Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-03

y
him howl like whipped cur, and thus they
progressed all round the room, she kicking
and be protesting and entreating until they
reached the wall, against which she banged
his head till it swami He did not turn
round and give her in charge for assault, but
CROPPED hazly for his hat and tried to crawl
towards the door. when she again pounced
upon him aad slung him round towards me.
Il give that man, John Gray, in charge
for deserving me and leaving me and my
children chargeable to the parish" she said,
towering above him like an avenging demon,
and never for an instant relaxing her hold.
81 got word that he was in Edinburgh, and
came through last week, and today found
out his lodging and they sent me here"
A scream interrupted her, but this time it
came from Nelly Stephens who tainted away
as Imply as the schoolmistress had done
Miss Munro had just recovered, and was able
to understand the words of the massive wife,
but she seemed to have had enough Of faint
ing for one day, and simply sat and stared
John Jenkins rushed to attend to Nelly
Stephens, but the pallid despair on his hollow
cheeks was gone, and in its place flush Of
Joy and hope.
I asked the newcomer for proof of her
charge, and she simply pointed to hand bill
On tho wall near me, in which John Gray
was fully and infinitely proclaimed as having
deserted his wife and children, and the sum
of one guinea was offered for such informa-
ton as should lead to his apprehension and
conviction. / had seen the bill there for
months, yet never once thought of applying
the description to "Ravensberg" fully e1-
pected the accused to stoutly deny his iden-
THY, but he seemed so anxious to get out OF
his wife's clutches, and away from her thick
toed boot, that he eagerly admitted every
thing and asked to be locked in the farthest
off cell we had to spare. When we had &C
commodated him and dismissed his wife,
Nelly Stephens and Miss Munro turned to
leave, each looking scornfully at the other,
and apparently wishing the gigantic wife a.
the bottom of the sea.
Ravensberg was duly tried and sentenced
to three months imprisonment for deserving
his wife, and I fully expected to be able to
add to it another for obtaining money under
false pretenses But Nelly persisted in not
making the charge, though she admitted that
he had acted the part of scoundrel, and that
her dream was now over. thought that in
that state OF mind she would turn to the de-
voted and unsefish fellow who had stood by
her so long, but shortly after I CHANGED to
meet Jenkins, and saw at a glance that he
was as melancholy and pallid as ever.
Il suppose You will be marrying Nelly
Stephens one Of these days." l said, as
cheerily as if his funeral face had not been
before me.
NO" he groaned, shat is all over. Inever
go near her now She has above Zoo AND
some cottages, so she's too grand for me.'
"Did she say SOP
ooh, 10; I'd die before I gave her tho
chance" he said, with a culver Of the lip,
'but I'm sinking fast, and when I'm dead
she'll think Of me and be sorry"
'And much good that will do you"
laughingly rejoined. You ought to have
asked her first, and then died If she refused
you"
But don't you see if 1 asked her now she'd
think it was her money was after"
'No, l don't. Didn't you go after her
when she had nothinsf"
YES" and his eye kindled a little.
'sWell, she knows that you loved her then,
and must think you have got tired Of her
now"
mot Do you think sof'
Certain of it. Did you expect her to
come and ask you if you'd have herE
mo; I could scarcely expect that"
''Well, there's only one other course-you
must ask her"
He seemed to appreciate the advice, and
went away with little brightness dawning
on his pallid face. / heard no more Of him
for some time, but one Friday evening, in
passing through Rankeillor street, saw q
cab whirl up to a minister's door, which was
instantly surrounded by street children cry
Ing, Poor cot! poor ootI' The crowd
stopped me, and l saw the occupants descend
with that ''new clothesy" look which always
proclaims a wedding party, and then saw
that the bride and bridegroom were Nelly
Stephens and the lanhy jawed tailor, John
Jenkins. They smiled and passed on, but
never sent me bi. OF brides cake. He is in
business for himself now, and his capital was
the money which Nelly was SO eager to give
to the cane top nibbler. How little changes
the whole course of our lives!-JameS Nc
Govan IN Sheffield EnslanD Daily Tele-
graph.