The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-23


know I'd be maxim an Internal fool o.
myself if | did. 1t was none O my bust
ness who Maria took up with.
Right here noticed at the wilder
was quite stirred up-with talkin' about
Folsom, l reckon-an' was wipin' her
ewes with her handkerchief she was so
overcome an trembled so [ had to put
my arm round her to hold her up. 1t
was dark along there. 'Cordin' to the
gas company's time card it was the
moons turn to light the city that night,
but the moon must a been side-tracked
somewers. We was purity close home,
too, that is, close to the boardin' house,
which ant rightly no home, an we went
in.
There was no one in the parlor, an
the widow said wouldn't | set awhile.
She'd like to ask me about little matter
of interest to her, an it was so hard to
talk about private affairs when those
gddy Young folks were around to inter
rupt. Thankful was she they'd gone to
a party that night.
The wilder she looked mighty purity
Standin' there by the base burner, holdin'
out her hands to get warm, Thinks to
myself if Maria is a firtin' round with
other fellers pose I'm entitled to equal
privileges. Twas standin' right clost to
the wilder, an | was agoin' lowell
what would you "a done with purity
face nigh to yourn an no one lookin',
you old sinner? But / didn't. No, by
George, didn't.
Curious how all this time / was
thil.kin' o Maria more'n the wilder.
She was a talkin' on in her soft way, not
SEEM what was my intention-that is,
S'pose she didn't, but you CANT be right
sure what woman knows, specially if
she looks uncommon innocent.
My arm was jest a reachin' out fer
TO take her in, when she rolled up her
eyes to me and said-I don't know what
she said. but it seemed to me all to once
at she looked an talked like Barbary,
the second wife in East Lynne, you
rec lect, an her | call eat, if the ever
was one. Ride lous notion, you know,
but it struck me all of heap like, an
said, would she excuse me if | had an
engagement. If she'd wait, I'd be back
fore long, an would be pleased to give
her my poor advice on any money
Matters
An then | lit out.
Il walked as if the devil was after me.
Seemed as if the world was upside down.
What had been dom all the last year
at hadn't made up to Maria, while
there was time? An now that low
down, no count BemuS had took her
away from me. He'd abuse her an
make a niger of her. Why didn't she
Lord. what had made me such fool
as ever to let her go such full-blown,
miserable, outrageous fool?
IF YOU Il rec lect, our divorce was got
on account OF incompatibility of temper,
an it WAS supposed to be her temper,
We went to q young lawyer, Lawyers
'ort TO all be hung but then, [ don't
know either; | reckon they can be ex-
cused for skinnin' the fools who walk
right up to 'em to be skun. Young
lawyers CANT afford 10 turn awayno Jobs
either: any kind OF case is apt to be a
grounding ease with 'em-they're
'bliged to have meat.
The chap we, me an Maria went to
told us there'd be no trouble in gettin'
3lll " tlhOICt Us lOllO dS We was DDil
agreed. He drawed up some real slick
papers which told how that, whereas
said James an Maria McJimsey, afore-
said, by reason of an onreconcileable
diff renee o mental characteristics,
found themselves unable to maintain the
harmony an unity of soul indispensable
to happy matrimonial relationship;
that the said James an Maria, owing to
diversity OF temperament Che meant
temperS, | low, had become estranged,
instead O further united by time. This
natural lack O concord led to chickering's
an wretchedness, which was contrary
to the spirit an letter of the-the Gt
wasn't constitution) something afore-
said. In consequence of this unfortunit
condition OF affairs, they had slowly an
hopelesSly drifted apart, wherefore, ct
cettery, etcettery.
" l amt got no gift at languages, but
the foregoin' aforesaid was some OF his
words, an they fetched the bill.
- | was a thinkin' o. all this as | went
stavin' down street that night 'Peared
like [ must a been the dogondest idiot
at ever walked when | lowed her to
lCRNS nv ~ lCll Vic lIuIH, l. WOuIu IL
give in more n once if I'd saw q SIGN O.
weak MIN about her, but | never did.
Maria, she was fiery, for fact, but if |
could aheard her scold that minute ito
a been better music to me than any me-
lodeon or piana.
AN | reckon she used to have some
reason for iawin' me, too. The baby
had died, an she must q been homesick
after it. | might a'cheered her up
more'n | did; stayed to home more even
in or took her out to the Ministries an
the like. But didn't. An she cot to
thinllin' things at she didn't have no
reason fer. Said was a heap smilin'er
to other weemen an | was to her, an
she was ready to tear the eyes out O.
one girl in petc' lar at lived down the
street Always. | always did try to be
polite to the sect, but didn't make no
differ nee in my way O treatin' an old
humbly female an one young an clip
per. That is of course-a man has eyes.
o, well--the long an short of it was
me an Maria quarreled over nothing at
all. The more | thought about it the
madden got at myself. Didn't seem
now as if they'd ever been moren lest
childish spatS atween us, things at A
man shouldn't a minded. I'd been
lucky in the cattle trade in the wear
past, but I'd a give every cent if could