The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-05-12
The WJe's Secret.

Or how one Man was Cured of Jealousy
Jealousy, Why, had been marrie'
sixteen years without entertaining tha
passion, so that it was not very likely
however we'll acted, that that passion
should entertain me. misunderstanding
The thing was impossible, for wheneve
there promised to be ga row in the pan
try"-and every married man will under
stand me when make use of that meta
phorical expression-I brought it to
head, and had it out, and off we starte,
again Speaking for self and Mrs. R.) OF
the smooth current of our lives, with tn,
little fracas buried forever in its depths
As for the mother OF eight falling in low,
with another man-it is all very we'll il
a stage play. and particularly with al
due Difference to Miss Annie Dickinson
where the husband is 4 black man. and
as have said, BETTING enough anon.
persons of quality; but upon the Nottin?
Hill side Of Bayswater any such mis-
chance would, | felt, be out OF place, and
rldlculous-a social presumption, as wei
as a grave domestic crime. Imagine
| therefore, my astonishment when my op
posite neighbor, Peabody, who also call
himself my friend, did he the honor t,
call upon me a few weeks ago, to speak
in confidence, of the alarming conduct o
my wife. Having demanded and obtain
! ed private interview, this scandalous old
person, who was once an indigo merchant
and yet retains the trace of his calling up
on his nose, set before me in detail nun.
ber OF curious circumstances connected
with the ''goings on" as he was pleased
to call them, of my wife, which he wa.
not, indeed, prepared to say '.mght pos
sibly be only condolences, after all, =
but which he felt it his duty as fellow
creature, and one who had been husband
in his time-here his lips made dumb
motion of gratitude-to let me know
Even as neighbor, and an inhabitant OF
a common Crescent, hitherto remarkable
for its responsibility, and which, as
doubtless remembered, had declined to per
init Mrs. Jones to put up departments .
in her window, lest we should be contound
ed with lodging-houSe localities nay.
| which, by the mere force of its publ,
opinion, had dpreyented No. 4S4 from being
let to a play-actor-even in this character
said Peabody, he would have felt it hi:
duty to make me aware of what was be.
ING said, though doubtless falsely, respect
inc the behavior of Mrs II. Here
should have locked the door, and inform.
ed Peabody that his last hour was certain
ly arrived. and that he had better make
his peace with Providence before | Gu,
his throat; but from ignorance of the
proper conduct to be adopted in such ex-
ceptional circumstances, and perhaps from
the knowledge that there was nothing but
a paper-knite in the room with which tC
effect this righteous punishment, l only
burst out laughing, and called him med
ding and impertinent old fool
every true" returned he, for he al
ways makes use of that form of words
Every true; but still the facts are wortl
Investigating, even from their singularity
Do you know, for instance, that AT clever
O'Clock, three days a week, your wife goe:
out in Il cab by hcrseIf?"
"No," said |, Il do not though, i
she does, it is surely better than if sh
had any ineligible companion. AS mat
ter of fact, however, she does does not d
so, for | have offered to 60 shopping will
her twice this week, and she has decline,
to accompany me on the ground of havin!
a sore throat"
Upon what days did she give this ex
cuse! inquired Peabody, taking out hi
pocket book.
"Last Monday and last Thursday" re
turned l.
"Well, here's a memorandum: Mon
day, 4th-saw Mrs. K. start, as usual, a
IL; Thursday, 7th-ditto, ditto. Sh
could not be going to a morning concert
because she had no white gloves on
81 will grant that much,' quoth |, sar
donically, and yet not by any means un
moved by this unexpected intelligence
My wife does not 90 to morning con
certs.''
every true" observed Peabody
Then the question arises, where doe
she 90 to! Nov, as an inhabitant of tn
Crescent"
Peabody" interrupted l, severely, "
acknowledge the right of no man-nc
not even of the man in the moo
himself-to NEEDLE in my affairs upo
that ground. am obliged to you for tn
interest you have taken in this matter
but the simple fact is, that it has been en-
tirely misplaced. l have been perfect
aware of my wife's movements, and the
have had my fullest permission and ar
probation. l only wanted to see to wha
lengths your impertinence and love Of in
reference would carry you. That isyou
hat, l believe; your umbrella is the al
paca one; l wish you very good morn
ing"
l ushered my visitor out, and then So
down in my private parlor with my e
bows upon the table, and both my hand