Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-10-01
VOL. XvII.-NO. %.

Peabody" interrupted /, severely, "T |
acknowledge the right of no man--no,not !
OF the man in the moon himself--to med |
die in my affairs upon that ground. l 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 |
wifes movements, and they have had my |
fullest permission and appreciation. I
only wanted to see to what lengths your
impertinence and love of interference
would carry you. That is your hat l be-
lieve; your umbrella Is the alpaca one |
wish you a very good morning, -,
l ushered my visitor out, and then sat
down in my private parlor with my elbows
upon the table, and both my yhands thrust
into my hair. l had temporarily extin-
guished Peabody, but was on fire with
jealous apprehensiOns myself What could
1t 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 dotedf and
yet, after refusing to go 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. Hanson
or even supposing il was four-wheeler-
in a cab, without white gloves on, and
Confound it, here iods row in the pantry,
and one which my peace of mind de-
manded to have cleared up at once. "An-
ma Maria," cried L, huslzily, 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
ren, is it, John? Pray tell me the worst
at once"
"No, Madam, it is l." replied 1, stifly
"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 tiresengines 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 oflny-
self When the mother of eight reached
my sitting-room door, with her honest face
aglow with animation, and her voieesso
earnest about the SCOT, did not dare to
mention what l had in my mind.
81 called you down, dear, to say that L
was going to give myself a 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 n beauti-
| full day"
| A ray of Joy passed for an instant over
her features, and then, as if recollecting
herself, she began to stammcr that she was
very, very sorry, but really she had so
much to do about the house just then; il
/ would only wait till Friday week, which
was my birthday, then we would go some
l NJ cl, OH ppip uI,D al
measure. This afternoon, however, the
thing was impossible.
"Wel," said 1, 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"
little head, which is very prettily-could
it be too prettily ?-set upon her shoul-
ders; "it was quite impossible that could
go with that throat"
Il "Here,' thought 1, for she could moi
have gone out iCitiOut her throat, is somt
dreadful falsehood but Peabody ymay havt
told it, and not she. Perhaps she nevel
went out at all. Should | not rathel
believe the wife of my bosom than tina
scandalous old retired indigo-mcrchant
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"
every well" observed I, quietly; " since
! you cannot come with me to-day, | shal
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 ny
/ great.o0at "I.anf quite grieyed to disap
point you. Good-by, John. Mind yol
J have a good luncheon it's very bad fo
/ you eating those buns and rubbish"
5 "Ah, what tangled web we weave,
says somebody, "when first we practic,
| to deceive" though after but little trying
there's nothing easier than lying. l pro
) test 1 felt like pick pocket, as 1 dodge(
: and lurked about our Crescent, watching
, in the distance my own door to see wheth
: er Mrs. R would cross the threshold
| / suppose l have none of the attribute
| necessary to the profession of detective
}, for whenever passcr-by cast his eyes OIL
: me l felt myself blushing all over, an,
S hanging my head on one side, as d do
D hangs his tail. l dared not of course
4 stop in the Crescent, but lOitered ut tn
Y corner of a street which commanded il
a now trying to dig up the tops of the coal
: cellars by inserting the nozzle of my un
!, brella in tlicir circular holes, and .nol
i elieiting mournful music by dragging
r against the area railings. Exhausted wit
b these exercises, had been leaning agains
Il a lamp.post for about ten minutes, whe
/ the door of house opposite opened sue
Y denly, and q widow lady of vast propol
h tions came swiftly out upon me, with he
,, cap strings streaming in the wind
IS "Now just you go away, my gentle
II man." said she, in Il menacing voice, a." bC
a fore the police makes you. know VIII
IL you're a-looking for, and l can tell yo
= she amt a-coming, for I've got her locke
= up in the coal-cellar. 1 know you, a
S. though you have not got your red coat O
l. to-day; and mind if you get another sliC
h of meat in my house, I'll prosecute you
4, sure as my names Miyins"
4, "Graeious IIeaYens, Madam !' cried
a do you take me for a common soldierY
d "No, Sir" answered she, maliciously
o "but for tuppenny-hapenny Lit
I, Guardsman, who never saw shot fired
e. his life; and if ever you come after II
re Jemima again"
" turned and fled-into the very arms
], the abominable Peabody make haste
% exclaimed he g there Is not moment,
be lost. NO; the cab isscomins this wa,
ct you may see for yourself whether ann
u right this time"
70 And sure enough, who should drive
fe at a rapid rate, but Anna Maria, in fou
is wheeled cab, and without her bonnet, al
ut loith a t0toer in her hair! This blow, col
ID ing so closely upon the attack of the wido
lady, was almost more thano1 could bel
rs "Where can she be going to?" gasped
~ half unconsciOusly. "It's the most exit
IL ordinary thing ever heard Of"
10 81 have heard of similar things" l
IN turned Peabody, quietly, although
es never. experienced anything of the Sc
myself OF Course, don't know whe
h, she IS going to- but the direction she
he taken is toward st. Johns Wood"
IT. hastened back to my own house, a
80, Niththe air ofsa man KhO has fOrRott
eri Something began toteareh IN. the DocixI
to of greatcoat hanging up in the la
ng By-the-by," said ], as the servant VI
had let me in was disappearing, 81 thi
X your mistress must have got It after a
MS Just runlup, and tell her I want to see
for minute, wtu