Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-05-07

10 ascertain where lDdI aFLlcle Dau gone.
First, I took occasion, during my wife's
absence from the house one afternoon, TO
ascertain that there was not a single ar
ticle of her bridal attire in the house. l
knew that the whole would make for
package, which she could never,
or would never, have carried away. Who
did carry it Somebody, probably, who
belonged in the house. / called the girl
whom you met at the door, and asked her
she had carried from the house
lately package or bandbox belonging
to Mrs. Kennedy. She colored deeply,
and acknowledged that she had. / in
quired as to where she had carried it.
She was very humble and deprecated
my displeasure, but very positively de-
clined to tell me. l coaxed her, under
took to bribe her, and then threatened
her, but all to no purpose. Not if were
to cut her in pieces would she tell me.
My suspicious were thoroughly aroused,
and | believed from the bottom of my
soul that the detestable Benton was some
how connected with the matter 1t now
became me TO put on smooth and affec-
ti0nate exterior, for had secret to faith
ON. / received Jane, on her return, with
the old fondness, and we passed an eve
ming full of misery to me, but overflow
ing with happiness for her. Where to
begin in my investigations, I could not
tell. l was afraid that the servant would
tell Jane of our conversation but, as she
thoroughly loved her mistress, she prom
ised that if made no difficulty about it
she would not tell her.
l had no resource now but to watch.
The next day, instead of going to my
office, l took cigar in the reading room
of the-Hotel, and seating myself by a
window that gave me a view of my res
idence, l kept my eye on the door. l
had sat there perhaps half an hour, when
James most intimate lady friend (Miss
Kate Stephens went tripping down the
street and entered the house. A few
minutes passed away when she and Jane
emerged both were bonneted and cloak
ed. 1 slipped out and followed them, at
distance through half dozen streets
until at last they turned in at an open
doorway. / marked the number and then
went to my office. 1 was in a fever o.
excitement. That was evidently no place
for ladies to call. The door opened into
little blind stairway. There was nj
name on the door.
The next thing for me to ascertain wa
the name and character of the person oc
cupying the rooms above. went to ny
dinner as usual, and played the careless
and happy to the best of my ability. M,
wife was in a gay mood, and seemed al
most hatefully charming and brilliant
l kissed her and bade her good evening
pleading business as my excuse for leav
ing her alone. My steps almost invol
unfairly took the direction of the morn
ing walk. was moving briSkly along
| when / discovered familiar figure be
, fore me. I knew it was Benton the me
T ment fixed my eyes upon it. uncor
r sciously took his pace, keeping at sal
t distance, and followed street over stree
= by the same path upon which | had 70
lowed my wife. AS we approached Il
suspected door fairly held my breat
! My blood curdled, and every hair on n
7 head seemed to rise with apprehensio
. | was not mistaken. He mounted Il
o steps, and turning on his heel, cool
paused to pick his teeth as ground mil
s together and passed by.
f 1 could not yet bring myself to the h
1t initiation of doubling my wife's truth
r me. The fact that her friend accomp
it MED her certainly did not tend TO Il
e conclusion but the consciousness IL
IN she still retained warm respect for Be
4 ton, and that she had met him in an G
a scure room for any purpose, distract
in me. But | had prudence enoughto to W
er for the denoueme'at, and in the meantil
to keep as strict surveillance of be
le parties as was possible without ends
ne ger detection.
,e Three days passed away and nothi
ne occurred to prove that the visit had be
IT, repeated. In the meantime Jane was
al happy as lark. | watched her son
he times while she sat at her needle wo
u and frequently saw peculiar smile
st. her face. On one of these occasions
at abruptly asked her what she was thil
ad ing Of, and though Iimportuned her W
lot some degree of severity, | could get
er satisfactory reply.
la The matter very soon began to WI
nd upon my spirits. Twas frightened by