The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-09-30

acknOWIeQge the tight OF no man-nO, no
of the man in the moon himself--to med
die in my affairs upon that ground an
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 well aware of my
wife's movements, 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 is your hat, be
lieve; your umbrella is the alpaca one;
wish you a very good morning"
l ushered my visitor out, and then sal
down in my private parlor with my elbows
upon the table, and both my hands thrust
into my hair 1 had temporarily extin
| guished Peabody, but was on fire with
Jealous apprehensions myself What coald
it all mean? For sixteen years my wife
had never taken any excursion unless in
! my company, upon which, she had always
given me to understand, she dotted 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
that my back was turned, in a Hansom-
or even suppOsing it was four wheeler
in cab, without white gloves on, and
COnfOund it, here sods row in the pantry,
and one which my peace of mind de-
manded to have cleared up at once. can
IA Maria" cried L, huskily, from the bot
tom of the stairs" Anna Maria, wish,
to speak with you Immediately"
"Lor' bless me-" answered my wife from
the top story, 1T isn't one of the child
rem, is it, John? Pray tell me the worst
at once"
mo, Madam, it is l." replied 1, stiffly.
"Then it's the kitchen chimney" ex-
claimed she, in dogmatic tone. "And
didn't tell Mary to have it swept a week
ago; and now the fire-engineS will spoil
everything, even if we arc not burnt out
Of house and home"
Was i: possible that this woman could
have deceived me, as Peabody had said,
and yet talk so 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 my
self. When the mother of eight reached
my sitting room door, with her honest face
aglow with animation, and her voice so
earnest about the SCOT, did not dare to
mention what had in my mind.
Il called you down, dear, to say that l
was going to give myself holiday to-day,
and to ask you to come with me to Ham
tie this afternoon, it being such beauti-
full day"
A ray of Joy passed for an instant over
her features, and then, as if recollecting
herself, she began to stammer that she was
much to do about the house just then; if
l would only wait till Friday week, which
was my birthday, then we would go some
where, and she should enjoy it above all
measure. This afternoon, however, the
thing was impossible
"Wcll," said /, gravely, eve have not
many holidays together, and | am sorry.
You had sore throat on Monday and on
Thursday, when l offered you a similar
opportunity"
"Oh yes" answered she, shaking her
little head, which is very prettily-cOuld
1t be too prettily?-set upon her shOul-
ders; it was quite impossible that could
go with that throat" @
"Here," thought |, for she could not
have gone out scitlOut her throat, 4" is some
dreadful falsehOOd; but Peabody may have
told it, and not she. Perhaps she never
went out at all. Should l not rather
believe the wife of my bosom than that
scandalous old retired indigo-merchant
Was it not base even to suspect Anna
Maria of deception: Doubtless it was i;
but yet thought | would just satisfy my
self with my own eyes"
Every well" observed /, quietly; since
you cannot come with me to-day, shall
go to the city, as usual. l don't care for a
holiday by myself"
Poor, dear fellow said Anna Maria,
coaxiI " as she helped me on with my
great II, Il am quite grieved to disap-
poin .Ou. Good-by, John. Mind you
have "a good luncheon it's very bad for
you eating those buns and rubbish"
"Ah, what a tangled web we weave"
says somebody, "when first we practice
to deceive" though after but little trying,
there's nothing easier than lying. l pro-
test l felt like pick-pOcket, as | lodged
and lurked about our Crescent, watching
in he distance my own door to sec wheth-
cr Mrs. R would cross the threshold.
| suppose / have none of the attributes
necessary to the profession of detective
for whenever a pasSerby cast his eyes on
me / felt myself blushing all over, and
hanging my head on one side, as dog
hangs his tail. | dared not, of course,
stop in the Crescent, but loitcred at the
corner of street which commanded it,
now trying to dig up the tops of the coal
cellars by inserting the nozzle of my UNI
brella in their circular holes, and now
eliciting mournful music by dragging it
against the area ratings. Exhausted with
these exercises, / had been leaning against
a lamp-post for about ten minutes, when
the door of house opposite opened sud
denly AMI widow lady of vast proper
| tons came swiftly out upon me, with her
| cap strings streaming in the wind.
"Now just you go away, my gentle
man." said she, in a menacing voice, "be-
| fore the police makes you. 1 know who
| you're a-lOoking for, and | can tell you
she amt a-coming, for I've got her locked
up in the coal-cellar. 1 know you, al
though 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
sure as my names Mivins."
"GraciOus Heavens, Madam" cried /
edo you take me for common soldier? ?"
| mo, Sir" answered she, maliciously
"but for tuppenny ha'penny Life
Guardsman, who never saw shot fired in
his life; and if ever you come after my
Jemima again"
l turned and fied--intO the very arms oi
the abominable Peabody make haste' ?
exclaimed he; "there is not a moment to
be lost. No; the cab is coming this way
you may see for yourself whether | am no
right this time"
And sure enough, who should drive by
at rapid rate, but Anna Maria, in four
wheeled cab, and without her bonnet, ant
soith a toscer in her hair! This blow, com
ing so closely upon the attack ofthe widow
lady, was almost more than could bear
"Where can she be going tor" gasped !
half unconsciOusly. ats the most extra
ordinary thing ever heard Of"
81 have heard of similar things" re
turned Peabody, quietly, although
never experienced anything of the sor
myself. Of course, don't know wher
she is going to; but the direction she ha
taken is toward ST. Johns Wood" .,.
fastened back to my own house, an
with the air of man whs has forgOtte
something, began to search in the pocket
OF great-coat hanging up in the hal