The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-22


would, felt, be out of place md ridi-
cu]ous-s social presumption, us well
as grave domestic crime. Imagine,
therefore, my astonishmcnt when nv
opposite ne!ghbor, Peabody, who also
calls himself my friend, didSme the
honor to call upon me fd + weeks
ago; to- speak in confidence, of the
alarming conduct of my wife Hav-
ing demanded and obtained private
interview, this scandalous old person,
who was once all indigo merchant, and
yet retains the trace Of his calling
upon his nose, set before me in detail
number of curious circumstances
connected with the '..goings on" as he
was pleased to call them, of nv wife.
which he was not, indeed, prepared to
say, might not possibly be only coin
cidences, after all, % but which he felt
1T his duty, as q fcllow-creat1lrc, and
one who had been q husband in his
time here his lips made dumb mo-
ton Of grstitudc-to let Inc know.
Even as Il ncighbor, and the inhabi-
tant of a common Crescent, hitherto
remarkable for it's rcspectability, and
which, as doubtless remembered, haI
declined to permit Mrs. Jones to put
up apartments III her window, lest we
should be confounded with the lodg-
Ing llo0sc localities; nay, which by the
mere force OF its public opinion, had
prevented No. 4S4 from being let to a
play actor-even in this character,
said Peabody, he felt it his duty to
make me aware of what was being
said, though doubtless falsely, rc-
spccting the behavior of Mrs. r.
Here 1 should have locked the door,
and Informed Peabody that his last
hour was certainly arrived, and that
he had better make his peace with
Providence before I cut his throat;
but from Ignorance Of the proper con
duct to be adopted in s;:ah exceptional
circumstances, and perhaps from the
knowledge that there WAS nothing but
Il paper-knife in the room with which
to effect this righteous punishment, I
only burst out laughing, and called
him mcddlinS and impertincnt old
fool.
every true" returned he, fo1 he
always makes use Of that form of
words-''very true; but still the facts
are worth Investigating, even from
their sing7llarity. Do you know, for
instance, that at II o'clock, three days
a week, your wife goes out in !. cab by
herself?'
''No," SAID I, "I do not. though, if
she does, it as surely better than if she
had AN ineligible companion. As a
matter OF fact, however, she does not
do so, for 1 have offered TO go shop
ping with her twice this week, and
she has declined to so with me on the
ground of having Il sore throat.'
''Upon what days did she give this
excuse?" inquired Peabody, taking
out his pocket-book.
''Last Monday and last Tuesday,"
returned I.
''Well, here's amemorandup: Mon,
day, 4tl, saw Mrs. Is. start as usual,
at II; Thursday, 7th, ditto, ditto.
She could not be going to IL morning
concert, because She had no white
gloves on
Il will grant that much," q,loth ],
sardonically, and yet not byanymeans
bv this unexpected intelli-
gence-''My wife does not go to NOM
ing concerts.
Every true" answered Peabody,
''Then the question arises where does
she go to? Now, as all inhabitant OF
the crescent"
''Peabody," interrupted ], severely,
81 acknowledge the right OF no man
no, not of the man in the moon HIM
self--to meddle1 in my affairs upon
that ground. I am obliged to YOU
for the interest you have taken in this
matter, but the simple fact is, that it
has been entirely misplaced. [ have
been perfectly we'll aware Of my wifc's
and they have. had my
fullest permission and appreciation.
L only wanted to see to what lengths
your impertincnce and love Of inter
ference would carry you. That is your
hat, l believe; your umbrella is the