The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-08-29
For he woman.s SAKE.

Three short, blissful months had pass
ed over the heads Of Callithumpian W.
Magruder and his bride. and o a cloud
bad dimmed the brightness Of their do
nestle sky. The angel Of peace lowered
over their household its full ten hours a
day and the cricket Of eonnubi4l joy
ehirped ~contentedly about their hearth
stone the rest Of the time. There was
nOthingthe proud young husband thought
a task if il grati6ed the slightest wish Of
his hearts idol or brought a smile 70 her
lovely face. Time and again he had
arisen in the dead Of night to drive some
low-spirited cat of the premises or to
battle his head in rOsewater or diluted
carbolic acid II the odor Of the cigars
smoked in his downtown ofice 6uringthe
day was found to have fingered about
him. For her sake he had subscribed
for four Boston magazines, sold the most
promising bull-terTier pup in The seventh
ward. joined a society for the advance
ment of ethical culture. and had deter
mined with all his soul 70 get the hang
OF Browning or perish in the attempt
The Fourth Of July had come and
gone. With bloodshot ewes Cailithum-
plan W. Magruder sat at breakfast, try
ing with unsteady hand To III a cup Of
coffee to his lips.
darling" said the young wife, OBJ
serving for the first time that her hus-
band appeared indisposej, what is the
matter with YOU Are o iH?"
al am rather rocky this morning,
Elfeda," be responded, I" but il viii pass.
! shall be all right again
"Callthumpian," reioined the wife
with that tender anxiety that leads wo-
man-heaven bless her Ito ministertoa
sick man by trying to stuff him with food
" won't you have some eggs and a larger
piece Of steak?"
Elfeda, was the reply as he put up
a trembling hand to ward of the protfer-
ed consolation, &" / shall have to tell YOU
what the trouble is. It will come out
sooner or later at the %coroner's inquest.
You slept well last night, Of course
Certainly
Overcome by the excitement Of the
day and the disturbed slumbers Of the
night before, your sleep was as sound
as that Of a tired child. You heard no
noise in the cellar in the middle Of the
night?
No, Callithumpian, replied Elaeds
turning pale with apprehension.
"Well I did. It aroused me from a
restless and unquiet sleep. and, without
waking you, l dressed myself quietly.
seized a heavy cane, stole softly down
stairs. l found a man in the cellar-d0
not start, Elaeda. He was a little, dried
up, withered, Insignificant sneak-thief,
not half as dangerous as a setting hen.
He was helping himself TO your finest
canned fruit. IliRed the little rascal ont
Of the cellar on the toe Of my shoe"
{" am glad nothing worse happened,
my love, Why are you 50 unnerved? lt
is all over now.
4" No. it is not all overt exclaimed the
husband, as he looked of into vacancy
with a hollow-eyed, despairing gaze
" remOrse is left"
d" Remorse ? A"
" Yes, bitter, gnawing, agouizing re-
morse. Listen, Before | kicked the thief
/ looked about me for some mean Of
inficting a punishment upon him that
he would remember, and a temptation
from the evil one came into my mind.
On a plate npon n Of the hanging
shelves was something you had prepared
with your own hand
Yes, l remember, it was a pudding I
made myself why
"Elheda said the husband, hoarsely, as
ne looked in stony despair, 4" I made him
eat that pudding"