Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-03-12
a VERIFIED PREDICTION,
a Prominent Planter Marrfes a
Woman of Powerful Argument.
Mrs. Porterheld's Terrible Prophecy and
How Ii Was veriRed=The Coicnel's
Second Wife and Her seri-
Gus Accomplishments.
lArkansnw TrararAtI


Old Colonel Ambrose Porterfield and hfS
wife did not get along well together. Ann
brose is prosperous planter and Is man
Of much influence in the SheIf Creek neigh.
borhood. He has held, under the State
Government, several positions Of trust
Mrs. Porterfeld was weak little woman
with plaintive voice and appealing eyes,
but Colonel Ambrose's stern nature was
proof against voice and eyes. "We've ali
got to work." was his motto. He meant
that every one but himself had 10 work,
and, I'M the management of affairs on his
plantation, he took great delight in COM
STRUNG his ruling to suit himself.
"Come, want you to stir yourself to-
day." the Colonel remarked one morning,
addressing his wife.
Colonel" the woman meekly replied,
II am not able to do any work to-day. NY
head aches so badly that it is about to split
wide open"
'That's the same old complaint" the
Colonel exclaimed. "What did I marry
You for, to sit up here and do nothinef
Well, l'n teach you that did not"
"Colonei, please don't"
"Oh, shut up. despise to see ANYBODY
forever grunting around. Get up from
there"
The woman got up and attempted to 60
about her work. but she staggered aud
fell. One OF the servants put the woman
to bed, and the Colonel, after he realized
that her condition was critical, sent for o
physician. When the doctor came, the
woman was past all earthly assistance.
Margaret" said the Colonel, "the
doctor says that you must die"
ThA d.
"Thank God"
"What" exclaimed the Colonel, "is ft
possible that you are so anxious to leave
meY Are you certain that you are going
to better world!"
81 can not GO to worse world, and as
for leaving you-oh, WE'LL"
won't you forgive me IL have done
you wrong?"
"It is easy enough for me to forgive, but
my forgiveness will not cause your coming
punishment to- be lessened. feel that
you are going to be punished on this
earth" She turned her face away irons
him and died.
The Colonel's season of grief was not
long. He soon put on his best clothes and
showed himself at hog-killings and other
places Of amusement. His friends were
shocked, but said nothing. Soon there
came into the neighborhood graceful
woman, Antoinette Polworth. The Colonel
met her and was charmed. He called on
her. She received him kindly. Her ease
OF manner and readiness of expression
thrilled him with sharp flashes of admira-
tion. She did not seem to be regardless of
his attentions, but smiled upon him. Thus
encouraged, the Colonel called often to see
the bright woman. One day he ex.
claimed:
"Oh, Antoinette, can not live without
you. Ever since was young man,
have known that there was some one who
could almost make my life divine. You
are the one. Be my wife and let me wor-
ship you"
Antoinette hesitated. "You will soon
grow weary of me-"
"Never, sweet nymph," exclaimed
Colonel Ambrose Porterfield, passionateIy
shifting his breast. "Come to my house
and be my queen"
The Colonel and Antoinette were mar
rled. 1t was gala day on the plantation.
'Shoats were barhecued, and many a chick
en- squalled tor the last time on this earth,
Six months of almost unbroken happiness
flew away, but now the Colonel,s face
sometimes wore an anxious expression.
His wife was not so fair as she had been.
and the Colonel had discovered that the
waving hair which he had so much ad-
mired was sometimes at night hung on n
corner of the mantelpiece He found, also,
that he had been deceived In other wavs.
and the spirit of revenge arose in his in
jured breast.
"Antoinette," the Colonel one day re-
marked, in a voice which had lost much Of
its wonted gentleness, "Caroline is i'll to-
day, and want you to go out and weaye
jeans for the negroes. get a good price
Tor the stuff, and can not afford to see the
loom idle"
"Well, then. don't look at it," Antoinette
carelessly replied
The Colonel nibbIed his lip and sternly
said: woman, I want no foolishness.D
Don't have it then"
II won't. Go ont there and weave. or
you'll feel the ungentle force of retributiye
authority"
Antoinette laughed. The Colonel took
hold OF her nose and gave it q turn as
though he would unscrew IT. Antoinette
put aside stocking which she had been
darning, knocked the Colonel down with q
lightning like slap, put one foot under him,
threw him across the room. sat down and
resumed her peaceable occupation. After
a while the Colonel sat up and gaxed at
her In astonishment.
"Antoinette," he feebly said.
"What, dear?"
"You needn't weave"
"Thank you, dear"
"You have convinced me that a woman
should have few rights, but, soy, how
did you do it? Where did You acquire
the facts which you have just embodied
into such an unanswerable argument?"
Colonel" she replied, pardon me for
not sooner telling you. For many years
was the cannon-ball woman and the IRON
Jawed maiden in a circus. Don't get ex-
cited, dear. 1 shall not give you another
exhibition until you attempt to get df-
vorce from me. Then win take you up
with my teeth and shake you"
The Colonel went out, leaned against q
horse-block and groaned. His first wife's
Drediction uas -a,;aoa