Daily Republican., 1881-05-13
MRS. JONES, ELOPEMENT.

feeling cross and tired. Business had
been dull, and the clerks had been pro-
vOking. When he felt ont of sorts, as
he did that day, nice supper, and his
wite's company were the best antidOteS
he knew of, and he hoped to have them
effect azure in this instance, Us they Of
ten had in other instances.
But Mrs Jones was ont, the girl
said She had been busy i'll her room
all the afternoon she didn't know what
she was doing. About an hour ago she
had put ON her bonnet and gone out,
and had charged her to tell her huS-
band, when he came home, that she
should not be back until late i'll the
evening. "Gone out ON particular bus
mess, She said, " added Bridget.
"On particular business growled
Jones. "I'd like to know what partic.
ular business she has. should say it
was u wifc's business to stay at home.
She knew, of course, that was coming
home completely tired ont, but that
doesn't interfere with her pleasure in
the least. She can enjoy herself just
the same--probably all the more, be-
cause am out Of the way. | wish |
knew where she'd gone"
He went up to her room TO see if she
had worn some of her best clothes.
Because, if she has" reasoned Mr.,
Jones, "she's gone off to have good
time, with some one she cares more for
than she does for me-
Mr.. Jones brow was black as any
thunder-cloud, at the thought. He
in lnlN hn riu n
mind TO make mountains out Of mole
hills.
But she hadn't worn any of her new
dresses.
at can't be she's going to Il party,
then" concluded Mr.. Jones, cor she'd
have rugged up more. 1t must be she's
going somewhere else, and wants to
keep dark. 1t begins to look mysteri-
Gus. A woman don't generally go off
in this way, without saying something
to her husband, and wea. her old
without its meaning something,
observed" said Mr.. Jones, solemnly, to
the Mr.. Jones in the glass. I'D like
to know what it all does mean, any
how
1t was just at this juncture that Mr..
Jones discovered letter ON Mrs. Jones
writing.desk. 1t was a freshly written
page, beginning:
"DEAR EDWARD:'
81 have read your touching appeal
over and over, until every word Of it is
stamped upon my heart 1t has caused
me to fight a terrible battle with my
self. love you, and tn re is no use for
Inc to deny it. cannot deceive my
self, nor you, by so doing, But my
duty is to stay with my husband. |
loathe him despise him he is a ty-
rant-but, he is my husband, and as
such, | suppose he has a claim on me,
III the eyes Of the world, that you have
not. But, my daring, | love you, and
have come to the conclusion to cast
my lot with yours. | will do as Oou
wish me to. | will meet you at the oak
tree to night at ten o'clock. l hope !
shall
And here, at the bottom of the page,
the letter broke off very abruptly. The
other side of the page was blank.
"Great Jehosophatn' - That was the
awful word that broke from Mr.. Jones
lips, when he had finished reading. 1t
was the nearest to swearing of any
word he indulged in. If ever he felt |
Justified in using it, he did nov. His |
ace was u sight to behold. 1t was full |
If anger and surprise, and complete be-
"She loves hin, does she?" he ejacu-
ated family. "And I'm tyrant, am
? The wretched creature! She loathes
ne, and diSpiSes me, does she? I'll
'how her thing or two. Let me see
en- o'clock at the oak tree; I'll be
here, my dear, and I'll learn your
Dear Edward" something he won't
orget. III go out this blessed minute
md get Il couple Of officers, and We'll
wait for you. ) fancy we'll surprise
you u little Great Jehosophat and
he's actually been deceiving me all the
ime, aud letting some other man talk
owe to her, and coax her to elope with
lin | can't believe it, and yet can't
oubt it, for here it is in her own writ
ng. wouldn't have believed it, if j
adn't seen it in black and white. Dear I
ne | wonder if can bear up under
he awtul blow? What will folks say?i
shall be ashamed to meet anybody.
rs awful-awtul--awful - and Mr..
ones wiped his face with his handker-
hief, and looked the complete picture
grief. q
Mr.. Jones was 50 "struck all of q 5
eap," to use his own expression, by S
le terrible intelligence that he didn't I
op to reason over the matter. He t
ever once thought that Dear Ed {
ard" couldn't possibly have received g
lis letter since it hadn't been sent. He t
lly realized that his wife was going to $
in away and that she was going to a
eet her lover at ten o'clock. c