Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-01-16

II do not think so, sir. But
would rather say that do not know"
CHAPTER XXI.
what! you do not know"
"Yes, sir, swear It.. You see, my
ignorance comes from what happened
afterward.'
What happened, then?'
The sailor hesitated.
"That, sir, concerns only myself
and"
my friend" interrupted the mag
istrate, you are an honest man,
believe; in fact, am sure Of 1T. But
once in your life, Influenced by
wicked woman, you did wrong, you
became an accomplish in very guilty
action. Repair that error by speaking
truly now. All that Is said here, and
which is not directly connected with
the crime, will remain, secret; even
will forget it Immediately. Fear
nothing, therefore; and, if you ex-
perience some humiliation, think that
it Is your punishment for the past"
4 .'Alas, sir!'' answered the sailor, Il
have been already greatly punished;
and it is long time since my troubles
began. Money, wickedly acquired,
brings no good. On arriving home.
i bought the wretched meadow for
much more than 1t was worth; and
the day walked over 1t, feeling that
II was actually mine, closed my happi-
ness. Claudine was a coquette; but
she had a great many other vices.
When she realized how much money
we had these vices showed themselves,
lust like a fire. smoldering at the
bottom OF the hold, bursts forth when
you open the matches. From slightly
greedy as she had been. she became
q regular glutton. In our house there
was feasting without end Whenever
/ went to sea, she would get 80 drunk
that she would have to be put to bed.
Well, one night, when she thought
me at Rouen, returned Unexpectedly.
entered. and found her with q man.
And, such q man, sir! A miserable
looking wretch, ugly, dirty, sinking;
Stunned by every one; in word, the
bailiff's clerk. I should have killed
him, like the vermin that he was;
1t was my right. but he was such a
pitiful object. I took him by the neck
and pitched him out Of the window,
without opening it. It didn't kill him.
Then l fell upon my wife. and beat
her until she couldn't stir"
Lerouge spoke In hoarse voice.
every now and then thrusting his
fists into his eyes.
Il pardoned her." he continued;
but the men who beats his wife, and
then pardoIs her, is lost. In the flu
ture, she took better precautions, be-
came greater hypocrite, and that was
all. In the meanwhile, Madame Gerdy
took back her child; and Claudine had
nothing more to restrain her. Pro-
tccted and counseled by her mother.
whom she had taken to live with US,
on the pretense of looking after JAG
CUES, she managed to deceive me for
more than year. thought she had
given up her bad habits, but not at
all; she lived q most disgraceful life.
My house became the resort OF all the
good-for-nothing rogues In the coun-
try. for whom my wife brought out
bottles OF wine and brandy. whenever
was away at sea. and they got drunk
promiscuously. When money failed,
she wrote to the count or his mistress.
and the orgies continued. Occasional
" I had debts which disturbed II:
and then without reason, for simple
yes or no. / would beat her until
was tired, and then ! would forgive
her, lil6% a coward. like a fool. Il
WAS cursed life. don't know which
gave me the most pleasure embracing
her or beating her. My neighbors de-
spised me, and turned their backs on
me: they believed me an accomplce,
or willing dupe. heard, afterward.
that they believed profited by my
wife's misconduct: while In reality
she paid her lovers. Fortunately.
though, my poor father was dead"
M Daburon pitied the speaker sim
cerely.
I.est awhile, my friend" he said;
compose yourself
Nc" replied the sailor, "I would
rather get through with 1t quickly.
One man. the priest. had the charity
to tell ME ct it. Without losing min
tic. ant and saw lawyer, and
asked him how an honest sailor. who
had had the misfortune to marry a
hussy, ought to act He said that
nothing g II be done. To go to law
was sImIiy to publish abroad ones
own dishonor, while separation
would az plish nothing. When
once q Ian hes given his name to q
woman, h. olu me, he cannot take it
back: I, 1igs to her for the rest
! OF her md she has a right to