, of a beautiful Persian pattern,
and pressed it to his eyes. eyes, my
dear friend, they led my Badoura a
dogs life, did these two women. felt
myself powerless to protect her, for
was never physically strong; and,
though l did not understand one-half
the epithets they showered upon her, |
could see by the effect they had upon
her that they were most injurious,
what, | have no doubt, would in this
country be considered actionable. For
her, however, there was no remedy,
and think she would have sunk under
their prosecutions had | not married
Zobeide.''
"No. Az cried 1, aghast. "What
on earth did you do that for?"
81 married Zobeide solely and
wholly for Badoura's sake. | choose
her, not for her beauty, nor her viz
tues, nor her accomplishments, but en-
tirely for her thews and sinews. | said
to her: 'Zobeide, you are a strong and
powerful young woman; if | make you
my wife will you protect my lamb?'
and she said, l will 1t was the most
satisfactory investment-I mean the
the happiest choice--I ever made. My
home is now the abode of peace. In
one wing of the house abide Pirouze
and Khaleda, in the other Zobelda and
Badoura-two on the east side and two
on the west. Each respects the other;
for although Pirouze and Khaleda are
strong females, and each would wiring
the neck of my dear Badoura, Zobeida
is stronger than both of them put to-
gether, and protects her. Thus the
opposing elements are, as it were,
neutralized; the combatants respect one
another, and am the head of united
house. got letters from all of my
four wives this morning, each of them
most characteristic and interesting
Badoura forgot to pay the postage
she has soul above pecuniary details
and her letter was the dearest of
all"
"Don't cry, Simpson, said /
'don't cry, old fellow. The steamer
goes on Tuesday, and then you will see
all your wives again. They will well
come you with outstretched arms
eight outstretched arms, like the
octopus"
l confess | was affected by my friends
artless narration at that time, though,
since | have reflected upon the matter,
my moral sense has asserted itself, and
is outraged. | state the matter as
fairly as | can. | have been to pic-nics
myself as a married man, and made
myself agreeable to the ladies. Well,
in Persia, this might have cost me
my life. or the expense of second es-
tablishment. So far there is every ex-
cuse for Simpson. But on the other
hand, the astounding fact remains that
there are four Mrs. Simpsons at Bus
sora, Whenever | look at his quiet
business-like face, or hear him talking
to my wife and the girls about Persian
scenery, this revelation strikes me anew
with wonder. Of course, / have not
told them about his domestic relations;
it would be too great a shock to their
respective systems; yet the possession
of such a secret all to myself too hard
to bear, and have, therefore, laid it
before the public. The whole thing
resolves itself into rule-of-three sum.
If even a quiet, respectable fellow like
Simpson, residing at Bussora, has four
wives, how many wives--well, l don't
mean exactly that; but how much
queerer things must people do who are
not so quiet and respectable as Simp-
son, and who live still further off,
James Payn, IN BelgraUia.
The Prussian Military System.