The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-10-13

} Excitement, scarcely smotherei an.
} whore. prevailed all along the piazza. III
crowd had increased ill it Was as dense i
IL two men had bean talking politics ii
stead Of lore. Mr.. Robinson arose an
} wiped his forehead with large silk haot
kerchief.
} Yes, Mrs. Green. and ladies. he said
Gineral Columby found his angel was
Claptoe Maniac. and crieclaimable thici
II WAS in her natur. She couldn't help
no more than pizen or geninsl
What did he do about itS piped up
sensitive voice. and Immediately retrcate,
into the crowd
Ho behaved like man, answered Rob
insop, still standing up, and forgetting al
about Mrs. Green. He said, When wa
9 soldier. reported TO my Governmen
everything in the sphere OF my duty. !
my brotber-in.law deserted had him ar
rested. Even he, repeated General Colum
by, bursting into tears. My wife can onl,
ly be cured OF the Claptoe Maniac by /
prompt and thorough exposure Of her. II
will spot her fame. but at the same time
advertise her disease, and II she should
this time escape the exposure, it would
only be to subject me to daily apprehen.
sion and her dangers not yet revealed.
Mrs. Columby was arrested on the warrant
Of magistrate. Her husband accompan-
led her TO court. She stood there like the
better soldier OF the two, her beautiful
nostrils all defiance and her forehead like
a seraph's in the ray Of the sun. The
brave General. bowed with grief and duty.
responded TO his name. He took the wit
ness box and himself accused his wife Of
stealing. Jedge, spoke up the war worn
veteran, she is insane. She isa Claptoe
Maniac.
The crowd was quite as large now. but
not altogether pleased with the Generals
sense Of duty. and Mrs. Green said, in o
voice Of quiet prose:
/ suppose he went to the insane asylum
with her?
No, ladies, answered Robinson. she was
as cool as May morning. She merely re.
marked to the magistrate. indicating her
husband with her parasol: Your Honor
Am not quite shure whether this old fool,
my husband, is himself crazy or has do.
sign to get me out Of tle way to please
some other woman. In either case he
shall enter bail for me and let me take
look at the situation.
Here voice somewhere on the piazza
was heard saying: Whoa, Januaryl
The magistrate himself in doubt released
The prisoner on her own and her husbands
recognizance. She departed with Gineral
like lady le4ding an embecile.
John. says she. il this is another woman's
work. she dies. Her high.strnng suspi-
cions lodged on another woman, the Cen
,rsl's niece, and she shot her dead. Col
umby meantime learned Chat the mer-
chant had been deeply deceived by his
,wn detectives and his Jealous system OF
,hecks and Safeguards. A young clerk |
in the store, smitten by the charms Of
Voung Mrs. Columby had put into her
parcels every unbonght object he saw her
admire, expecting to gain her esteem in
hat way. The detectives had leaped to
he easy conclusion Of Claptoe Maniac.
Yet here was Mrs. Columby guilty ofmur.
lar and the whole community aroused.
out not she. She merely said: John, l
IAN hang for murder but not live accused
II being thief. or crazy. You can defend
No rs best you know how. The commu-
'ity was prejudiced against Southerners'
hooting Mrs. Columby was sentenced
o be hanged.
AT this point Mrs. Robinson silently re-
ppeared and beheld an extraordinary re-
ult of her practical husbands first epi-
ode in sentiment. The crowd had closed
lightly around Mr.. Robinson and Mrs.
ireen' MIS- Green was In tears, ana 'he
ew moon. still leaning its foolish head on
er benevolent shoulder, threw strong
lght head on hopinsons cunning connte-
Ahce' 10 he oon''aaea 'ne n'ff"'i'e'
Nothing could save Mrs. ooiumby. Inc
Governor wouid grant no PARDON the
ourts would take no action the prisoner
'onld take no poison. John, she said to
or wretched husoand' lay no blame on
ou, darling, any more than Tor killing my
'ther. Asyou accused me oil what
ould not do. In obedience to duty, come
nd see me die Tor what did do, In obe-
fence 10 necessity l was soldiers
Aush'ei Anu : -" ~. "''"o s0"'' 'A-
'pt ior !ou' pour, ciouuiou'' Sehs'ie pach'