Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-10-03

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the corner, and he smiled bitterly at the
associations conjured up by that imple-
ment Of modern correspondence. Well
he remembered certain morning in
early June when Miss Monroe took it
into her capricious head to visit him at
his palatial quarters-as he had repre-
sented them to her in order to keep pace
with the plutocratic Messerschmidt. As
ususal, that worthy was tagging placid
ly at her side.
Mr.. Trott shuddered with retrospec-
tive horror as he thought of the hideous
catastrophe Of that visit and pictured
the scene before him. There was Alice,
as blooming and richly handsome as
Jacqueminot rose, radiating a delicate
perfume, like the flower itself, which
fairly intoxicated the young lawyer.
The complainant and phlegmatic Messer-
schmidt near by wore his usual smile Of
vacant urbanity, but in his small gray
eyes shone the light of demoniacal
triumph, and as he watched Alice sweep
the office with her keen eyes and gather
in every shabby detail of the office, from
the bare floor to the difapidated desks,
he visibly exulted at the disgust in her
countenance. Then she spoke. She had
just dropped in to pay her respects as
she passed tho building. She was de-
lighted to find his quarters SO very COM
Portable looking! Then Messerschmidt
shifted at the atmosphere like war
horse that scents the aroma of battle
afar. Unerringly those little gray eyes
fastened upon the cover of Mr.. Trott's
typewriter
'What make of typewriter do you
prefer, Mr.. Trott?" asked Mr.. Messer
schmidt, innocently raising the cover
and disclosing-not typewriter, but
the meager and unsightly remains OF
some corned beef and cabbage, on which
Mr.. Trott had been dining.
That had been five years ago, and Mr..
Trott had not tasted a dish of corned beef
and cabbage since. The odor of that
barbarous mixture used thereafter to
make him both sick at the stomach and
sick at heart-he, who had once been SO
fond of it!
Messerschmidt married her that fall,
but Mr.. Trott had never called upon
them since the event.
Suddenly he threw his cigar from
him and exclaimed:
''Hang it! What do I care? I'll hunt
her up and call for the sole purpose of
showing her that
His vehemence came to an abrupt
stop. He started erect and listened like
q man transfxed to the sound of a soft,
anxious voice in the other Office that was
inquiring:
Is this lawyers Officer"
eyes, madam" returned Mr.. Trott's
partner affably "What can we do for
you?''
ST wish to get a divorce" said a
voice, more timidly still and trembling
on the verge Of tears. my husband is
a wretch"--
Mr.. Trott interrupted the speech, ra-
diant, preci pitate, his voico vibrating
with unmistakable joy.
"Alicep he cried as he opened the
door with rush.
The young lady rose in establishment
at the figure before her.
''Is it possible?' she faltered
He took her hand and drew her inside
his Office with gentle force, leaving his
mystiied partner staring speechlessly at
the vacated seat.
"What has he been doing to you,
Alice?'' cried Mr.. Trott, holding her
hand and looking as vindictive as Cor
sican.
"He's been doserting me-" she said.
"What, that harmless looking, moon
faced idiot''
"Was a horrid, despicable scoun-
drel!'' retorted Mrs. Messerschmidt,
with appropriate tact.
And then, while Mr.. Trott listened
and held her hand, she poured forth a
tale of such heartrending cruelty that
he wept also.
"Did you ever hear anything like it,
Wilber?" she asked appealingiy, con-
tracting his name as she used to do
when he had pleased her.
Mr. Trott replied with an impulsive
embrace and an unexpected kiss.
''But I am Mrs Messerschmidt!' she
exclaimed in demure alarm, drawing
from him.
''That's so!'' said Mr. Trott soberly.
''The disability will have to be removed
before prior courtship can be reinstat-
ed-ahem! By the way, Alice, have
you seen my new typewriter uncov-
ering the machine with mischievous
grin. "What do you think of it?''
cit doesn't look as palatable as the
old one, WILDER, " she said, laughing and
drying her tears.
''But it ism nearly as embarrassing, !"
he returned your petition for abso-
Lutte divorce shall be prepared upon it
without alimony-for wouldn't t touch
cent of his oleaginous money, con-
found himr'
Just as you say. Wilber," she said
resignedly, dropping her eyes, with a
blush.
And Mr.. Trott's partner in the outer
Office took his eye from the keyhole and
observed contentedly:
Pissness is pooming!" - Julius
Wedokind in Pittsburg Dispatch.