Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-08
DICK WAGONS WIVES.

bar not being accustomed to decide on points
Of morality.
wal" ventured Bob Tinnett, after an in
terval during which every mans empty glass
was replenished, what I've got to say Is this,
that as things are so comfortable I'D at
Dick Wagons, let them be, and as it's clearly
Ag'in female human natur' for two wives TO
git along smilin' in the same house, let this
woman go back; and in order to make it
squar', let us, man and man, chip in and
make It with her while to 90, without sayin'
nothin' 10 Dick"
A dozen hands went to as many pockets in
practical response to this appeal, but were
arrested there, as Joe Watkins, who appeared
in the light Of public prosecutor, again step
ped forward. That's not the pint l say
that Wagons orter be punished; he's played
1t mean on this camp, and II know the
boys, they'll play it back on him TO a pretty
tune Why, when Spiggot died over ter
South Fork mountain, au' Wagons went and
brought his wilder over ez his wife, didn't
this yer camp speak well. didn't il speak most
uncommon well, of Wagginsr
1T did" responded the crowd with the
unanimity Of an opera chorus
Thar war others ez might have thought
81 that wilder, but bein' more modest, why.
Wagons got ahead, and the camp approved
Wagons; but now here's his true and lovin'
and deserted wife turns up, and the question
is, What's the camp goin' 10 do about itT'
The orator knew his audience too well TO
make the infringement OF the marriage law
the chief point Of his indictment, and there
fore dwelt on the deception used BY Wagons
towards society at Rabbits Find Dick should
have laid the matter before them, should have
confided in them as men not unfamiliar with
domestic infelicity, and in that case they
would have been quite willing 20 ignore the
first wife and support him In his impending
trouble. Dick had not chosen TO act accord
ing to precedent, consequently the camp felt
outraged and A'-posed to listen TO Watkins.
Il say pursued the modern Ar, tides,
that justice hez got ter be done
But they can't both have hir- unmarked
a thoughtful bystander. What becomes Of
Spiggots widow If this stranger takes the
poti You see, matrimony's a kind OF game
in which you can't divide the stakes"
That amt the pint, it's the princerpie.
Rabbits Find Amt got anythin' too much
and ter spare in the way of morality; il amt
IA bustin' out and overhowin' with virtue TO
that extent that it can afford 20 let a thing
like this 60 by
An affirmative murmur ran round the
crowd which was quite ready 70 atone for
individual shortcomings by hearty indorse-
ment OF abstract principle. Its been
rather dry season in morals round here right
along, and I take it the camps not goin' to
pass this time; It will take a hand in the
game, and Wagons her got ter git"
Jack LEROY thought that Rabbits could
Withstand worse shocks than this, and moved
that the matter be left In the hands Of Dick
and his two wives.
I'm with you there, pard,n said Ben
Thompson, and reckon there isn't a man
here as would wish TO 60 you one better on
that You bet this is Dicks own private
game, and if it comes 70 morality-well, all
I've got to say is that the man as saws he's
got n straight flush Of that suit had better
show bis hand
This liberal view OF the situation provoked
hearty applause, but as Joe Watkins repre-
'ented tue religious element of the place, so
FAR a. 1t could be said 70 exist at al, his argu-
nents finally carried the day. IL was event
lally decided that the boys should meet the
'tage by which Wagons would arrive the
night, and escort him to the meet
ng house, where, In the presence Of his two
wives, he should hear his sentence of Danish
nent from Rabbits Find.
Watkins, after leaving the saloon, turned
~ in the direction Of Wagons home, which
Uttered from the surrounding shanties BY
eason of its cleanliness within and its little
arden without.
What evil brings you here, Joe Wat
inst No good, I'll be bound" said Mrs.
Naggins, confronting her unwelcome Wis
tor.
Its Christian duty, my dear friend
Keep that for those you want TO deceiver
well, now, Fl 1t comes ter deceiving, /
-uess I'll hev ter give way ter Wagons; 1t
pears ez ef he could lay over the hull camp
Il that"
What do you meant Some OF your lies,
# course You are a born liar. and don't
believe YOU could speak the truth even by
accident
go on, mum; don't stint yourself; and
III allow you're powerful pretty when you're
'aucy; but may be you won't b. 50 clipper
when Mrs. Wagons comes TO take her right
ul place along Of Dick"
"What-what do you meanf and despite
Ter effort TO seem unmoved her voice shook
md her lips grew white.
'Oh, you're beginning TO look skeert Ike
N just step in.
NO you won't-stay there Tell me what
-ou mean, and when Dick comes"-
II guess when Dick comes he'll find the air
4 this camp onsalubrious You ses, his fust
yfe's come and folks are kind Of speakin' Of
-ou by yer old name Of Spiggot"
The woman staggered as IL she had re-
eived n blow, and yet it seemed as II the
Jews came to her as the fulfllment Of an old
Tread, rather than as n revelation Of her hus-
lands perfdy.
Yes, Mariar Delaney was her name
on the stage. She's got cheeks like
ulips and laugh that yer can ketch onto
iah way up South Fork mountain. There's
zen wrong done this lovely critter, and the
cys say Dicks got ter git, right SMART
Got 10 leave Rabbits Findr'
"Yes. You see they're downright mad.
ause they thought he'd done the generous,
roper thing by Spiggot's wilder and the
ripple child; not but what there was an
Their czn-
'Silence, you snakel He did do the eener-
rs thing by me and my poor children, aud
"
"spiggot, too"
YES, he did; when wretches like you would
ave made poverty and my love for them q
mptatiou.n
What an unforgivin' temper you've got
aybo you'll wish you hadn't been SO psr-t
hen you hear the verdic agin him to-rnor-
w night. The boys will meet him at the
age and take him straight thar
For while she stood looking after her old
lemy, rs If unable to grasp the situation.
hat was she TO dol How could she save
icki Should she take her children and fieei
o, that would be idle. She knew her hus-
md too well 20 think he would allow her to
crihce herself. Her eyes wandered over
e camp, whose lights shone like fire flies |
rough the faint veil of mist, and then |
rned to the neighboring mountain, with its |
1t OF pines, until mt last they rested on the
slant outline Of the Sierras The hot day /
ID been followed by q sultry night, and the
omeutary breeze which had brought little
eshness died away Us suddenly rs 1t had |
me. The place was not beautiful: even the /
fleming grace of night was powerless to rob /
OF its ugliness; but yet to this woman It /
ID fascination no words could express It /
rs home; and as the thought that she must |
ave II came to her, she looked upon IL as |
We may have looked ON the garden when its |
ties were about to close behind her.
Must they be driven away because the
retched woman who had destroyed and de-
rted her husband had chosen TO come back /
hint Dick had told her the story Of his
iserable marriage, and she had listened to