The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-10-08
By Alfred =. Horsley.
- COLUMBIA TENNESSEE, FRIDAY OCTOBER s. 1869.
the top story, 4" it isn't one of the child
rem, is it. John? PRAY tell me the worst

the top story, ait isn't one of the child.
rem, is it, John? Pray tell me the worst
at once"
,"No, Madam, it is l." replied /, stiffly,
i "Then it's the kitchen chimney" lex
claimed she, in a dogmatic tone. "And
didn't l tell Mary to have it swept a week
ago; and now the fire-engines will spoil
everything, even if we are not burnt out
of house and home"
Was it possible that this woman could
have deceived me, as Peabody had said,
and yet talk so simply of her children, and
of house and homer BY the time Anna
Maria had got down to the drawing room
flight began to be rather ashamed of N.Y.
SELF When the mother of eight reached
my sitting groom 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.
81 called you down, dear, to say that
was going to give myself holiday to-day,
and to ask you to come with me to Ham
stead Heath, and dine at Jack Straw's Cas-
tie this afternoon, it being such a beauti-
full day."
A ray of joy passed for an instant over
4 LII tNosuhSS, oAi0 tACn, oS IL
herself, she began to stammer that she was
very, very sorry, but really she had so
much to do about the house just then; if
1 would only wait till Friday week, which
was my birthday, then we would 60 some
where, and she should enjoy it above all
measure. This afternoon, however, the
thing was impossible.
Well" said l, gravely, Eve have not
many holidays together, and am sorry.
You had sore throat on Monday and on
Thursday, when / offered you a similar
opportunity" e.rs1
"Oh yes" answered she, shaking her
little head, which is very prettily-could
it be too prettily ?-set upon her shoul-
ders; sit was quite impossible that could
| go with that throat"
Here" thought I, for she could not
have gone out soittOut her throat, :" 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 indigomerchant?
Was it not base even to suspect Anna
Maria of deceptiong Doubtless it was
but yet thought l would just satisfy my
self with my own eyes,"
"Very well" observed ], quietly since
you cannot come with me to-day, I shall
go to the city, as usual l don't care for
holiday by myself"
"Poor, dear fellow" said Anna Maria,
coaxingly, as she helped me on with my
great-coat, 81 am quite grieved to disap-
point you. Good-by, John. Mind you
have 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 1 felt like pick pocket, as 1 lodged
and lurked about our Crescent, watching
in the distance my own door to see wheth-
er Mrs R would cross the threshold.
l suppose have none of the attributes
necessary to the profession of detective;
for whenever passer- by cast his eyes on
me l felt myself blushing all over, and
hanging my head on one side, as dog
hangs his tail. l dared not, of course,
stop IN the Crescent, but loitered at the
corner of street which commanded it,
now trying to dig up the tops of the coal
cellars by Inserting the nozzle of nv UNI
brella in their circular holes, and now
eliciting mournful music by dragging it |
against the area railings. Exhausted with |
these exercises, had been leaning against |
lamp-post for about ten minutes, when |
the door of house opposite opened sud-
derly, and a widow lady of vast proper
tions came swiftly out upon me, with her
cap strings streaming in the wind.
Now just you go away, my gentle
man." said she, in menacing voice, "be-
fore the police makes you. know who
you're a-looking for, and l 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 1,
do you take me for a common soldier?"
"No, 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" tF
turned and fled-into the very arms of
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 not
right this time"
And sure enough, who should drive by,
at a rapid rate, but Anna Maria, in four
wheeled cab, and without her bonnet, and
soiM a tlo,oer 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 to ?" gasped l,
half uncOnsciously. "It's the most extra
ordinary thing ever heard Of"
al have heard of similar things,p re-
turned Peabody, quietly, although 1
never experienced anything of the sort
myself OF course, l don't know where
she is going to; but the direction she has
taken is toward St. Johns Wood"
hastened back to my own house, and
with the air of man who has forgotten
began to search in the pockets
of great-coat hanging up in the hall.
" By-the-by," said /, as the servant who
had let me in was disappearing, II think
your mistress must have got it after all.
Just run up, and tell her want to see her
for minute"
Emily Jane, who has been in our service
ever since we were married, turned as scar
let as her cap-ribbons "Sir," said she,
bolder than brass, "missis has just step
ped out; she has taken two of the little
girls for a morning walk"
(which two?" inquired /, looking this
abandoned young person full in the face.
Her subtle spirit was cowed by this course
OF procedure sne rep1eu tnaI Sne uld not
didn't recollect-she hadn't
paid particular attention, but Ishe rather
thought that it was the two youngest-all
in breath.
"In that case," rejoined 1, pointing with
scorn to the perambulator, show
comes this here? No, Emily Jane; your
mistress must have taken out with her to-
day the same two children that she took |
on Monday and on Thursday, when her
sore throat was so bad that she could not
go out with me"
Yes, Sir" replied she; it was the
same two"
Emily Jane" said /, solemnly, "always
tell the truth. Iknoso all. Where is your
mistress gone to all by herself to-day, with
her hair so neatly arranged, and flower
stuck in the left-hand side of her head ?
and that after telling me she was too busy
to move out. Concealment is worse than
useless Where is she?'
"Wild horses shouldn't do it," returned
The domestic, resolutely. az told her
would keep it dark, and 1 won't betray
no confidence as has been reposed in me-
You must findit out all of your own head,
Sir. Oh dear, oh dear" $
Here, to my confusion, Emily Jane cast !
her apron, by sudden and dextrous i
over her features, and in that /