Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-06-23

obtained. for Shad bided bis time untfl 90
cssion offered to buy ono of his horse -deal4
ing neighbor's mortgages, when, having
Thus patiently Shad Platt accomplished
his purposes. And there were other occur
rences which Jerushs, not as yet under
standing her husband, set down as proof Of
his milksop character.
But it was over the horse that blind.
staggered that serious trouble arose, and
again Shad had trial. For on the Sun.
day following she declared that she would
not ride TO meeting to be mortified to death
again. But Shad drove the staggerer
around TO the stump of an oak that was
used for a step and persisted in his purpose
and Jerusha was compelled TO ride behind
the beast again, and there was another
rusha, having been pitched from tho wagon,
ruined her garments and was deeply
wounded in spirit. SO that in her pew, i'm
stsad OF regalning composure, she lost the
little she possessed and quilted the church
in anger.
Shad saw her making her way to the
house of her mothers brother, but he did
not follow her. He went calmly to his
home and spent the rest of the Lords
day doctorlng the unruly beast that took
pride, seemingly, in staggering on Sunday.
But next day Jerusha came not, nor the
next and yet the patient Shad went about
his avocations without dismay. And by
and by Shad received a notice duly
that his spouse Jerusha sought to be re-
leased from the bonds, vincutO, OF matri-
mony Shad tucked the paper away
between the leaves OF the great fam
lily Bible, whore important papers were
kept, so many that the binding was sadly
strained, and that was all he did about it.
Some three months later Shad was sur
prised to learn that the court declined to
grant the decree. Jerusha had been unable
to prove intolerable cruelty or drunken
49, ..Al. g..
set down in the statutes. But the Litch-
field County lawyers were able men in
those times, and they babe Jerusha to de-
spair not. So, and this much common re-
pute sets down to be truth, one OF them,
whose genius had overcome more Difficult
ties than one, induced the general court or
Legislature, to add to the causes wherefore
divorces may be granted this clause: "Or
such conduct as tends to defeat the pur-
pose Of the marriage relations"
And with the blue-b0hnd copy OF the new
laws this lawyer went into court and asked
whether such conduct as the compulsion OF
n wife to ride behind horse afflicted with
the blind staggers to church, to the great
dread, modification and suffering OF tho
wife, were not conduct sufficient to defeat
all harmonious marriage relations. And the
court thought decidedly IL was, especially
as Shad appeared not i'm court to deny 10.
Shad pursued his calm and patient man
ner of life in peace, but h. the course OF
year or two it dawned upon his neighbors
that Shad Plat, despite his peaceful ways
and his humble manner, was a determined
man. No man could be found who in tho
long run, had worsted him. The quiet
manner in which he had evened up with
the wicked horse dealer became known,
and there were hints that Shad was we'll
beforehand with the world, and had obeyed
the Scriptures, SO that he had increased his
talent till IL had become ten talents. And
his neighbors sent him to represent them
in the Legislature, and one day they
elected him high sheriff Of the county, an
honor of great esteem in those times.
Once a week Shad saw Jerusha. She sat
in the Amen pew in the brick meeting
house, and he was seated whore he must
behold her, and be always spoke pleasant
glad to see you looking so we'll, Jerusha."
One winters night there had been a do
nation party at the parsons and Jerusha
was there and Shad, and when IL came time
to depart, was it not Shad that observed
that, whereas all the others were going
away in sleighs, Jerusha must needs walk.
So he took her gently by the arm and led
her to his sleigh, which was a fine one,
richly painted and stuffed with heavy
robes, and before the woman realized 1t,
there she was in the sleigh, we'll tucked in,
with Shad by her side, flying over the
snow like the wind, and she perceived how
powerful he was, and how he mastered the
spirited horse, and how gently, though
firmly he spoke to the animal,
This horse hasn't got the blind staggers,
Jerusha," said he at length, smiling quietly.
"Shall give him the bit'"
eyes, il you wishn
They flew so she could not see, and had
TO hold her breath, and she perceived that
Shad, to hold her firmly, had passed his
arms about her with respectful but power
full embrace. Nor did she shrink away.
"Shall we ride further!h he asked.
EYES," she said in low voice. Eyes, ID
"Seems whatln
at seems so much like counting Shad.v
1--WE never did much counting, Jerusha.
That was the trouble, guess Let's begin
now. knew all along we should, sooner
or later Didn't your
IL kinder hoped so, Shad."
And after that he paid his court TO her
like a young lover, for no had learned
her merit, and perceived that at last she
loved him, as no had always loved her.
And she, with what JOY she now saw her
lover as he was, and with what reproaches
and modification she recalled her blind
ness.
He lived with her forty years, and five
sons and daughters had they, and when no
died she could not stay without him, and
lay down and followed him within a month.
Thus IL happened, though twice divorced
and thrice married, Shadrach Platt had
only one wife, and with her found peace
and joy.-E. J. f., iu the ". y. Sun.
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