The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-10
THE FAIR SEX RIGHTS.
WHY MRS. ELIPHALET JOHNSON
FINALLY LEFTHEB HUSBAND.
Her Better Half Drank stcadily-But the
Clever Woman Lawyer Solved the DIM
cuity-A Blessing In Disguise.

I.IIVTdTTL JVUUNVW WIS
| hard-Working woman--even her next door
| neiehbCrs admitted that. Her chimney
| blackened the soft morning air as early
| as any In town. her wash huttered white
under the apple boughs long before
| breakfast. That Is before Eliphalet 5
| breakfast. says Wayerey.
| kliphalet Aept store: He preferred
| Keeping store TO farming because he
| could sit down mere. In the store II
was all In the way OF business. HIS
| obJect-the counter, the sugar barrel,
| the cracker box, even the cask Of mo-
| lasses. but not IN the last until the
| counter ard the other things were full
| There were a few chairs around the
| store in the rear, and vast political
| measures We're discussed there-matters
| far beyond the reach OF Mrs. Johnson $
busy feminine brain.
The house was over the store. The
stairs connecting the two came down
| I'm the end where the store was ard when
customer came In who wanted not \
seat. but service Mr.. Eliphalet Johnson
would tip back his chair little further,
open the door and say: Maria
Then Mrs. Johnson would hurry down
and attend the customer Mrs. Johnson
had good head in a servile sort OF
way, and usually kept the accounts. This
she did after the store was closed and
the children were in bed.
But in spite of all her efforts Eliphalet
got into difficulties He never fully eX-
planned TO her what these difficulties
were. but they were such as induced him
to transfer the family bank account and
business liabilities to her name.
This. he explained with lofty compre
henSiVeness. was merely matter Of form
and quite essential for the safety OF the
ch" dren.
And Maria" he added, seeking to
bring the conversation TO a more COM
prehensive level. there's \ lady over at
Clark's. a Miss Burton. who wants board
col. lsn~ rfn.
could come here. | knew the spare room
was suitable and one more or less
wouldn't make any difference to you"
But | wanted mother for awhile this
a help preserv1n' end with the DaDy'
Eliphalet grinned.
he. mot by a long chalk. And this lady
is to pay 81 day right along. ana you re
to bank it in your name-here tue
Marta took the book and looked at IT,
$500 was set down already TO her credit.
WHY, 'Liphalet where'd you get this!
she exclaimed.
tipped back his chair to it's farthest'
looking at her with narrowe ed eyes from
under the rim OF his hat.
A duh red color rose on Mrs. Johnson
faded face.
THAT was my lot" she said slowly:
INV fa4her gave Il 10 me before he dled
and never meant to have IT sold IN the
world"
You dent know nothin' about business
an never will" said Eliphalet but
now YOU pay 'tentlon to this end see II
you can understand IT, Here's the d'eds
OF this house. store an all the furniture
and stock. All in your name. Now, the
reason Of IL is that I've got creditors
who might clean me out any time, bit
II | can tide over this year III get over
IL all right For this year the hull pro-
perty's I'm your name and none II my
creditors can touch II. See AS 20 tnat
lot 'twan't no more yours tran this
house was or the farm-they all cane
from your father, but when you married
me II made 'em mine, and II ought 10.
man supports his family. hes GOT
to hold the property. But for this year
The wear passed slowly on. Mrs. John
son grew to understand somewhat the
value Of her position and 70 do more
and more Of the business.
In truth though she never owned 70
her most intimate friend that Liphalet
drinkedw this sad fact was now becom-
ing painfully apparent.
Much had Mrs. johnson suffered in the
fifteen years Of her laborous marriage
She had worked. on the average nit9en
hours a day and lost much sleep besides
She had put into the family all lis Iedl
estate. and really kept the store. ShS
had borne and reared four children ana
lost two. ana out " al hI,9 or -.
learned nothing until what che thought
the last straw turned out TO be blesS-
ing IN disguise That was the lazy podiu-
or. IL Mr.. Johnson had dreamed OF mat
worthy woman's real position ne wouId
never have placed his conservative spare
chamber at her disposal
But he did not suspect and never learn
ed until 1t was too late. , a..
She was a lawyer and, In spite OF the
absolute prohibition or all braln Woih
tan
her n few little calf-bound DOCKS from
force of habit. - &,
the inTgorating fresh ess or new ac-
qLaintances. was led 10 Iead so,he" l ia
in The penal and civil codes Of her ma
tive state Moreover. the bcarder, moved
nv a strong sense OF hum an Kindness 10
this struggling woman, ana seeing tte
RESPONSIBILITIES OF life with wider reach,
urged upon her new view or her duties
10 her children and the world
WhereupOn. il came 10 pass tbat wren
Eliphalet walked up one morning very
late indeed. after a little heavier Drink
lrg than was usual 70 him ana called
vainly. with quite advanced profanity,
for his faithful wife, he found her not
in attendance.
Somewhat sobered by surprise he arose
and searched the house
No wife, no child, no boarder!
And a little later, 10 his incredulous
horror and amaZement. he discovered
hat the house and stock, furniture and
form had been sold over his head. and
the proceeds had disappeared with his
wife , ,,4
she left him a letter. however. In when
II vas set forth that II he gave up drink
inc and became a self-suppOrting citizen
she would gladly receive him again as
a husbaud-0n her own terms.
Ia tbe meantime she ould allow him
,oa n month 10 be paid 10 him person
aiIv on application TO her lawyer whose
address she incl0sed- ,-
For herself she had gone into business
INDEPENDENTLY and should do well by her
children. ....,,,,
the name Of the lawyer confused MIN.
"Flizabethw said he. Elizabeth Bur
ton, Great Scott" ,.
Then the deserted Husband TOOK up
II made a new man Of him.-Chicago