The morning call., 1893-05-03

Mrs. Lillian Deicdne. price 10 see her dead
and buried That Mr.. Dewane was not SO
easily fooled will be seen by a perusal Of the
narrative.
The Dewane couple were married In Salt
Lake City some few years ago and enjoy ed
connubial bliss for the short space of six
months. when tie fair Lillian became
dissatisfied with the wicked ways of her
husband and sued for divorce.
Dewane had some little money at the time,
| and when the divorce was granted, on the
grounds of desertion. the court decreed that
his wife should receive $50 per month frcm
her Maynard ex-.ord.
The gentleman paid this sum for a num-
| Der of months, but becoming weary of
| squandering his ducats. worthlessly. as lie
averred, he slid silently away for Califor-
| nia, arriving in San Francisco about two
| months ago.
| The late Mrs. d. was not so easily got
| rid of, and Sill having a lingering desire 20
share life's fortunes with her absent di-
vorced husband. and being particularly
interested in the prompt payment of her
alimony, she went on the trail of the gen.
tleman and followed him TO the Pacific
Coast.
Dewane's property has vanished, TO all
outward visible signs, as there is nothing
on record TO show that he is an owner of
real estate, but nevertheless he appears 10
always have plenty of coin. which lie must
keep buried somewhere or in sale deposit,
so that his wife cannot get hold of ii.
Mrs Lillian was not to be foiled. She
set her wits TO work. and when woman
does this something has got to come of it.
One day last week Mr.. Dewaue. who lives
sometimes at 205 Stockton street and at
Sixth, near Market, when he is "at home"
received notice from purported friend
| telling him that his wife had died in A la
media or Oakland it could not be deter
| mined which-and asking him If lie would
defray the funeral expenses.
Dewane did not know whether 10 be sorry
or glad, but he made all haste for the lady's
room, either on Eighth and Washington
streets. Oakland, or Park street. Alameda.
Mrs. Dewane has lived IN both places.
Mr.. Dewane entered the darkened cham
| Der of death, wherein lie was greeted by a
suave individual. in black coat, wh1 intro
duced himself as an undertaken This partly
| explained that he bad laid the long suffering
| Mrs d. out in plain coffin.
Just TO give her decent burial. you
know, poor woman. But then l have rose
| wood caskets which can sell to you very
| reasonably; or perhaps a plaiA black
mahogany coffin, with silver fixtures.
| would answer"
In short. it was explained that a nice,
private little funeral, devoid Of any osten-
tatious display OF hacks aud floral tributes,
| could be made for $500 or $780,
| .Dewans wept a few crocodile tears, aud
| on tie spur of the moment was about 10
produce the coin and give the command:
BURY her decentiy. Never nina the cost
| She's better off dead, poor thing. She has
| always been a burden to herself and TO
me-"
By inspiration or otherwise it suddenly
| occurred to him that 1t would not be just
| the prorer thing to let even an alimony-
! pursuing wife be consigned 10 the cold.
| unfeeling soil OF Alameda County without
! one last fond look.
He wanted to see the corpse. He must
see the corpse, so the suave individual
pulled aside the adjoining curtains and with
] his finger to his lips bid the unsuspecIing
! Dewane enter.
He did so. He gazed into the colorless
| face and touched the white lips. All the old
| love of years gone by came back 10 him and
Mr., Dewane wept.
But what shock awaited him.
/ 1t is sad that at this impressive juncture
| the corpse of the fair Lillian, who was a
rather mirthful woman at best, gave evil
| dence of quick. ierky movement like one
| about to go into Mysteries.
| The pale features relaxed and the tightly
| set mouth gave forth the audible gggle
which would do justice to a Marketstreet
| damsel on a Saturday night
Dewane grabbed the corpse aud pulled it
| out OF the coffin.
This is the way you put up jobs on me,
is ltP". lie yelled. as he aimed several blows
| al his flying wife who was sufficiently alive
| to try to escape her wrathful swain. Then
lie turned to the undertaken, but. he had
| vanished.
! The irate Mr.. Dewane sought an attorney
| and employed detectives.
A written agreement was obtained from
the woman that size relmquished all claims
on him and the case was thought settled.
The fair Lillian was seen in Alameda yes
/ terday just as she was boarding broad
/ gauge train.
/ When confronted with the story, she re-
| piled. emphatically and vigorously ITS
none oil the public's business VIII at l do"
WHAT was the. name OF the un dertaker
VINO assisted you?"
"Undertaker? Well, that is none,of your
! affair either" and with swish of her
dress she stepped into the car. She sat
/ by. the window looking nervously out for
some. time. then got off and went rapidly up
the street, as lively a corpse as ever there