The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-04-27

ted with Benton. determined 70 ascertain
whore that article had gone. First took
occasion during my wifes absence from the
house one afternoon, to ascertain that thero
was not single article Of her bridal attire
in the house. knew that the whole wouA
make formidable package which che eeuld
never or would never, have carried away
| Who did carry it7 Somebody, probably
who belonged il the house. | called the
| girl whom you met Ut the door, | asked her
whether she had carried from TIE house
lately package or . band.box belonging to
| Mrs. Kennedy she colored deeply, and 4.
knowledged that she had. inquired as TO
where she had carried it. She was very
humble, and deprecated my displcasure, but
very positively declined to tell me. coax
ed her, undertook to bride her, and then
threatened her, but all to no purpose. Not
| II lWere to cut her in pieces would she tell
me-
Ny spspiciona were thoroughly aroused;
and believed from the bottom Of my soul
that the detestible Benton was somehow
connected with the matter 1t now became
me to put on smooth and aifectionate exte.
rior, for had q secret to fathonl. lfeceiv-
ed Jane on her return with the old fondness,
and we passed an evening full Of misery to
me, but overflowing with happiness for her.
Where to begin, in my investigations, l
could not tell | was afraid that the servant
would tell Jane of our conversation; but, as
she thoroughly loved her mistress, she
promised that If made no difficulty about
it she would not tell her
Il had no recourse now but to watch
The next day, instead Of going to my Office,
took q cigar in the reading room Of the
- Hotel and seating myself by q win
dow that gave me view Of my residence, |
kept IN eye on the door. had sat there
perhaps half an hour, when James most in
innate friend-Miss Kate Stephens-went
tripping down the street, and entered the
house A few minutes passed away, when
she and Jane amerged. Both were bonnet
ed and cloaked for walk slipped out,
| and followed them ut q distance through
half dozen streets, until, at last, they turn
ed in at an open doorway. l marked the
number, and then went to my office. was
| in fever of excitement That was evident
" no place for ladies' to CALL The door
opened into blind-looking Stairway
| There was no name on the door.
The next thing for me to ascertain was
the name and character of the persons occu-
plying the rooms above. i went to my din
ner as usual, and played the careless and
happy to the best Of my ability. My vito
was in gay mood, and seemed almost hate
fully charming and brilliant kissed her,
and babe her good evening, pleading bust.
ness as my excuse for leaving her alone
My steps almost involuntarily took the d.
rection of the morning walk. was moving
briskly along when | discovered familiar
| figure before me- | knew it was Benton the
moment fixed my eye upon it. uncon-
| ciously took his place, keeping safe dis
lance from him, and followed him street by
street over the same path upon which had
| followed my wife. AS we approached the
suspected door. fairly held my breath -
My blood curdled, and every hair on my
head seemed to rise with apprehension
| was not mistaken. He mounted the steps,
and, turning on his heel, coolly paused to
pick his teeth as l ground mine together,
and passed by
| could not bring myself to the humiliation
Of doubling my wife truth to me. The fact
that her friend accompanied her certainly
did not tend this conclusion but the con
sciousness that she still retained a warm re-
spect for Benton. and that she had met him
in an obscure room for any purpose, distract
ed me. But had prudence enough to de-
termine to wait for the denoument, and in
the meantime to maintain as strict suryeil-
lance OF both parties as was possible without
endangering detection. Three days passed
away, and nothing occurred to prove that the
visit had been repeated In the meantime,
Jane was as happy as a lark. l watched
her sometimes while she sat at her needle.
| work, and frequently saw peculiar smile
| upon her face. On one of these occasions.
| ! abruptly asked her what she was thinking
of, and though importuned her with some
degree Of severity, could get no satisfacto.
~ reply.
The matter very soon began to wear upon
my spirits. l was frightened by my hag-
gard aspect whenever looked in mirror
Jane noticed the fact and became extremely
anxious for me. 1rHerNffectionate attentions
were more assiduous than ever, and | WAS
made ashamed Of my suspicious, for | could
not doubt the genuineness of her sOiicitous
apprehensions Still the facts would recur
and | passed many sleepless night in re-
vol,ing them.
One day, while sitting in my Office, my
perplexing thoughts overcame me, and pen
ned the letter which you received from me
could keep still no longer without telling
some one OF the weight which oppressed me
I took the letter to the Office myself and as
felt that solitude would only render me
more miserable, did not return, but kept
along through the streets. lnvoluntarilv,
almost, | SO directed my steps as to take the
street which contained the secret that was
tormenting me- l selected the door mt the
distance of a block; and my heart sank with.
in me rs saw gentleman taking leave Of
q lady upon the steps. They could have
been-they were-no other than my wife
and the misc-eant Benton. There was no
lady with her Icould see that they were
laughing merrily.
had revolver in my pocket, loaded and
capped, and my hand sought it, and was
glued to it as approached the spot. but
Jane did not see me- and tripped off in the
opposite direction. Benton remained in the
door way, and with my eye fixed madly upon |
him approached him He did not shrink |
from my look, but returned it with a smile
that puzzled me. know not what it was,
but there was something in the mild, pleas |
ant eye of the man, and in his unruf!led and
unsuspecting look that disarmed me- The
nearer approached him, the more dscon-
certed became, but "a had evidently aim !
ed at him in my progress, felt that
could not avoid him. and 1 determined
moreover, that could aud would bear
the suspense no longer.
Good morning, Mr.. Kennedy said Ben
ton.
My voice was startingly husky to myself
as returned tho salutation.
You are just TOO late to see very beauti-
ul woman, said the man, with just the
slightest tremor ia his voice.
My blood took fire at once. Sir said I.
Eercely, you are a scoundreI
'What-can- -you-mean--sir inquired
the man. opening his eyes wide with won.
der.
You are a iamnable william, sir; that is
just what ! m,an,--an Internal, smooth
tongued hypocrite have found you out,
and before part with you, you shall in some
way give me satisfaction
The mans eyes actually filed with tears
He tremblcd from head to foot, and thought
he would fall. | saw guilt in every look and
and | saw that had him, and
believed that could do what choose with
him.
Have YOU a room in this building sir q /