JOHN STARK’S WIFE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 2, 10 January 1891, Page 12

JOHN STARK’S WIFE.

‘ Molly Stark,’ of historical anecdotes, was really Elizabeth, or Betty Stark, and was a gay young woman who enjoyed a neighbourly dance or merry-making ; but General John did not enjoy that amusement, and Mistress Betty often had to go out alone or not go at all, and was expected to be indoors at nine o’clock. One night she decided to attend a party at a friend’s house not far from her own, and her husband, as usual, declined to accompany her The Dutch clock struck nine, but madam had not come home. General Stark locked the doors, and dropped the oaken bars in their wrought-iron sockets. • She can just go back, the hussy !’ he growled. ‘ But in the morning she may come in.' Presently a gentle hand tried one door after another, while the general lay in his lonely bed, grinning grimly at his wife’s discomfiture : but when he, having overslept, went from his chambei in the morning, Mistress Betty looked up from the broad hearthstone where she was stirring the fire, with a mischievous twinkle of her eye. ‘ Had a good sleep, John ?’ she said. She had sprung lightly, in the moonlight, to the low, slanting roof of a shed, whence she entered a chamber window, and went comfortably to bed in a guest-room. Another time the best brocade gown had been laid out to be worn, when a sullen sky made Mrs Stark think that one less fine would do for the dance she was about to attend—without the general—and the better frock was left across the bed in the ‘ fore-ioom ’ out of harm’s way. Her evening duties were done, and everything was ready for preparing breakfast, when, fearing that she might sleep late in the morning, she put a goodly quantity of cream for the next day’s churning into the churn. Madam Betty went her way, and danced to her heart’s content until past nine o’clock, and when a merry party left her at her own door, she hardly dared believe that the useful window would be left again unfastened, and wondered what she could do with herself were all the doors locked, as they had been before. But the great lock of the front door yielded |to her pressure, and she entered easily, quaking a little at thought of the harsh words het stern spouse might hurl at her. She had a brave heart, however, and went to her chamber. ‘ Come, Betty, come ! ’Tis time decent women were in bed,’ said the General. ‘ Had plenty of gallants, I’ll be bound to dance with that neat step and spar with that saucy tongue. Come; there’s much work to be done on the morrow. ’ So peace reigned, and Mistress Betty slept happily, to wake rosy and bright for the morning work. The first great task was the churning, but the dasher seemed strangely heavy, and her vigorous strokes but made it more and moi e hard to move. She opened the churn impatiently. No wonder the dasher was so unwilling. There in the yellow cream was her best brocade. ‘ Better stay at home, Betty, better stay at home !’ said John Stark, complacently. But at the next neighbourly gathering both the general and his wife were present, and madam wore a brand-new, gorgeous brocade frock. Probably there had been conces sions on either side.

‘ Bly kens is an exceedingly extravagant man,’ said Mrs Jones to her husband. ‘Has he been telling you how much he paid for his house?’ ‘ Yes.’ ‘ Well, I never could make mind which were the most extravagant, his expenditure or his lies about it.’