Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-07
| N F ATU A TION ;
OR, THE FORGED CHEQUR.
THE MERCHANT AND HIS wIFE.
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
Not many minutes after all this was accom-
plished, she was going doWn to the drawing
room when she heard Mr.. Cleveland enter the
house. He bounced up the stairs. and wenI
into il with her.
"Where did Mr.. Gubb breakfast this morn
ingl" he inquired. alter few moments spent il
greeting, Charley deVOuring her with his eyei
all the time.
"What question ! He breakfastsd at hons
fOE ell know"
Yes, yes, dear Adsla. meant in which
room." For Mr.. Grubb som etimes breakfasted
in the moTning-room, and sometimes in q lit.
tie apartment where he kept his papers.
81 really don't know, and don't care" re.
turned Lady Adels, connecting the question
somehow, in her own niRd. with the present
of coffee he had received. His breakiasting
and everything else that he does, is a matter Of
absolute indifference to me. Why do you
ask Z"
because Mr. Grubb has missed his cheque.
book, and has sent me for it. He thinks he
must have left it on the breakfast table"
: "Charley" she said, II WIS Just wanting
you. wa you do me faVor!"
81 will do everything you wish, he answer
ness.
81 want you 10 20 the bank in Lombard
street and get a cheek cashed. Mr. GrubS
gave it me this morning, and am in hurry
to get the money, for l expect people here
every minute with accounts. Take a cab and
90 at once"
ii will. can leave the chequeNbOok in the
city on my way"
Nonsense, don't wait to find the cheque-
book. will hunt it up while you are gone.
You will not be long, and tell you ! am all
impatienee."
Mr. Cleveland hesitated. 81 scarcely know
what to say" be replied, obviously. "Ar.
Grubb is mating for the cheque book"
VERY well, Charles" she returned, in a re-
sentful tone, as if she felt deeply hurt, "if you
like Mr. Grub better than you do me, you will
Oblige him first Why, you would be there and
back in twinkling."
dearest Lady Adela Like Mr. Grubb bet
ter than- Well, will do it, though dare
say shall get into a row. Have the choque-
book ready, that Imay not lose moment when
I get back And Lady Adela nodded assent
"a cOnfOuDjed 7, ", too" he muttered to
himself as he tore down stairs, and into 3 cab
which happened to be passing; ''but would
20 through whole thunder cloud full for her. -
Charley gave a concise word to the driver, and
away dashed the cab towards Lombard street
He was back in An incredible short space Of
time, and paid the notes over to her.
"HaVe you found the eheque book"
"I declare / never thought about it." was
Lady AdelA's reply; "but he breakfasted in the
morning room, hear. Perhaps you viii find it
there"
He rushed down to the morning room, which
was on the ground floor, and there on the table
was the missing chsqus book. Oh, wary Lady
Adelsl
She followed him in. "Charley," she whis
pered, ''dOn't say you have beeA out tor me
no need to say you have seen me. The fact
is that precious husband of mine has got a
Jealous fit upon him. and last night accused me
Of laughing and talking too much with Mr..
Cleveland. II they find fault that you have
been long, make an excuse that you were de
tanned on business Of your own"
He nodded in the affirmative. But a red
vermillion was stealing over his face, dying it
to the very roots of his hair, and his hearts
pulses were rising high. For surely in that
last speech she meant to imply that she lOTed
him. And Master Charles felt his brain turn
round as it had never turned before, and he
bent that flushed face down upon her hand,
and lett on it an impassioned kiss by way ol
adleu.
Lady Adela was i'll at ease that day. Reck>
less as she was to her husbands good opinions,
she could rot help being dissatisfied with what
she had done. Not iha. she much feared the
consequences, but she would dislike exposure
Mr.. HOward's name as well as her husband s!
She lost herself in a reverie, her mind running
from one point to another; was such a case
ever known as that of wife being brought to
a trial for "Whatever possesses me 10
dwell upon such thingl" she mentally uttered
starting up in anger with herself 'Rstber
order my carriage and 60 and pay last nights
losses"
Mr. Grubb and Charles Cleveland came home
as usual to dinner. Neither alluded to the
unpleasant topic uppermost in her mind, SO
she concluded that as yet nothing had come
out. The next Gay was Sunday, when ofcourse
she was safe On Monday Mr. Grub went to
business at the customary hour, but returned
at i2 to attend some influential public meeting
at the west-end. connected with politics. In
the evening he sat down to dinner alone with
Lady Adela. The dessert had Just been placed
on the table, when servant entered and said
Mr.. Howard was belOw-had desired him to
say that he had called on a matter of pressing
business.
"Pressing business!" echoed Mr. Grubb.-
"Show Mr.. Howard up. A chair, Richard, and
glasses"
He entered, bowing low to Lady Adels. A
hard featured man; older than his senior part
uer, with a rusty black coat on his back, and
the smallpox on his face.
"Why, Howard, this is quite a stretch for
you, to come all the way up here! Sit down
Anwfbtur, b.1,aral1u
"Why, yes," replied Mr.. Howard, who was :
speaking man, giving one the idea that the
bump Of caution must be large on his head
'aThank you, port"
"What is itl' inquired Mr.. Grubb
al will enter upon this matter presently" " he
replied, deliberately slipping his wine. By which,
of course, Mr. Grubb understood that his eau
tious partner would only speak when they were
alone.
Lady AdeIa guIped down her wine, and went
nm 10 the drawing room. She felt sure, as il
she could have read it in his thoughts, that
Isthat horrid Howard" had come about the
cheoue. She did not care 30 much that her
husband should find it out, he might do his best
and worst. but that the other should know it,
perhaps take steps-could be take stepsi would
the Law iustify it! She did not know, and sat
covering in dismay and terror.
At this moment she heard a cab rattle into
the square and stop at the door. Som thing
whispered her it was Charles Cleveland, for
be had rather habit of dashing up to the door
IN cabs. No other than Charley himself He
had lust returned from Brighton, from two
days' visit to his father and Lady Mary. She
flew half way down the stairs and met & ser
want
"That is Mr.. Cleveland, think Tell him
to come 10 me in the drawing-room at once. |
want to see him particularly"
He came joyfully in. To meet her, after this
temporary absence, was as light breaking IN
upon darkness. "Oh, Charles" she said, Civ.
ing him both her hands, "Eurely some good
fairy sent you am in deep distress"
"Let me soothe il, +" he earnestly uttered, re
tanning her hands in his, as he led her across
the room. If can, will"