Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-05-16

all men there was not one more
worthy of esteem, affection and APP
probation than he but that it was
impossible for her to live longer in 4
martial relation that did not answer
the main object of the marriage COW
enant.
He represented that after so long
a peaceful AMI harmonious married
life, a step like this would cause no
end of gossip, criticism, censure and
even SANDER, that such a sudden
breach would be viewed in a false
| light. But all these arguments were
unavailing. She adjured him if he
valued her peace, in manner that
concerned her conscience, not to per-
sist in his objections, but give his
consent to an early divorce, with the
proviso that their present financial
arrangement should be undisturbed.
When Monroe Allison saw his
wife's positive determination, he
yielded reluctantly, unwilling to en-
force anything from her, in which
his self-interest might play part,
and their united application for a
divorce was duly made out and pre-.
sented before the proper authorities.
And during the pending of the mat
ter and their necessary citation be-
fore the court, her demeaner was so
uniformly correct and lady-like, that
it caused universal surprise, for she
invariably and under all circum-
stances gave the best testimony of
the fidelity of her husband, and his
readiness at all times to comply
with her wishes, his careful and hon.
est management of her finances, and
his invariable kindness of her. As
often as the judge or any other per
son asked her why she desired sep
aration from SO good a husband, so
often she appealed to an inward I'M
rest, an inexpressible impossibility,
which, of course, no one felt ready
to believe, but which at the same
time no one was able to controvert,
and the divorce took place.
They drove home in the same car
riage, the best of friends. She in.
sisted upon continuing to occupy
the same room, and not only to eat
at the same table, but even to super
intend the domestic affairs of the
house just as before. Her peculiar.
ity in this and many other respects
was mystery to Allison, which he
was unable to comprehend or under
stand. But how great was his aston
ishment on the next day, when, af-
ter receiving her morning greeting,
he found upon his table note and a
packet of considerable size contain
ing documents with checks amount
ing to forty thousand dollars to be
entirely and exclusively his own, all
written and arranged by the hand of
his divorced wife. He fastened to
her room and entreated her to tell
him what induced her to make such
a large and magnanimous sacrifice,
and earnestly insisted on her taking
back this undeserved amount of
money. But she declined to do so
in such kind and persuasive man
ner, that he had not the heart to OBJ
| ject any longer. Thus they contin-
ued to live apparently contented for
some weeks.
| One afternoon she ordered her car.
riage for ride. She generally in
| vited Mr.. Allison to accompany her,
but this time she omitted 10 do so.
| At first he wondered what might be
her reason, but satisfied that she did
nothing without a good cause, he
soon forgot it in the examination Of
some papers. AS soon as she was
out of sight she ordered the coach
man to drive to the residence of the
widow above mentioned, where she
found polite and friendly welcome.
| After conyersing some time on com
mon subjects, Alice adroitly intro
duced the subject of widcwhood, and
asked her companion whether she
| did not feel lonely sometimes. Re-
ceiving an affirmative answer, she
| further asked whether she did not
| feel inclined at such times to Danish
the miseries of lonely widowhood by
a re marriage, and without giving
her friend time to answer, she in
| formed her that the object of this
visit was to make her q proposition
on that subject,-that she knew a
| gentleman who fortunately possess
ed all the qualities of good hus-
band-beauty of person, goodness of
heart fine mental accomplishments,
in good position, of considerable
wealth, of middle age, and sound
bodily health.
1t can be easily imagined that this
unexpected and strangely peculiar
proposition surprised and confouud-
ed the widow not little. But great.
er still was her surprise and amaze
ment when she was told that the
| gentleman thus described was none
other than Alice's former husband.
She assured the widow that she act
ed on her own responsibility, and
| that Mr.. Allison had not the most
| distant idea of what she was doing,
| and would by no means sanction it t;
but knowing as she did Mr. Allison g
fpaliuos towards her she Ioff iunel-