HIS WIFE'S HUSBAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 49, 26 January 1884, Page 2

HIS WIFE'S HUSBAND.

AN INCIDENT, IN A MAN'S LIFE $0T TO BB 'FOBGOTTEN'.iJ Judge Shickleton relates an interesting reminiscence of the early days of Ark'ansaw; " I came here," said the judge, "just after I had been admitted to the bar m a Northern State. Like the average young lawyer, I was poor and actually thirsted for a case. Shortly after I arrived,- 1 went to a mountain district and stopped at a small town where there wa* considerable excitement over the trial of a young man who had been -indicted for murder. The older lawyers were loth to engage m the proseoution, so the young Prosecuting Attorney was^wqrk,ing singlehanded".. .1 met him thV'seir cond day after my arrival, and when he" learned that I was a lawyer he said. ?' I am at present proseouting for murder, a young fellow named Dawes. He is* guilty as guilty can be, and should by all means hang", yet 1 fear, with which so much opposition, that I will not be able to assist justice to a proper punishment of the terrible crime. Now, what I want you to do ,is to assist me." " I studied the case carefully. I made every point so clear thiit I could see the jurymen shaking th>ir heads when an illustya,tion Avas 'strikingly vivid, The counsel 1 for the defence, composed of old lawyers whose fume had long since beon established, looked at me m astonishment. They met me and wanted a compromise, I knew, nothing but justice and justice knew no compromise. Finally the case we»fc to thd jury. Within five minutes, afterward a verdict- of guilty was rencjerpd. The young man was hanged I iuoved to another part of the State,

wliere I soon established a good practice. •■- ' "One day about three years afterwards I met, at a Northern watering place, a beautiful young woman whose husband was dying of consumption. The consumptive grew worse rapidly, but bu wife was still hopeful, for he would talk of what he intended to do when he recovered. One night about 12 o'clock I was summoned to tho poor fellow's room. He Jay gasping for breath, and his wife, even beautiful -in graelj'Batr^hoMiffg^hlriia'nds. "The end qoonjoame, aud I sapr her bowjher magnificent head in despair. " I did not see Mrs l 'Del tire, the fair widow, for a few days after the funeral. Then she came to bid me «oodbye. " When the memory of your husband affords a melancholy pleasure, instead of a deep grief}- will you^ not write to me" ; I asked. ■ ::■' 7 y. j: A . ..I "I don't know," she replied, "I don't feel as though I shall ever again feel disposed to write, but I thank you for the deep interest you have taken in me, and hope to sortie rday nipet you : again." A" I •■ "I returned to. Arkansaw and re- 1 sumed my practice, but business cares did not remove the image of that beautiful' face. : Two year* passed and I heard nothing from Ella, as I had learned to think of her at last. I determined to go again -to the watering place. One evening after I had been there a few days, I was strolling on the mountain when Lichanced to stroll near Delure's grave; Hearing voices I approached cautiously. I stood behind a tree. The moon came out, and I saw Mrs'Deiure and a man sitting near the grave." " I ,canhot marry you* she said. • Tou have been very kind to me, and have greatly aided me ' in gottirig- _ny : school, but I cannot marry you." "Do you ever expect to many again 1" he asked. " I don't know. There is one man whose memory I love. He was with me when my husband died. If I were to ever marty any one I would marrv him. I promised toTwrite to him, and have t tried. m dozen, limes,, but each jletter seemed like a love letter." " I could stand no more, and exclaiming, " Ella/* I rusliffd r from my hiding place And daugot l h_r in my arms: . The ro4ti looked - on' for a nio'ment and turned b'way. ' ai " Our arrangements were soon completed. Our. wedding "was quiet and simple, and iinniedidielv afteV the ceremony we started * for 'my hdine l ik Arkansaw. "We began housekeeping at once ; and I know there was not a happier man in town than I. One evening while Ella and I were sitting in the. twilight she said : - " I never saw a man so'littU interested in any ( one's Ahwtory as your are. You have been acquainted with me a long time, no^ and have never asked me anything about nay former self." , " " Yoiu' present self;." I. replied, bg-V' . longs to me ; your. forme* self did not. I am never anxious -about anything that does not belong to me.!*; .; "Do you know that 1. -used to live in this State ?" ; ,'^ Did yoti ?'^riaskedin surprise. " Yes," she said^a a saddened tone. "1 have beon three times married. My first Jiosband ywtu named Bawes, but he was a bad Wan and died ;by the hand of the law." ; " Crreak heavens. Ii had hune- her