The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-05-29


after this, and was wicked enough to rejoice
in his woe-begone appearance. I was stir
red to this partly by the fact that he had
once been treated with the most considerate
cordiality. The fact was loved Jane al
most madly, and somehow could not bear
to have any other man think of her.
"Cards were distributed for the wedding,
and one was sent to Mr.. Benton. But this
grati6ed my malice! It seemed cruel to in
vite man to witness the contamination of
the ruin Of his hopes; so ! was pleased!
doubted whether he would come, but he was
there, so calm and gentlemanly that could
not help feeling how mean was in his pres
ence, and this Of course, did not help the
matter. was now more offended with him
than ever. could almost have quarreled
with my wife even on tho wedding night,
because she treated him with such marked
attentions. determined at any rate that
would cure her of her liking for him, and
was almost maddened to hear her express
the hope that he would not forget her when
she should become settled in her new home.
ga few weeks passed away, and he called
at my house-at my house! And Jane
very coolly Informed me of it. q hope you
had pleasant time with the gentleman I
said drily. l saw the fire fash in James eyes
as she replied, sMr. Benton is aluays pleas
ant There was an emphasis on the word
'always' that offended me. Enough that
was thoroughly discounted, and came out
of it hating Benton the more, as was more
convinced that he was better man than
myself. l could not bring myself to COM
mand my wife not to see him, without sin
gle reason, so took my satisfaction in be-
having like bear, and making her misera-
| bic for week.
"Some days had passed away, when one
evening party of merry friends came in,
and James bridal array became the subject
of conversation. A lady of the party ex-
pressed Il desire to see some article of orna-
ment belonging to the bridal dress. Jane
endervored to change the conversation.
saw that she was troubled, but l repeated
the lady's request. She replied that the ar
| ticle was not at home. | inquired of her
whom she had lent it to. She replied that
she had not lent it; and her lips trembled,
and her checks burned, as she said it. The
ladies saw that something was wrong, and
Immediately turned attention from the sub
ject.
''But was aroused. In my excited state
L
somehow they were ull associated with Ben
ton. | determined to ascertain where the
article had gone. First, | took occasion,
during my wife's absence from the house
one afternoon, to ascertain that there was
not single article of her bridal attire in
the house. | knew that the whole would
make a formidable package, which she could
never, or would never, have carried away.
Who did carry it? Somebody, probably,
who belonged in the house. l called the
girl whom you met at the door, and asked
her whether she had carried from the house
lately II package or bandbox belonging to
Mrs. Kennedy. She colored deeply, and ac-
knowlcdged that she had. inquired as to
where she had carried it. She was very
humble, and deprecated my displeasure, but
very positively refused to tell me. l coax
ed her, undertook to bribe her, and then
threatened her, but all to no purpose. Not
if | were to cut her in pieces she would not
tell me.
"My suspicious were thoroughly aroused,
and believed from the bottom of my soul
that the detestable Benton was somehow
connected with the matter. 1t now became
me to put on a smooth and atfectionate ex-
terror, for had a secret to fathOm. | re-
ceived Jane, on her return, with the old
fondness, and we passed an evening full of
misery to me, but overfowing with happi-
ness for her. Where to begin, in my inves-
LEGATIONS, could not tell. | was afraid that
the servant would tell Jane of our conversa-
tion; but, as she thoroughly loved her mis-
tress, she promised that if made no diff
Guilty about it, she would not tell her.
81 had no resource now but to watch
The next day, instead of going to my Office,
| took a cigar in the reading room Of the
- Hotel, and seating myself by window
that gave me a view of my residence, kept
nv eve on the door. had sat there perhaps
half an hour, when James most intimate
lady friend Miss Kate Stephens) went trip
ping down the street and entered the house.
4 few minutes passed away when she and
Jane emerged; both were bonnetcd and
cloaked. | slipped out and followed them
at distance. through half dozen streets,
until at last they turned in at an open door
way. | marked the number and then went
to my Office. | was in fever of excite.
ment. That was evidently no place for Ia
dies to call. That door opened into little
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 oc-
cupving the rooms above. | went to my
dinner as usual and played the careless and
happy to the best of my ability. My wife
was in CAV mood, and seemed almost hate.
fully charming and brilliant. kissed her
and bade her good evening, pleading busl-
ness as my excuse for leaving her alone
Nv steps almost involuntarily took the di-
L u,
briskly along when | discovered familiar
figure before me. knew it was Benton the
moment fixed my eyes upon it. | uncon-
sciously took his pace, keeping at safe dis
tance, and.followed street after street by the
same path upon which l 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
ground mine together and passed by.
81 could not yet bring myself to the hui
initiation of doubling my wife's truth il
me. The fact that her friend accompanied
her certainly did not tend to this conclusion
but the consciousness that she still retained
a warm respect for Benton, and that she hao
met him in an obscure room for any pur-
pose, distracted me. But had prudence
enough to wait for the denouement, and il
the meantime to maintain as strict sur
veillance of both parties as was possible
without endangering detection.
"Three days passed away and nothing oc.
Cured to prove that the visit had been re.
peated. Iu the meantime Jane was as hap
py as lark. watched her sometime while
she sat at her needle-work, and frequently
saw a peculiar smile on her face. On one
of these occasions | abruptly asked hel
what she was thinking of, and though i'm
portuned her with some degree Of severity
could get no satisfactory reply.
"The matter soon began to wear upon my
spirits. Twas frightened by my haggard as
pect whenever looked in mirror. Jane
noticed the fact, and became extremely anx'
ious for me. Her afectionate attention:
were more assiduous than ever, and was
made ashamed of my suspicious, for | could
not doubt the genuineness of her solicitous
apprehensions. Still the facts would recur.
Il ,pHt aunl