A WRONGED HUSBAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1930, 1 May 1880, Page 3

A WRONGED HUSBAND.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr J. C. Normile, the State’s Attorney, was laboring over his digest in his private office. The snow on the roof was vanishing and trickling a drowsy tune in the gutter, and the State Prosecutor, when wearied, rested his head on the back of his chair, closed his 6503, and fancied he heard again the echoes of the lute under one of the broken arches when he rested in some of his travels.

To a rap on the door he called out an admission, and a man, well to do, and urbane, lifted his hat.

‘ Are you Colonel Normile ?’ asked he, again bowing and bolding his hat in one finger. The gentleman addressed said he was often known as he hud just been addressed. ■ I desire,’ said the stranger, looking around for a chair, still nervously making a whirligig of his hat, ‘to ascertain what redress a married man has against a wife who will not support him.’ The Prosecuting Attorney informed the enquirer if there was any question over which be had bended his legal mind it was this. In fact, he would take the enquirer so far into his innermost thoughts as to admit that the agitation of the question was in a large degree responsible for his present state of single blessedness, or misery, as the case might be. ‘I will hear yon farther,’ he added.

And the stranger, still revolving his hat on his finger, replied—- ' You know, she does not support me as I think I deserve.’

*So yon said. Go on, for you’re making me nervous.’

* Well,is it right?’ *My dear fellow, I do not venture to give an opinion on that. I only know that wives do often support their husbands; and I know, farther, that they often fail to do so when they are expected.’ * you see my wife indulges herself in many luxuries, while I am debarred.’ ‘ Yes, sir, she takes her lunch iu a cafe, and I often have to s‘ eal mine at a free lunch counter.’

‘ Ah, yes ; that is deplorable, and I suppose she st ins her lips with the vintage, the nectar which the gods and the Knights of St. Patrick revel in so often ?’

‘ How ?’ asked the new comer, putting the brakes on his hat.

* I mean, she drinks wine while yon have to take beer.'

‘ Yon are on. You’ve got her down fine.’ * And I dare say she encases her diminutive feet in silk halbriggans of the most exquisite texture and delicate shade, while yours are covered with the commonest brown British half hose.’

‘Yes, sometimes yarn,’ and he put his feet under the chair as if he might expose what he did wear.

‘ And she goes to the theatre, has a reserved seat in the dress circle, while yon go in the gallery ?’ ‘ Yes. while I stay outside.’ ‘ And goes home in a carriage, while yen go home in a car ?’ ‘Yes, while I walk; and she doesn’t go home alone in a carriage, either.’ * That’s bad ; and you want redress ?’ ‘ Yes, sir ;’ and he drew np near the criminal lawyer. ‘Yes, I see, I see. Well—yes—let me see —yes —yum —yea. Now. yon know Mr Bliss, the United States District Attorney—has an office in the Government Building—Post Office Y * I think I do.’

* Well, you go and see him. The Government, my boy, don’t you see, makes a specialty of redress cases.’ ‘ Thank you. Mr Bliss, yon said.’ And he departed, leaving the lawyer at his digest. Climbing the iron stairway, the stranger found a fraction of the Government on deck, who received him with stateliness becoming his position. To him he stated his case minutely. * Who sent you hers with such blank nonsense as this ?' asked the fraction of the United States. * Mr Normile.’

‘Humph! Did he? Well, yon go back and tell Mr Normile that it is too late to receive valentines, and not early enough for the first of April.’ ‘ But, Mr Bliss— ’ * There’s no but about it. I’ve no time to waste.’ * Allow me —’

‘No sir ; I want yon to get out.’ The inquirer descended, with a good-by look on his face, and Mr Bliss sent word to Mr Normile that if he had any husbands whose wrongs he wanted redressed he had batter attend to them himself, and suggested that Mr Normile had better do more hanging and lees joking.