The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-01-12
WAS THIS MARRIAGE A FAIL
URE?
Baltimore American.

uEsCueHlHk III tuC navy uepol AhiChb tht
question whether marriage is a failure
or not. After various expressions oi
opinion had been made, very intel
ligent officer, who had quietly lis
tened, remarked al believe that q
common every day illustration OF
domestic life Is a better argument to
use than all the brain theOrizing you
can command will tell you a true
story, gentlemen, and when | am
through, there will be little doubt
left among you whether the parties
viii speak of were not better of by
the marriage tie. You all know that
| went TO England on a secret mission
for the government. When | reached
Portsmouth was q stranger, but my
pockets were full OF hard cash, and
this fact encouraged me greatly, as
knew very well II would make for me
all the friends wanted After a stay
there for some time, made the
acquaintance of many people, and as
| had purpose in view, IL was my
first motive to get into such circles az
would be OF service to me. wanted
to know something of the English
navy and TO get hold of the secret In
VOWED In the building of their ships.
found plenty OF men who claimed 10
know everything and offered all kinds
of services, but Ii did not take me long
TO pick out the men thought would
do me the most good. never thought
that an officer holding a subordinate
place would prove TO be my best
friend. An intimation was given me
that the officer had some valuable
information, which, If he would give,
would be worth its weight in gold. ]
called at the officers house one even
ing, and was kindly received. did
not make any bones of telling him
who was, what wanted, and what
money l would give him for the
information he possessed. Luckily,
his wife was present at the interview
and she intended at first to withdraw
from the room when the conversation
began to assume a confidential tone,
but at my solicitation she remained,
and il was we'll that she did, as Ii
proved to my advantage. After had
almost talked the young officer blind
and, as | thought, got him to q point
where he would give me the desired
promise, he surprised me by replying
that his honor was at stake, and bis
position "a an officer in her majesty's
service would not permit him to grant
my request. l thought ii was all up,
and as rose to leave, | said: Make
Up your mind quickly, as leave here
in day or Sd. The offer l make you
will give your home happiness for
many a day, and the secrets you reveal
will never be divulged' This did not
move him, and left the house never
expecting to hear from them. The
next day, as | was getting ready to
leave my room at the hotel, heard q
gentle knock at my door. Come in,
said l: and who should my visitor be
but the officers wife. She walked TO
the desk in my room and laid down q
package. knew that Ii contained
what i wanted. Without saying O
word she quietly withdrew. Her
presence In the room was not over q
minute, but, as my hopes and ambi-
tions were centered in that package, Ii
was an angels visit to me. The pack
age contained everything l wanted,
down to the minutest detail. That
night trusted messenger carried TO
the lady q box in which, gentlemen,
was money enough to keep any one OF
US In good style for at least four or
Ave years / was glad that the woman