Richland beacon., 1878-06-01

unnecessary discussion of the painful
topic. The next day they eacl
brought home all the Chicago paper;
that contained any reference to tn,
Beecher matter, and as the paper.
we're received by Mrs. Brown anC
Mrs. Smith with many protesta,ion.
Of the disgust which they felt a. hear
ing even the name of Beecher mel,
toned, they naturally supposed thai
they bad made their peace. Eut mar
ital suspicion once awakened is moi
easily put 10 sleep. While Mr.. Brown
was handing his wife the bundle o.
newspers, she was closely scrutinizing
his coat collar, and, after she had laid
the papers oh her plate and told the
children not TO touch them, she quietly
took two long red hairs from her IN.
fortunate husbands coat, and held
them solemnly before bis face.
MARY, l give you my solemn
word" began the alarmed Mr.. Brown,
but be was not permitted to finish his
sentence. Don't say one word" ex-
claimed Mrs. Brown. "Falsehoods
won't help you; | am a faithful and
loving wife, and III have you exposed
and punished if there is any law in
Illinois" Thus saying, she gathered
up her newspapers and rushing to her
room, locked herself in. 1t was not
until later in the evening that Mrs.
Smith, as she was about 10 turn down
her husbands lamp, which was smok-
ing, perceived that two red hairs were
attached to his shoulder. She said
nothing, but after laying them on the
table before him, burst into tears and
refused to be comforted until Mr..
Smith solemnly swore that be had not
seen red-hared girl for months and
years, and offered to buy her a new
parlor carpet the very next day.
Of the two ladies, Mrs. Brown was
much the stronger and more de-
termined. The next evening, when
MIR. Brown brought back from the
store no less than five red hairs on his
coat collar, she broke q pie-plate over
bis head, and leaving him welteriDg
in dried al piles, put on her bonnet and
left the house. Mrs. Smith, on the
same evening, found four of the mys-
tericus red hairs on her husbands
coat, bat she refrained from violence,
and merely telling him that she would
not believe in bis innocence if be was
to swear till be was black in the face,
called loudly for her sainted mother,
and was about to faint when Mrs.
brown burst into the room. Mr..
Smith, like a wise man, fed from the
scene, and the two ladies soon con-
6ded their wrongs to one another.
When MIR. Brown and Mr.. Smith
met the next day, the former confessed
to the latter that be was in a terrible
scrape. Confidence legot confidence,
and they soon became convinced that
they were the victims of frightful
conspiracy to which some unknown
wearer of red back-hair was a party.
Their distress was increased early in
the afternoon by the appearance of
their respective wives, who walked
up and down the opposite side of the
street for hours, each carrying a con-
spicuous rawhide, and evidently lying
in wait for the imaginary red-haired |
Mssrs. Smith and Brown |
felt that they were ruined men, and
that q tremendous scandal wss about
10 overwhelm them. They even
wished that they were dead.
About 4 o'clock p. H., Mrs. Smith
her companions arm and
bade her listen to small boy who
was relating one of bis recent crimes
10 a youthful companion. 81 just
picked up that there hair" remarked
he wicked youth, land put some Of
t on old Smith's and old Browns
coats; l KEEP putin of it on every
lay, ard you just bet they ketcbed it
rom their old women when they went
home. Smith, be is solemn as an
'wl, and old Brown looks as if he
vas a going to be hung"
The remains of the boy were re-
moved by the constable, and the
Smith and Brown families are once
more united and happy.