The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-08-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Startling surprise

A curious circumstance has come to our
knowledge, recently, which, although it is
creating much talk among certain parties, has
been hushed up as much as possible, and as it
does not seem likely to proceed farther, we
suppress names Sometime since gentle
man with his wife settled in Rockford, and
shortly after their arrival made, among others,
the acquaintance of a young, and beautiful
widow, who had the reputation of being a
great Airt. The gentleman, up to this time,
had been the most devoted of husbands, and
though there seemed to be q mutual attraction
between himself and the gay widow whenever
they met the wife, confident of his affection,
suspected nothing. Matters progressed, how
rapidly she did not know, until the beginning
OF the present week, when husband, wife, and
widow were invited to tea at the house of
friend. It was very agreeable social party, and
the company were apparently enjoying them
selves highly, when the wife, who had been
chatting with friends on the piazza, entered the
parlor. and seated herself in the shadow of u
window, the heavy damask curtains of which
separated her from tete a tete which stood in q
recess The parties occupying the tete tete,
were her husband, and the fascinating widow,
and what was her astonishment, when their low
tones became fully audible to her strained ears,
| to find that they were arranging the prelimina-
ries of an elopement, to take place that very
night Matters were to be arranged so that the
wife would be sent home early in the evening
while the husband, in the most natural manner
in the world, would offer to drive home the
beautiful widow, Instead Of going home.
however, they were to go Immediately to the
| cars, and leave on the II o'clock train.
jsBSlE 20 great. that the poor wife almost faint
| ed. She was determined, however, not "a
bet.ny her knowledge Of the guilty scheme un.
| til the proper time came, and recovering her
self, With an effort glded away from the fatal
| seat, and tried to enter into conversation as
| usual. Of course she was not greatly surpris
ed when her husband, shortly afterwards, aifec.
| tionately advised her to go home with Mr.. and
Mrs .-, who were going their way, as he,
himself, had to 60 to his Office shortly, and
might be detained till late. She made no OBJ
jection, but putting on her bonnet, and bidding
adieu to her entertainers, started for home, to
| the great relief of the guilty couple, who had
feared some trouble in getting rid Of her. I'm.
mediately on arriving at home, the wife pro.
ceeded to pack carpet bag with pile of
shirts, and other necessaries and started on foot
for the house where her husband still remained.
She hid herself in the shadow Of the trees, and
waited, but not long. Soon, her husband, and
the widow exchanged good night with their
hostess, the latter remarking, in lively tones
that she should certainly tell his wife," They
seated themselves comfortably in the vehicle,
when the wife, without bonnet. or shawl, sud
denly walked to the side Of the carriage and
said, quietly, at the same time holding up the
carpet bag
sd, don't 60 without your shirts, the mer.
cy knows when you will get any more"
The blank astOnishment Of the two may be
imagined. The simple words, however, pro-
ducedthe most complete reaction in the feel.
ing Of the faithless husband. He looked into
the pale face of his wife, and met her clear
gaze, and saw that she knew all He said,
an, We must take Mrs homo, and then
viii tell yon how it happened" They did
take Mrs. home, and lett her there
The husband and wife seem affectionate, and
devoted as ever, but the widow is dissatisfied
with society at the West, and thinks of going
East this tall.-Roekford Ne,rs