The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-05-30


throat; but from ignorance oi the
proper conduct to be adopted in such
exceptional circumstances, and per.
haps from the knowledge that there
Wa nothing but paPer-knife in the
room with which to effect this right.
eous punishment, only burst out
laughing, and called him a meddling
and lmpertinent old fool.
Very true returned he. for be
always makes use OF that form OF
words" very truef but still the
facts are worth Investigating, even
from their siogularily. DO you know
for instance, thai at II o'clock, three
days IN week, your wife goes on, in
d cab BY herself n
No" said |. II do not; though,
# she does, II Is surely better than if
she bad an ineligible companion. As
a matter OF fact, however, she does
not do 50, for ! have offered TO 60
shopping with her twice this week,
and she has declined TO accompany
me on the ground of having sore
throat"
Upon what days did she give this
excuse !" inquired Peabody, taking
out his pockel.book.
Last Monday and last Thursday" !"
returned |.
Well, here's a memorandum -
Monday, An, Sac Mrs. II. start, as
usual, at IL f; Thursday, 7A. ditto
ditto, She could not be going to a
morning concert, because she bad no
white gloves on
" viii grant that much" quoth !,
sarlonically, and yot mol by any
means unmoved by this unexpected
intelligence. MY wife does not 90
TO morning concerts"
+" Very trne,' answered Peabody.
Then the question arises, where
does she go to? Now as an inhabit-
ant of the crescent"
" Peabody" Interrupted |, severe
| ly, Il acknowledge the right of no
man--no, not the man in moon him
sell--to meddle in my affairs upon
that ground. am obliged TO you for
the interest you have taken in this mat
ter, but the simple fact is, that it has
been entirely misplaced. have been
perfectly well awareof my wife's move
ments, and they have had my fullest
permission, and appreciation. ! only
wanted to see to what lengths your
impertinence and love Of interference
would carry you. That j. your hat,
! believe; your asnhFelh is The al
paca one; wrsh yOn a ydry good
morning."
! ushered my visitor out, and then
sat down in my private parlor with
my elbows upon the table and both
my hands thrust into ny hair. | had
temporarily extinqubhed Peabody,
bul | was on fire with jealous appre-
tensions myself. Whit could it all
mean? For sixteen years my wife
had never taken any excursion unless
IN my company. ulon which she had
given me to underland, she doated
and yet, after refusing to 60 out with
me upon Monday and Thursday last,
on the plea of sore throat, she had
started, the instant ny back was turn.
cd, in a Hansom--r even supposing
il was four wheelG--in a cab, with
out white gloves n, and Con-
found il here aoaS arrow in the pantry
and one which my race Of mind de-
manded 10 have clared up at once
" Anna Maria" crie /. huskiIy, from
the bottom Of the stirs-" Anna Ma
ria, | wish 10 speakvith you immedi.
atey."
Lor' bless me, answered my
wife from the top story, "it isn't
one Of the children is it, John p
Pray tell me the west at once"
No, madam, it ) H. replied |.
sufily.
Then its the Etchen chimney" ,
exclaimed she in logmatic tone I
:" And didn't | tellMary 10 have it i
swept a week ago; nd now the fire
engines will 81 oil everything, even if
We are net burnt at Of house and 4
home" .
Was il possible hat this woman !
cpuG have deceived me, as Peabody
had said, aud yet tax so simply Of
her children, and Of louse and home? !
By the time Anna Maria had got 1
down to the drawiig-room flight. 4"
began 10 be rather ahamed OF my 9
self. When the mother Of eight L
reached my sitiiEg-rom door, with il
her honest face 50 lglow with ami
nation, and her yoiceso earnest about Il
the soot, ! did not ,are to mention Il
what | had in my mini. e
II called you down, dear, to say r,
that ] was going to gte myself hol. d
iday to-day, and to sk you 10 come ii
with me 10 Hampstead Heath, and Il
dine at JACK Straws tastle this after =
noon, il being such aoeaniiful day
A ray of JOY passa over her fea- "
lures, and then, as j ecollecting her Ia
,elf, she began 10 stmmer that she 4
was very, very sorry but really she ia
lad 50 much to do bout the house I,
nst then; If woult only wait TIL al
Friday week, which vas my birthday, ii
hen we would 60 Dmewhere. aud q
he would enjoy il abye al measure
This afternoon, however the thing was Ii
impossible.
Welt, said !, gHvely, I" we have q