Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1867-12-19

I
Violet was always at the gate to meet
him, robed in some pretty, fresh apparel
her curIs loOped back with roses, and hel
blue eyes full of tenderness, ready to
lead him to the tidy, well-ordered parlOr
and waiting supper-table. No wonder
Guy was happy-he would have been a
monster if he had not been so. But af.
ter awhile, as if fortune was bent upon
running his cup over, something else came
to make him still happier. A small,
dimplej, Growing babe, with eyes like its
mother, and rings of hair that looked
spun gold. Violet was in raptures, and
Guy could scarcely wait for night to come
in his eagerness to get home. What a
happy couple, every one. said-even the
wiseacres, in spite of their prophecies.
But there never was a paradise, per.
haps, that the serpent did not enter in
some form or other. 1t even came to
this perfect little home, trailing its Shiny
ugliness amid the blooming flowers. It
was after this wise: One evening Guy
chanced to come home a trife earlier
than usual, and Violet and baby were no.:
at the gate to meet him, as was their
custom but he hurried on, eager to sur
prise them by being so early. Just as
be reached the outer enclosure of the
garden he heard the cottage door open,
and saw a nldn-a real, living man,
young and very distingulshed-lo docking
come out and pause on the porch for a
moment to talk with Violet--hts Violet.
He saw her plainly laughing and chat.
ting and tossing her ringlets; and then
the stranger bowed himself out, and left
the premises by the side path.
"Don't fail to come," called Violet af.
ter him; II shall expect you. F"
Guy Hilliard locked on in amazement.
Violet was dressed-as he had never
seen her before-in a magnificent blue
silk robe, all covered with laces and
roses. What did it mean! Who was
that man that she urged to come again
so cordially? A sharp. swift pang of
jealousy and mistrust wrung his heart
mistrust of the woman be held a thous-
and times dearer than bis own life and
he hurried on to the cottage, his brow,
for the first time since bis marriage,
looking lowering and moody Violet was
nowhere to be seen below SO he went
up 10 her chamber. The aor was closed
bat be heard the babe " within.
"Violet! Violel h
'sXss, dear, alls.
wep sin one incident as soon as get
~ <rpss on
He wailed impaiently until she came
out, and then he scanned her face with
keen, anxious eyes. She looked durried
and confused, and ran back almost imme-
diately to put the blue robe, which she
had thrown on the bed, into the ward
robe. Guy followed her into the cham
Der.
Have you been out, Violet?" he
asked, making a great effort to appear
unconcerned.
"Out? Oh. MOI" she replied. "Why
do you ask 2"
Nothing only saw you putting
away your dress; and you've got baby
dressed out in her fnery."
Violet blushed and averted her face.
"Oh, yes!' % she said, catching up the
little mass of embroidery, "I've been
fixing the sleeves of her slip, you know
bat, come, let's go down and look after
supper.''
He followed her down with a weary
step and heavier heart than had ever
lain in his bosom before. But he deter
mined to say nothing; he would not
question her, but wait and see for him
self what it all meant. Violet hustled
about, making herself unusually pleasant;
B ut somehow a gloom hung over the
vhiIom happy home, which all her gaiety
could not dispel. Long after she had
retired with her babe, her young husband
sat in the porch, with his head bowed in
his hands, and his soul tortured with a
nameless fear.
The next afternoon he returned home
at the usual hour, and found Violet and
the babe awaiting him at the gate, her
face all brightness and tenderness. His
heart began TO lighten-she was true to
him. What a fool he had been; he was
glad he had not let her know it. Laugh
ing and playing with baby they proceed
ed to the cottage; and Guy went running
ur stairs for his dressing gown with his
old. buoyant alacrity. On the topmost
step he picked up a glove-a gentIeman's
glove, but not his. A trife, truly but
i awakened the old jealous pang with
redoubIed pain. Still he did not ques.
tion his wife. but kept a silent, cunning
watch on all her movements.
The next evening, and the next, he
came earlier, and in both instances, con-
cesling himself in the shrubbery, be saw
the tall, fne-looking stranger leaving
his house, and Violet fitting about in
the azure robe she had never worn for
him. Suspicion became torture, he could
bear il no longer; he must know the
worst. Had the wiseacres of Clifton
prophesied correctly after all! He ap-
his wife at twilight, as she sat
IN low chair hushing her baby to sleep.
"Violet,', he said gently, but very Sc.
riously, Il am afraid we are getting to
have a skeleton in our closet"
She looked up inqulringly.
ga skeleton, dear; how o?''
Haven't you secrets from your hus-
band, Violet, I" be asked, sOlemnly.
She blushed deeply. and dropped her
eyes; and her voice was faint and irres-
Oiute, as she replied, "Oh, no. Guy !
What makes you think have 7''
"Because." be answered, gravelv, 81