Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-02

lHIOil tnO IbuIiIHSLUll IltNhSy =.
WHAT HRS. BARSTINGLOW HEARD AF-
TER THREE DAYS ABSENCE FROM
HOME.
1t happened that Mrs. Barstinglow
was going down to Keokuk for few
days, and Barstinglow was inconsola-
bic. At one time he protested that she
should not go he could not endure the
lonesome house during her ABSENCE
And then again he declared that if she
must go, he would neglect his Office, and
let his business go to the bow-wows, and
he would go with her. At length, how
ever, she persuaded him to be reason
able, and on her repeated assurance that
she would not remain away more than
three days, he consented to let her CO.
He even bought her ticket, and ordered
the carriage and paid for it two days
ahead, lest his resolution should give
way, and he should forbid her going
from him. And from that time till the
morning of her departure Mr.. Barstin-
glow spoke in subdued tones, and NOV
ed about with the air of man whose
heart was buried under mountains of
grief
Before she left the house, Mrs. Bars
tinglow set the photograph in the sitting
room, behind the clock. Then she kiss
ed her disconsolate husband, and begged
him to preserve his precious life for her
sake while she was away, and then she
was gone.
Every day, during her three days
visit in the Gate City, she received a
letter from her mourning husband, beg
ging her to come back and telling her
how lonesome he was without her, and
how like a grave the house seemed, and
how the hours dragged over his aching
heart with leaden feet. And in three days
she came home, and filed the solemn
house with sunlight and laughter again.
The evening after her return to Bur-
| lington, she took down the phonograph.
L WONDER" she said, what we said
last in its hearing? 1t must have been
something while we were discussing my
visit Or may be it has caught some of
your poor, longing meanings while I
was away
And then she turned the crank.
Lord, no. croaked the phonograph,
in tones of hearty reinsurance, mo dan
ger of that; she's safe in Keokuk for
three days; saw her safely off myself
this morning. Light your cigar while
| light another lamp and make the room
look cheerful"
Why exclaimed Mrs. BarstingIow
a countenance of amazsment, what On
earth is it saying?'
oh, some nonsense some Ofyour visit
ors have talked into it some time or 9TH
err replied.her;husband, nervously, speo-
pie talk all kinds of stuff into a phono-
graph, you know. They say anything
| for talk
Mrs. Barstinglow, looking only half
convinced, gave the crank another turn.
This is devilish good whiskey.
Barsty,' calculated the machine, very
earnestly. You don't get it in Burling-
ton, do you?'
Mrs. Barstinglow gave little shrek.
My DEAR said her husband, looking
now quite as worried as he had looked
when he was begging her not to go to
Keokuk,' put it away; somebody has
had it out in the stable, and it might say
something perfectly shocking, you
know. Put it away
But Mrs. Barstinglow, upon whom the
spirit of investigation had descended
with great power, ground away. and the
phonograph, in voice marvellously
like her husbands went remorselessly
on.
Not much they don't make this
kind now. It's some old Monongahela,
copper distilled, that Mrs. Barstinglow's
mother gave her for medicinal purposes
three years ago. Fill up, there's plenty
of it, and can replace it with any kind
of beverage when it's gone. The old
girl Won't know the difference
Mrs. Barstinglow felt herself turning
stone, but the next turn of the crank
brought out an uproarious.
'Ha, ha, ha! Here's to the o. g.p
70 nj, II I,o ~ IL -
For mercy's sake, Malachi Barstin-
glow, she shrteked, what does this
mean 81
Mr.. Barstinglow now looked as through
he really did wish she had never gone
to Keokuk.
It's Just as / tell you,' he said, with
an effort to look unconcerned that was
like humorous book, colossal success.
so far as its utter failure was concerned.
Somebody has been talking all soYts of
nonsense into it lust for talks sake
How else could it get hold of such dread
| ful stuff in our dear little home, lovey p
Mrs. Barstinglow didn't say, but she
turned away and the phonograph asked
carelessly:
| Ihr0w around for the dealS'
| She thought she would faint. but she
dldn't, and the pitiless machine proceed
ed 70 remark. with variety Of voices
It's my age
You1l have to straddle that blind il
you come in.'
| Give me two cards,
Chip one.'
III see your little one and raise YOU
couple' ~ '''-~' ''''0 W
.fosh the bottle this way, Ben.'
.A ANY you going to stay in Harry?'
Gall you., ''->