The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-09
THE TRAGIC MAIDEN.

whither he had been invited to join social company and partake of stimu- lating refreshments, every one saw that
 something was weighing heavily on his
 mind.
 "Major," said an undertaken, sadly
 smiling, "you seem to have forgotten
 your good cheer tonight"
 "Yes, I am pretty well crushed"
 "Tell us of your troubles" exclaimed
 half a dszen voices. "We will listen
 patiently"
 "l dsn't know that the recital will in-
 terest you, but it will show what fool a
 man may sometimes become in matters
 of love. Some time ago, fell in love
 with Polly Joler, and about the same
 time became acquainted with Nancy
 Lory. soon discovered that both girls
 were in love with me. did not love but
 one of them you understand" wiping
 bead ofwhisky of his moustache. Polly
 was so gentle, SO con6ding that my sonl
 went ont to her and gathered her in aa
 emotional embrace. Nancy vas daTk-eyed
 and tragic. It soon became necessary for
 meto make decision, and saw that ifl decided against Nancy, she would kill
 herself. Polly knew, would do noth- ing rash, even though she loved me de- votedly. did not love Nancy, yet could
 l, as a gentleman and citizen who usually voted twice on the same day, allow .
 maiden to kill herself on my account Should not sacrifice myself to save her ? l loved Polly, and the thought of giving her up pained me. did not love Nancy, as previously intimated. yet the idea of being the cause of blood-shed gored me with the horns of extreme discomfort. At last must act. Polly, blue-eyed and as beautiful as Pallas, gazed into my soul and breathed an endearing hope. Nancy, dark and as handsome as Helen of Troy. flashed her eyes upon me and threatened self-destuction. drew a sigh from the troubled depths of my spiritual existence and went inte the thick forest to ponder. loved Polly, and longed to press her lips. l did not love Nancy, but could stand by and see her blood flow. Her only hope of heaven was centered on me. Polly would man. age to get there anyway. went deeper into the forest and pondered. Beads of cold sweat stood on my brow like warts on toad. loved Polly, as you by this time understand, and did not love Nancy, as you by this time have learned to suspect, but what was to do2 See Polly nope around covered with scarf of despair, or witness Nancy's cold and strikingly hapdsome corpse deposited in the damp and uncongenial grave ? 1 dislike bloodshed. can stand it to see any one nope around, but for a girl to cut and slash herself, cripples me. Well, decided in Nancy's favor. Not that 1 loved her, oh, no, but to save her life. We were married. Polly moped where the young pear trees grew, and sat in silence when the katydid opened up his racket. had made de- | cision of principle; had sacrificed my | own connubial bliss to prevent tragedy. Ah, how man falls into the pits of error. The other night when intimated to my wife that she did not place the proper estimate upon me, she dounced into . passion, and said you are fool. Twas in love with Dan Sawyer and would have married him had I not been convinced hat such an event would have caused you to kill yourself. Dan is gentle, and would not think of doing anything rash. law you were hot-headed and contem- plated suicide in case refused to marry you. l have made a sacri- ice of my happiness merely te save your life arose without replying, kick ed the dog as went out and buried my 'elf in the deep solitude of the forest. When morning came sorrowfully went back to the house to get something to eat. My wife was gone. She had left a note where she knew would find it-tied t around the neck of my whisky bottle. The note ran in this melancholy way
 Sir: Having saved your life have de- cided to secure my own happiness have secured divorce, granted by my uncle who is justice of the peace and have gone away with Dan Sawyer. You have seen enough of married life to ab- 'tain from suicide on my account. Sweethearts sometimes commit suicide on account of love, but husbands rarely do. Their self-destruction is usually by whisky.' was shocked, and as chewed the end of ham-bone, ac- cidently left in the cubbord, thought of D~H~ \ eA-