Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-09-21
John Gregory's Wife

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John Gregory's Wife.
One evening a mau rode briskly
tbrouuh a mountain pass in Colora 10,
A rectIv toward the blazing light OF a
camp fire. On nearer view rarty
of rough looking in miaers clotnes
coul1 he seen seated around thls
lire. whoe dancing, uncertain ISnv
cave a something weird and gyp'y-l ke
10 their appearance, while the moon
INST rising slowly over the dark Nus
in Che distance, revealed cluster OF
rude log-shantes and a few sturdy
horses lazily nibblng the short grass :
"Well, Gregory exclaimed one oil
the men, as the newcomer IN silence
flung himself off his horse and came up
TO the fire. "Wen, Gregory, what $
the news up to JeifersonY
81 have no news for anybody but
myself, and that's nobody's buSlnes
but my own y was the ill-natured re-
ioinder.
"Get out. you brute ~ he added
in another minute to a magnlLl-
cent Newfoundland who was Jump
ing ioyfully about him, and the
words were accompanied by violent
kick that sent the poor animal hOWl-
ing into one of the cabins.
The men looked curiously at each
other. and then Jake Sawyer spoke
again
"Here, boys, pass along that whisky
bottle. All John needs is mug OF
hot toddy to make him feel all right
again, l guess" :,
And who says | don't feel all
right ?" retorted John. =" l don't want
vour whisky I" and he led his horse
away without further comment.
"Well, | swar p calculated Sawyer
"If Gentleman John amt in a fight
ing mood. though, for once in his life
Always labored under the impression
that he was that mild-spoken kind OF
a chap what butter wouldn't melt in
his mouth, but you can't never be sure
OF nothing in this world %
TO this speech. uttered in a high
pitched, nasal twang, the men re-
sponded by a unanimous "You bet p
accompanied by a loud chorus of
laughter. Then the bottle went the
rounds again.
Meanwhile John Gregory entered
his own particular shanty, closed the
door and drew the wooden bolt to
guard against intrusion, and then liz a
tallow candle that was thrust into an
empty bottle, in lieu Of candlestick
This done, his attention was attracted
by low whine from the corner where
his bed stood, and there crouched his
dog, dejected-looking animal enough,
gazing beseechingly over at his master
In another instant the man was down
beside the dog, one arm thrown around
the creatures neck.
"There, Duke Poor old fellow !"
he muttered. patting him. "Forgjve
me, old dog | think [ must have
been crazy to treat you like that, the
best friend l havew and Duke looked
sympathizingly up into his mast rs
face, md licke his hand, and rubbed
against him until the mans eyes, that
had been so hard and desperate be-
fore, softened, and filled with binding
tears.
Then there seemed to rise before
him sweet, fair face looking at him
with pair Of dancing blue eyes out
of a vale of pale gold hair. And as he
looked those blue eyes seemed to grow
full of a wondering sorrow and re-
proach, until he could bear it no longer
but started up from his seat, exclaim-
ing, passionately:
mo, she could not have do0eitl !
was wrong wrong, to think such a
thing of my darling !"
But even as he said it his face
changed again, and with a sudden
he drew from his pocket a
crumpled letter, and held it up to the
dim candlelight.
"MY DEAR JOHN" he read, for the twentieth
time that dav, g | feel it my duty, being a
church member, and also having once en-
loyed the privilege of training your youihu'
mind, to acquaint you of the grievOus snGreS
on whom your earthly affections are set.
lone afternoon, one month from today
you wife was seen going away on Boston
tram IN company with a young man with a
light mustache, whose general appearance
marked him as given over to the world one
remained awav until yesterday, when | met
her returning from the station WITH the same
young man, and she evaded my questionvl
considerable confusion-as ldeed she has
done those of all her neighbOrs ever since r
and buried away from me a soon as posi-
bic. Under such circ m stances 1t IS not az
all astonishin that people will ia k, and
advise YOU, John Gregory, to come hon
and look after your wife
:" Your ncere friend and well-wisher,
"ARErHUsA SHIrMAN.
He knew his old school-teachers
character well enough to know that
she had warned him from really con-
Scientious motives, and beside, none
could possibly wish to in ure his sweet
tempered, gentle little wife. Sweet
was she? All, yes That
was the way with these plausible, low
voiced little things. They could smile
upon you, and play the wife 50 charm,
ngly when you were with them, anu
forget you, and all your claims upon
hem when you were away. ran
such woman as that did not merit
word from him. He would not give
Ter a chance to soften him with her
pretty excuses, and twine herseH
'ound his heart again. No, her con
luct should receive the contemptuous
ilence it deserved, and he would crush
Ter memory out of his heart for
,ver
Here he tore Leaf from his note
,ook and scrawled hastily urOn it
"MADAME-Your favor Of the 18th INST
7as duly received this A. NJ. MY WI