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Page 51
At the sound of his voice and occasional accent a flash of
intelligence relieved the editor's mind. He remembered that twenty
miles away, in the illimitable vista from his windows, lay a
settlement of English north-country miners, who, while faithfully
adopting the methods, customs, and even slang of the Californians,
retained many of their native peculiarities. The gun he carried on
his knee, however, was evidently part of the Californian imitation.
"Can I do anything for you?" said the editor blandly.
"Ay! I've coom here to bill ma woife."
"I--don't think I understand," hesitated the editor, with a smile.
"I've coom here to get ye to put into your paaper a warnin', a
notiss, that onless she returns to my house in four weeks, I'll
have nowt to do wi' her again."
"Oh!" said the editor, now perfectly reassured, "you want an
advertisement? That's the business of the foreman; I'll call him."
He was rising from his seat when the stranger laid a heavy hand on
his shoulder and gently forced him down again.
"Noa, lad! I don't want noa foreman nor understrappers to take
this job. I want to talk it over wi' you. Sabe? My woife she bin
up and awaa these six months. We had a bit of difference, that
ain't here nor there, but she skedaddled outer my house. I want to
give her fair warning, and let her know I ain't payin' any debts o'
hers arter this notiss, and I ain't takin' her back arter four
weeks from date."
"I see," said the editor glibly. "What's your wife's name?"
"Eliza Jane Dimmidge."
"Good," continued the editor, scribbling on the paper before him;
"something like this will do: 'Whereas my wife, Eliza Jane
Dimmidge, having left my bed and board without just cause or
provocation, this is to give notice that I shall not be responsible
for any debts of her contracting on or after this date.'"
"Ye must be a lawyer," said Mr. Dimmidge admiringly.
It was an old enough form of advertisement, and the remark showed
incontestably that Mr. Dimmidge was not a native; but the editor
smiled patronizingly and went on: "'And I further give notice that
if she does not return within the period of four weeks from this
date, I shall take such proceedings for relief as the law affords.'"
"Coom, lad, I didn't say THAT."
"But you said you wouldn't take her back."
"Ay."
"And you can't prevent her without legal proceedings. She's your
wife. But you needn't take proceedings, you know. It's only a
warning."
Mr. Dimmidge nodded approvingly. "That's so."
"You'll want it published for four weeks, until date?" asked the
editor.
"Mebbe longer, lad."
The editor wrote "till forbid" in the margin of the paper and
smiled.
"How big will it be?" said Mr. Dimmidge.
The editor took up a copy of the "Clarion" and indicated about an
inch of space. Mr. Dimmidge's face fell.
"I want it bigger,--in large letters, like a play-card," he said.
"That's no good for a warning."
"You can have half a column or a whole column if you like," said
the editor airily.
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