The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-03-31
A GREAT DAY.

Black Flaw. The excitement came about in this way. Old man Curtis Shaw married an old maid known as Red Arm Nancy Horn. She was powerful woman physically, and it is declared that she could kill Q steer and rip off his hide with quickness that awoke the envy of many of her neighbors. She had loved old Shaw during many years, and when, years after his wife died, he came and pro- posed marriage to her, she threw up her great, red arms and thanked the Lord that her day had come. The marriage was a very quiet affair, and the next night the old man came home drunk. She took good care of him, strengthened him out when he had collapsed in corner of the room, bathed his head and bestowed upon him those little attentions which are all well enough for man who is suf- fering from an ordinary illness but which make a drunken man "power- ful sick"
 The next morning old Shaw sprinkled upon himself the ashes of deep humiliation.
 "It was the first time was ever drunk, Nancy. The fact is, Jerry Wells, keeper of the Open Eye sa- loon, got me into his back room and begged me so hard to taste little of his fine flicker that I couldn't git out of the entanglement without drinkin' a drap or insultin' of him; 80, as he mad always been good friend of mine, I tuck a few draps. Won't you for give me?"
 "Yes, if you promise never to go into his saloon again."
 T promise and here's my hand on it."
 She took his hand and squeezed it until he writhed. Several days after ward he again came home drunk. His wife took good care of him as she had done before, but, next morning, when Shaw began to sprinkle the ashes of humiliation upon himself she re- minded him of his promise.
 "You promised me that you never would go into that saloon again."
 "Yes, and now let me tell you. Jerry must have suspected something of the sort, for while was standing on the street he slipped up behind me, grabbed me with teton of fun and toted me into his doggery. After I got in there the boys all swore that ought to treat, and as I couldn't get out of it I ordered the drinks. Then the boys said that if I didn't want to insult them I'd have to drink with them, and, not wantin' to insult some of my hest friends, took few draps, but Nancy, I'll promise you that it shall not occur again"
 She gave him loud kiss of forgive ness. Three days later he came home drunk. He made pretense of being sober, and insisted upon going out and feeding a colt in which he felt much pride. He went out, but fell to sleep in the stall. Tn the night his wife heard him yelling, but, with the comforting reflection that she had locked the stall door, she turned over and went to sleep again.
 At morning, after some one had broken the paddock and liberated the old man, he hobbled to the house. At intervals during the night the colt had stepped on the old fellows head and had cut several scallops on his purple face. He swore that Jerry had drawn a pistol on him and compelled him to drink. A woman of much experience would have scorned such an excuse, but Nancy accepted it. That day she called on Jerry.
 "You ought to be ashamed of your- self," said she.
 -Why 90, madam?"
 "You know you are a larger and stronger man than my husband"
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