The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-09-30

peabody" interrupted l. severely, /"
| acknowledge the right of no man-no, not
OF the man in the moon Dimself-to med
die in my affairs upon that ground. 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 well aware of my
wife's movements, and they have had my
fullest permission and appreciation
| only wanted to see to what lengths yOul
| impertinence and love of interference
would carry you. That is your hat, be
| lieve; your umbrella is the alpaca one:
wish you very good morning"
L ushered my visitor out, and then sa
down in my private parlor with my elbow.
upon the table, and both my hands thrus
into my hair. [ had temporarily extin
guished Peabody, but was on fire will
jealous apprehensions myself. What co,Ac
it all mean? For sixteen years my wifi
had never taken any excursion unless il
my company, upon which, she had Away.
given me to understand, she dotted; anC
yet, after refusing to go out with me upon
Monday and Thursday last, on the plea o.
| sore throat, she had started, the instant
that my back was turned, in Hanson
or even supposing it was four wheeler
| in a cab, without white gloves on. and
| Confound it, here ac0s row IN the pantry
and one which my peace of mind de
manded to have cleared up at once. can
IA Maria" cried |, 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, /" it isn't one of the child
rem, is it, John? Pray tell me the worst
at once" ~
mo, Madam, it is l." replied I, stiffiy.
"Then it's the kitchen chimney" eX-
claimed she, in a dogmatic tone. "And
didn't [ tell Mary to have it swept a week
ago; and now the fire-engines viii 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 home? BY the time Anna
Maria had got down to the drawing room
flight l 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 l 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 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
very, very sorry, but really she had so
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
"Wel," said l, gravely, eve have not
many holidays together, and [ am sorry
You had a sore throat on Monday and on
Thursday, when l Offered you similar
opportunity"
"Oh yes" answered she, shaking her
little head, which is very prettily-could
it be too prettily ?-set upon her Shout
ders; " it was quite impossible that l could
go with that throat"
"Here," thought I, for she could not
have gone out gcithOut her throat, "is some
dreadful falsehood; but Peabody may have
told 1t, and not she. Perhaps she never
went out at all. Should | 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
but yet thought | would just satisfy my
self with my own eyes.
Very well, observed L, quietly; =" since
you cannot come with me to-day, shall
go to the city, as usual. [ don't care for "a
holiday by myself"
Poor, dear fellow" said Anna Maria,
coaxingly, as she helped me on with my
great-co a 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"
All, what tangled web we weave"
says somebody, "when first we practice
to deceive" though after but little trying,
there's nothing easier than lying. | pro-
test | felt like a pick-pocket, as L lodged
and lurked about our Crescent, watching
in the distance my own door to see wheth-
er Mrs. R would cross the threshold
| suppose | have none of the attributes
necessary to the profession of a detective :;
for whenever a passer-by cast his eyes on
me l felt myself blushing all over, and
hanging my head on one side, as a deg
hangs his tail. | dared not, of course
stop IN the Crescent, but lgitered at the
corner of a street which G. amanded 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
ehciting mournful music by dragging it
against the area ratings Exhausted with
these exercises, had been leaning against
lamp post for about ten minutes, when
the door of house opposite opened sud
denly, and 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 menacing voice, be
fore the police makes you. 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. I 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 NIivins."
'Gracious Heavens, Madam ~ cried I,
"do you take me for q common soldier"
"No, Sir" answered she, maliciously 4;
"but for tuppenny-ha'pe penny Life
Guardsman, who never saw shot fired in
his life; and if ever you come after my
Jemima again"
turned and fied-into the very arms of
the abominable Peabody. Make haste p
exclaimed he; "there is not moment to
be lost. No; the cab is coming this way
you may see for yourself whether am not
right this time" 1s
And sure enough, who should drive by,
at a rapid rate, but Anna Maria, in four
wheeled cab, and without her bonnet, and
aoitt a tioaoer IN her hair! This blow. COM
| ing 50 closely upon the attack ofthe widow
lady, was almost more than [ could bear
where can she be going to-" gasped 1,
half unconsciously. "It's the most extra
ordinary thing l ever heard of"
al have heard of similar things" re-
turned Peabody, quietly, although /
never experienced anything of the sort
myself OF course, don't know where
she is going to; but the DIRECTION she has
taken is toward st. Johns Wood" IIz
| fastened back to my own house, and
with the air of man who has forgotten