Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-06-28
A F a mily j ar

When came home from my Southern
trip, the other day. perceived by Mrs
Quilts demeanor that there was going to
be a row. There was a certain FIRE in
her eagle eye, scOrnful curve in her
usually straight lip, frown upon her
alabaster brow She looked daggers, and
seemed capable of using carving knives
Her greeting was cold. | tried to as.
sumo jocund air, and rally her upon
her melancholy appearance. But she
wouldn't rally; she fell back upon hel
dignity. l could not be jolly to save ny
life. l felt like man who is showed
under pile driver on the up stroke, he
knows it won't be more than a minute
before the whole concern will be down
upon him, and crush him out fiat
ate my supper in silence. When
had finished, Mrs. Quill said:
Now, walk into the sitting room, il
you please, have something to say tt
you"
felt that the crisis was at hand.
l tried to affect Indifference.
Did any letters come for me, love?
l asked.
That jerked the cork out of the thun
der storm, you understand.
"Lettersl' said she, ''lettersl you ask
for letters youl youl ask for letters, land
call me 'ovep Letters! | should say
there were."
well, why don't you produce 'em
then, as the hen said to the rgg with two
chickens in it?
"Ses here, John Quill, | don't want
any of your miserable jests now. I'm
in earnest. While you were gone 4 let
ter came marked important l opened
it. The horrible wickedness and treacE,
cry it disclosed so shocked me, that
determined to open all the others thai
came. I did so. l have found you out
Plunging headlong into dissipation and
vice, you thought to deceive me, youl
wife, You were mistaken. You thought
l would never know of your infamous
transactions. l have caught yon at last
| have often wondered what you did
with your money; why you always said
you had no change whenever | wanted
could afford to clothe your wife anC
children decently. know you now.
have solved the mystery. ! want you t
explain the meaning of this letter, which
came the day you went away. Listen:
MY DEAREST LOVE: When are you
coming to see your own Amelia? YsU
do not know how l count the hours Of
your absence, and long so very, very
much to have you have you come witt
me. Oh, when will the day come wher
l can call you my darling husband? Ma
says ! shall be married as soon as that
horrid woman is out of the way. Dc
come around to see me. ] got the love
of a bonnet you sent me. You have such
a sweet taste. You know that bracelet
you gave me on Christmas? Well, the
clasp is broken all to pieces. l look al
your portrait every hour of the day,anC
kiss lit over and over again. Come around
on Sunday night if you can, and take me
to hear that dear DR.. Gibbs. He shall
marry rs, shan't he love? Your own
darling, AMELIA SMITH.
There, Mr.. Quill, what do you say tC
that? You give her bonnsts, do you
You buy bracelets for her, when here
is your own lawful wife that hasn't got
rag to her back that's fit to be seen
She kisses your portrait, does she, the
nasty hussy; and calls me 'horrid wo
man. and wishes me out Of the way
Wait till l get my hands on her, III
scratch her ugly eyes out. Wants DR.
Gibbs to marry her? Let him dare to
do it, and I'll tear off what little hair
1. l. ic fnp nnth In
"But, my love, this is a mistake.
never heard of such woman" said l.
"Oh, don't my love- me. You can't
deceive me again. l am going to sift
this thing to the bottom. What does
this mean? Listen to this:
DEAR OLD Boy: Can't you let me
have that S25 you lost at euchre last
week? I'm desperately hard up. Binns
wants to be paid for the champagne and
salad we punished. l should have ask
ed you for it the same evening, but you
were SO drunk. l could hardly get you
to bed. How are You on the Firehy S
ball next week? l think I'll go round
and shake my leg for an hour or So
Yours till death,
Bob STRUTHERS.
"AnQ tnaJ S WDer6 tn6 money goes, is
it? Champagne and salad? And gam
bling, too; gambling, while your family
may want the necessaries Of life. Put
to bed drunkl You! and processing to
be decent man, and telling me you
had been out Of town on business all
night. Who Is Bob Struthers. l want
to know? A low-life vagabond, I'll be
bound, or he wouldn't go to vile ball
and use such disgusting slang. Shake a
leg,' indeedl I'll shake his whole body
and his soul out of it, too, If l get hold
of himT
Upon my word, Mrs. Quill, this Is
getting too outrageous. don't know
any man named"
There's no use Of denying it, Mr.,
Quill. No man ever wrote a letter like
that unless he meant it. Don't add
falsehood to your other crimss. l won
der the earth don't open and swallow
you up But there's worse to come yet.
Oh, it's lucky for mo y"I went out of
town when you did. What have you
got to SAY this: