The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-20

WHICH my peace OF NINA oemanoed
have cleared up at once. Gamma Maria,
cried I, husliiy, from the bottom Of th
stairs, g Anna Maria, l wish to speak wit
. yOu Immediately"
lhKa Lor bless me" answered my wife
I from the top story, e it isn't one Of tn
). children, is it, Johne Pray tell me tn
secret atonce.Dzss sa as.s
9 aHo, it is ], !" replied stifly.
HThen tie the kitchen chimney" q
claimed she, in dogmstic tone GAnt
didn't I tell Mary 20 have it swept 8 weeI
. sgo; and now the fire engines will spoi
everything, even if we are not burnt out
. Of house and home"
WAs it possible the woman could hsv,
deceived me, as Pesbody had said, and ye
talk 90 simply Of her children, and Of
house and home By the time Anna
Maria had got down to the drawing room
flight, began to be rather ashamed Of
myself When the mother of eight reach.
ed my sitting room door, with her honest
face aglow With animation, and her voice
50 earnest about the SCOT, did not dare 10
mention Whist had in my mind.
"I called you down, dear, to say that
was going to give myself holiday to- day,
and to ask you TO go with me to Hamp-
stead Heath, and dine at Jack Straws cas-
tie this afternoon, it being such beautiful
day"
A ray of joy passed over her features,
and then, IS if recOllectiRg herself, she be.
gan TO stsmmer that she was very sorry,
but really she had 80 much to do about the
house just then; if would wait till Fri
day week, which was my birthday, then
We would go somewhere, and she would
enjoy it above all measure. This after
noon, however, the thing was impossible.
sWell," said 1 gravely," "we have not
many holidays together, and 1 am sorry.
You had sore throat on Monday and
Thursday when offered you a similar op-
portunity."
"Oyes," answered she shaking her little
head, which is very pTettily-could it be
too prettily 2-set upon her shoulders; sit
is quite impossible that could go with
that throat"
"Here," thought l, for she could not
have gone out without that throat; " is
some dreadful falsehood; but Peabody may
Rave told it, and not she. Perhsps she
never went out at all. Should not rath-
er believe the wife of my bosom than that
scsndalous old retired indigo merchant?
Was it not even base even to suspect Anna
Maria of deception Doubtless it was,
but yet l thought would just satisfy
myself with my own eyes
avery we'll" observed l quietly, "since
you cannot come with me to-day, [ will 90
to the city IS usual. don't care for hol-
iday by myself"
"Poor dear fellow" said Anna Maria
coaxingly, as she helped me on with my
great coat, al am quite grieved to dissp-
point you. Good-by, John. Mind you
have good luncheon; it's bad for you eat
ing those buns and rubbish"
q An, what 8 tangled web we weSve,'
says somebody, Hwhen first we practice TO
deceive" though after all with but little
trying, there's nothing easier thsn lying |
l protest l felt like a pickpocket as l |
lodged and lurked about our Crescent,
watching in the distance my own door, to |
see whether Mrs. E. would cross the thres-
held. suppose hsve none of the attri-
butes necessary to the profession Of de-
tectiye, for whenever pssser-by cast his
eyes on me, felt like blushing all over,
and hanging my head on one side, as dog
hangs his tail. IdAred not of cOurss, stop
in the Crescent, but loitered at the corner
of street which commanded it, now trying
70 dig up the tops of the coal cellars by
inserting the nezzls of my umbrella in
their circular holes, and now eliciting
mOurnful music by dragging it sgsinst the
area railings Exhausted with these exer-
ciseE 1 had been leaning sgsinst lamp
post for about ten minutes when the door
of house opposite opened suddenly, and q
widow lsdy of vast proportions came sud
denly out upon me, with her cap-strings
streaming in the wind.
"Now, ycu Just 60 away, my gentle.
nan" said she, in menacing voice, " be-
fore the police makes you. I know who
you're looking for, and tell you she amt
coming, for I've got her locked up in the
1 know ycu, although you
have not got your red coat on to day and
mind, If you get another slice of meat in
my house, I'll prosecute you as cure IS my
name is Mivins."
"Gracious heavens, madam 1 cried,
T" do you take me for a common tnldier2 ?"
"No, sir" answered she msliciously,
but for tuppeny-hA' penny life guards
man, who never saw shot fred in his life;
snd if you ever come after my Jemima
again"
turned and fed into the very arms of
the sbominsbls Peabody. MAKE haste"
exclaimed be, "there's not moment to te
lost. No; the cab is coming this way
you may see for yourself whether ! am
not right this time.'
And sure euuugh, who should drive by
at rapid rate, bnt Anna Maria, in four
wheeled cab, and without her bonnet, and
with flower in her hzirl This blow, com
ing so closely upon the attack OF the
widow lady, was almost more than could
Dssr. 4...
"Where can she be gone to2" gasped I,
half unconsciously. cite the most extra
ordinary thing l ever heard of"
~ have heard of similar things" re- !
turned Pesbody, quietly, 'slthough L new
Or experienced it myself OF course l ]
don't know Vhsrs shea going to, but the !
direction she has taken is toward St. Jonn's
Wood" /
hsstened back TO my own house, and /
with the air Of q man who had forgotten
sonnet hing, began 10 search in the pockets
Of great coat that was hanging up in the
hall
1By-the-by," said /, as the servant who |
had let me in was disappearing, Il think ,
your mistress must have got it after all. {
Just run up and tell her that wish to i
lee her, J.,
Emily Jane, who had been in our service !
ever since we we're married, turned as
scarlet as her eap-strings.
Sir" said she, bolder than brass, "AIis- /
sis has just stepped out; she has taken two J
Of the little girls for morning walls"
(which twoP inquired l, looking this :
abandoned person full in the lace. Her
subtle spirit vas coVed by this eourse Of :
procedure. She replied that she didn't I
didn't recollsct-she hsdnt :
paid particular attention, but she rather !
'hought it was the two yOungest-sll in q
breath. 4
=SrIn that case" rejoined I, pointing with
scorn to the epersmbulator, Ghow '
zones this here2 No, Emily Jane; your
mistress must have taken out with her I
,o-day the ssms two children that she took =
IN Monday and on Thursday, when her
lore throat was SO bad that she could not i
20 out with me. !
sYes, sir replied she, 'tit wAs the same
.wo. )
aEmily jane" said ], solemnly, aalwsys !
ell the truth. know all. Where is your
mistress gone to, all by herself, to-day, with
ner hair SO neatly arranged, and flower
u.