The morning call., 1891-01-13
TWO WIFE-KILLERS.
BY NJ. V. OSBORNE.


little woman who sat, trembling and weak,
behind the big coffee-pot. That little, faded
piece of humanity was townships wife, and
trembling was good enough for her, and if
her white face had been flushed with shame
it would have been far more becoming.
"a woman," said Townsley, glancing at
his wife. "will toss out Of the window with
a TEASPOON faster than man can throw it
at the door with a shovel Time is money,
Mrs Towusley, and if You go on wasting it
in this way we shall all be in the poor
house before winter.
wood green and wouldn't kinile p
Well. you should have found some that
would, Weren't you ND two hours before l
was? What on earth women folks do with
all their time is norm l know But don't
sit there making excuses. There's been
enough time lost already, | should think. 1t
is now half-rast 6 o'clock. Bring me my
thick boots. You can get me clean collar,
too, while you're about it. Pm going to
town. BY the way" said T0wnsley. as The
little fingers of his wife fastened the fresh
collar around lis throat, run to the barn
and bring Judy's horse-blankets around TO
the front door. If I'm not there roll it up
and throw 1t into the buggy. Wait min
ute de;aning her. You were speaking,
Mrs. IOwusley, about a clothes-w ringer. |
haven't any money to throw away on grim
cracks. My mother never had a wringing
machine and never asked for one. Takes all
/ can rake and scrape TO keeping the farm
supplied win mOwlng-macnlneS and corn
planters. Pretty soon you VIII be teasing
again Tor piano, and then IKE enough Tor
sewiuE-machine or some other invention to
encourage idleness. Hands were given us
TO use. Mrs. TOwnsey, not to diliy-daliy
here and there, keeping meals waiting"
Delivered Of his speech and ready for
town-going, Townsley allowed his wife to
depart in search of the horse blanket, while
he strobe 10 the front door, dispatched Bob
to open the gate, and lumped into his buggy.
Jane" said IoYnsley, unbending n
little, as the small, trail figure drew close
and lifted in the heavy blanket, - if the
butcher stops to-day you wont need to get
any meat for the house. shan't be home
10 dinner and tho men folks VIII be over to
DawsOn'S. Well, running up thin, cheap
smile to his face TO signal good-by. I'm off
at last. Whoa, Judy. Jane, there's those
potatoes in the bin; they're sprouiing. Bet
ter see to them to-day. GOOd-moTnlng."
Good morning it was-fair, fresh and
beautiful. The blue overhead was new and
bright and the earth was clean-Gaced and
rain-WaShed. For mile or two Townships
route lay through woods, where OlOssOming
flowers filed the air with fragrance. He cut
The flowers with his whip and lett them
bruised and mangled by the waysIde. The
birds in the trees tossed him a greeting as
lie passed, but all the notice he took was to
turn songs to screams by striking at the
branches where they swung Not that
TOwusley was any longer ill-natured or that
he had been ll-natuIed any of the time
Had you charged him with such feelings he
would have denied their existence. But he
liked TO feel his power, and this slaShing at
everything was habit he had, resulting
theTefrOm.
Judy was Townships best horse. When
they got through the piece Of woods, and
IOwnsley had nothing else to crack his whip
at, he tried the snapper on her and made
her dance. Judy was IN fine spirits this
morning. She needed no urging. Towns
ley continued to fret her with his whip
But when lie touched her with the tassel-
end 1t was more than the spirited animal
would brook. She reared and paved the
air, then plunged forward as If to free her
self, and finally dashed down the road at a
break-neck speed. For mile she flew like
the wind but Townships firm hand drew
her in at last, and for the time being the
horse recognized the master But Judy's
eye glitteTed; she looked wicked Towns
ley's eye glistened; be felt proud. At ease
with all mankind, he willingly drew lines to
chat with Ricketts,, who was riding from
town on horseback
well, what's the news ?" inquired Towns
ley, with patronizing nod, in exchange for
tickets neighbUrly greeting.
L
ley said Ricketts,, shifting 10 an easier
position in his saddle, and leaning down
comfortably on the pOmmel. Not much
news Of any kind; everybody's SO tarnal full
Of the hangin'
"Krietf, eli! The fellow that murdered
his wife? So he's had to swing for it, has
he? Hanging'S too good for such cuss as
he was"
Judy plunged and reared and snorted fire.
a-aS. Papers full ont; considerable
gFFTN q
the boys would have lynched him"
The spirited Judy gave a leap; but Towns
ley quoted ner,
Yes. said To#nsley. ''he was hard
case"
"oh! desput hard" interrupted Ricketts,.
y Gu read the account, didn't you?"
On yes, yes. l recollect the whole
miserable affair: A man who will abuse a
woman as lie. did man who in cold blood
shoots down the mother of his child, as
klief did-hanging isn't enough for him; it
isn't enough. Whoa! Judy; whOal you
beast! Yes, fine horse; pretty fine horse
Whoa! Judy. Stand still therel How did
" he behave on the gailows"
Like man, the paper says. For the
lust time in his life, reckon Yes, died
become of him."
IT'S dreadful" said Townsley, Jerking
ms horses mouth and with difficulty con-
trolling her. The way crime-whoa lis
lncreasnS-whoa! Mrs. Punch, or I'll get
out and whip Won till you know who am.
That's the third case of wife-murder we've
heard Of within"
- Here Judy dashed off at full speed. and
Inwnsley was obliged TO leave his sentence
unfinished
What allied the brute that mOrningq The
nerve and muscle of one strong man were
not enough to hold her. The buggy was
tossed from side to side of the road as the
horse rushed onward. Townsley grew pale
with rage. He cut the animal right and left.
Then he grew pale at the sight of tile danger
before him, and tried to restrain her with
kind reassuring words. Caresses after
whippings are accepted by the child when
refused by the beast ToWnsley was con-
sclous OF splinters Zigzagging like lightning
before MS eyes; conscious of bracing and
holding with both hands; then OF q great
plunge through the air; of ploughing the
% ground with his shoulders, ana gurgling a
prayer through the gravel which filled his
mouth that God would save him Then
his neck apparently broke, and he knew no
more
When Townsley came to himself he
opened his eyes YEARLY, then wonderingly.
then tearfuliy, after which he closed them
in hurry.
Townsley was scared. He had seen his
own soul. 1t was lowering over him like a
balloon, and struggling to free itself from
the body. Was he dead or dying, or trem-
bling on the borderland? He did not know
He opened his eyes again, looking this time
from the souls standpoint. He saw that
mangled. motionless body OF his. wrapped
in the Wayside dust; and he felt himself the
soul suspended in the air, with all that
earthly flesh clogging his uprising.
But which am 2' groaned TOwnsley, a
cold perspiraticn breaking out all over him.
He seemed to comprise two beings, each
wrestling for the mastery. The soul pulled
hard for liberty, but the bodys dead weight
would grant it no release. Sounds filled his
ears ike rushing Waters, and his throat
was parched and burning. Townsley was
never in such fix in his life, or was it
death? The heart of this strong man failed
him.
.Relpr' he cried. "Help!"
But only the perfume of bruised and dy-
ing flowers fioated by, and above the noise
Oh the waters only the little grieyed note OF
singing bird gave answer. -
trembling, frightened, weak, one other
cry escaped that quivering mass of fies h
which the soul tortured and pulled and
strained increasingly.
-" jamie, Ja-niew pleaded Townsley.
help me-keep .me-stay by me-Pm going
mad-ohi Janiep