New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-04

looked at her, it produced the effect of the water
buckets going down the well at full run. She
jest broke all up into ripples of light and glances
and midnight hair, and showered them over him.
Her motion was poetry and her image and move
ment put together. had nothing like them except
billiard ball played by genius; she moved on
curves yet was straight as a cue"
The voice of Mrs. Robinson here remarked
sharply: William, you reading that out of
book"
Cries of "shame" but partly suppressed went
along the porch and Mrs Robinson experienced the
new sense of finding herself more unpopular than
her husband.
"The marriage took place." resumed Robinson
suavey, in Professor Weirs beautiful little chapel
and the whole party adjourned to the hotel right
by to drink the fair brides health. Columby was
popular officer He had killed Indians he had
killed Mexcans; he had tit into all the wars and
whipped everything, and now woman had
whipped him in. Not woman, Mrs. Green, but
divinity spirit! The entire Cadet Corps had
fallen in love with her sight. AS she stood in
her bridal dress with every pulse in her white
frame happy yet temperate lily seemed alive and
a wild pigeon to have roasted on to it,"
At this point Mrs. Robinson could hear no more.
She arose without word and passed away as if
there might be young children clergymon around,
whom such heather descriptions might affect.
Robinson, deprived of the only listener he really
cared for, endeavored to cut the narrative short.
The bride departed to her chamber the BRIDE
tarried with mis- friends hour to drink the
last bachelor glass. He tore himself away after a
time. Tho Gineral looked out upon the Hudson
River and the mountain shadows, and heard the
lull of boats and moving forms and trains and he
sank into rocking chair and closed his eyes to
say: Kind Providence who hez KEEP me from death
when shot at ten thousand times, was that not
suflcient1 Thon must marry me to an angel too9
o, is there not some danger to hcI and me that we
are blessed so muchY -"
Mr. Robinson here looked around and asked sud
denly where Mary was
O she has gone to bed" said Mrs Green. Do
finish the narratiye!"
A CLAPToE-MANIAC.
"Well,' continued Robinson, nothing happened
but happiness for n long time. They lived pleas
antly. 1t was eternal ice cream and wedding cake.
Every day better than the day before all days
orange blossoms new birds, new thoughts,
new kisses. She lady well girl, and
grew INTO her position without mistake, and
stayed in her freshness without single error to
explain till day, when she had been shopping
and brought home many parcels III her carriage, a
merchants card sent to Gineral Columby and
the merchant asked to him III private. Gin
eral,' spoke the merchant 10 Columby, i am about
to tell YOU a very painful thing Brace yourself,
Gineral, and remember that you were a soldier
The lady who has just entered your dwelling, and
who, I am told, is your wife. has been stealing
articles of merchandise from my store" General
Columby sprang upon the villain, You have
wrongcd not me, but human nature, and shall die
exclaimed the hero. Nothing of the kind says
the merchant. The war is over and still have
police. My tale is true. Your wife steals. Blame
her not; for she cannot help it. She is Claptoc
Maniac >"
A whatY" exclaimed Mrs, Green. a what's
that"
Excitement. scarcely smoohcred anywhere. pre-
vailed all along the piazza. The crowd had in
creased till it deusc as if two men had been
talking politics instead OF love. Mr. Robinson
arose and wiped his forehead with n large silk
handkerchief.
Yes Mrs. Green and ladies'" ne said. Gncral
Colnmby found his angel was a Claptoe Maniac, an
ericcaimabc thieI. 1t was in her natur She
couldn't help it no more than pizcn or gcnius!"
what did he do about it7" piped mp u sensitive
voice, that immediately rctreatcd into the crowd
lie behaved like man. answered Robinson,
still standing up, and forgetting all about Mrs.
Green. He said When was a soldier reported
to my Government everything in the sphere of my
duty. If my brother-in-law deserted, | had him
arrested Even he,' repeated General Columhy.
bursting into tears. Ny wife can only be cured of
the Ciaptoe Maniac by prompt and thorough ex-
posture of her 1t will spot her fame but at the
same time advertise her disease and if she should
this time escape the exposure, 1t would only be to
subject me to daily apprehension and her to dan
gers not yet revealed. Mrs. Columhy was arrested
Oh the warrant of magistrate Her husband ac-
companied her to court. She stood there like the
better soldier of the two, her beautiful nosrils all
defiance and her forehead like a scraphs in the ray
of the sun. The brave General, bowed with grief
and duJy, responded to his name. He took the
witness box ana himself accused his wife of steal
ing and moreover. of habtually stealing. Jcdgc'
spoke up the veteran, she is insane
She is a Claptoe Maniac!"
The crowd quite as large now but not alto
gether pleased with the Generals superatve sense
of duty and Mrs. Green said, in a voice of quiet
prose:
suppose he went to the insane asylum with
herr"
Z" No, ladies'" answered Robinson, she was cool
May morning. She merely remarked to the
magistrate, indicating her husband with her
parasol; Your Honor am not quite sure whether
this old fool my husband, is himself crazy or has a
design to get out Of the way to please some other
woman. In either case he shall enter bail for me
and let me take a look at the situation"
Here voice somewhere on the piazza was heard
saying: " Whoa. January"
MURDERER But NOT A rmFF
"The magistrate, himself in doubt released the
prisoner on her own and her husbands recogn-
zance. She departed with GIncral Coumby like a
lady leading an imbccc. john saws She. If
this is another wonan's work. she dies Her
high strung suspicious lodged on another woman
the Generals niece, and she shot her dead
Columby meantime learned that the merchant had
been deeply deceived by his own detectives and his
jealous system Ct checks and safeguards young
clerk in the store, smiten by the charms of Young
Mrs. CoIumby had put into her parcels every un-
bought object he saw her admire cYpcctino IN yoin