The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-10-05
A JEALOUS WIFE.
What She Learns by Following her
Husband.
From the Cincinnati Times.]

Husband.
From the Cincinnati Times.
Mrs. W is as pretty a woman as you
will meet on any pleasant day promenading
aristocratic Fourth street. She has form
of light and life, and face so lovely, yet
so arch, SO full Of mirth, :" that you could not
but turn and admire her. Yet, for all her
prettiness and winning ways, she was pos
sessed with the green-eyed monster" She
was, in fact, Jealous of her husband, whom
she believed was paying court to another
Helen. Turn the subject which way she
would, the object of her suspicion would
always present herself. Did her husband
lemain out in the evening later than usual,
she was sure he was in the company OF the
fascinating woman. Was he absent from
his meals, the same figure presented itself.
Did he leave the city on business for short
period, she felt the presence of the beauty
alongside of her.
And SO matters stood. But this living in
such state of uncertainty could not be en-
dured, the enigma must be solved, and, If
her Charley was basking in the sunshine of
another, the redress must be legal and the
separation instantaneous, though it plunged
her into an abyss of misery.
She planned, and where is there woman
who never planned under the same circum-
stances? And, further, she determined to
develope by strategy her Charley's power of
secret and unlawful love, as she thought.
She would turn detective and "shadow"
him; but it could not be done in crinoline,
or muslin dc lain or bombazine, or anything
that belongs to the toilet of the fair.
She therefore decided to don the apparel
of the masculine-boots, hat, pants, etc,
and strut through the streets after nightfall,
dogging the footsteps Of her suspected
Charley. The opportunity to appear in her
new role at last came. Charley had come
home In a great hurry on the evening in
question. He must have his supper at an
earlier hour than usual he had made an
engagement for that evening, and must be
prompt in attendance. All, ha thought
the little jealous beauty, 1 have you now, Mr..
Charley, and if you don't look sharp you
will find yourself nicely trapped.
Well, the supper passed off as all suppcrs
generally do, with the exception that the
husband ate but little, and hurriedly at that.
So much the worse for him, or rather her, as
the sequel will show. A few minutes were
passed at the mirror by Charley after supper
in sprucing up, and then taking his hat and
cane, sung out goodbye" cautioning, at
the same time, his wife not to set up for him,
as it might be late before he would return.
Down. the front steps and out at the gate
briskly goes Charley, but no sooner does
the gate close upon him than up into the
chamber dashes the wife. "Now. Mr.. Char
ley, viii show you how nicely will spoil
your little game" 10
And then off comes dress, skirt, hoops,
ct ct, until she stands the picture of
"beauty unadorned." Now the transmogri
fication, the counterfeit presentiment. is the
next scene and after opening drawers out
come pants, coat, vest, shirt-collar, in fact a
complete suit of masculine apparel. After
some slight difficulties in the way of adj
iusting the habit, she presented as COM
plete an appearance of one of the ''lords OF
creation" as could be desired.
There was an awkwardness in her walk
at first, but this, in measure, she overcame
after the novelty of her situation had worn
off. Everything now being ready, the
counterfeit masculine passed down stairs
out through the hall, and into the
gaslight Of the street. She knew where
her Charley would be the first half hour Of
this evening, for she had pnposely sent him
on an errand to one of her acquaintance:
that would detain him that long.
Here she found him, and when he started
from the house she was close on his tracks
taking good care not to be observed Char
ley, it appears, was given to billiards, ant
instead of having a..business engagement tina
evening, as he pretended, twas an indulg
ence in this pastime that had called hin
from his home. He did not like to mention
that it ,was this friendly game that called
him out, so he styled it business, and thu
| tried to deceive his wife. After hu rriet
walk of some eight or ten squares, the hus
| band reached the little billiard saloon and il
he went.
The wife, who had followed him, remain
| ed on the opposite side of the street waiting
for Charley to come out, but he did moi
come, for he was then too busily interested
in chasing the worries The wife's curiosity
finely got the better of her prudence, and
crossing over, she peered into the saloon u
see if she could observe him. Sure enough
there he was with billiard cue in hand.
At this moment, however; couple O
| young men--who were about 'half-seas over
-reeled up against her, and, then turned tc
beg her pardon for their awkardnes, and, a.
if to make the apology more complete, in
sisted on her going in and taking drin k
She declined, but one of the young mer
| would notlaccept the declination in gra
cious spirit, and taking hold of her, pushed
her into the saloon and up to the bar, ant
would not let her 60 till she had agreed tt
| drink with them. 'Et -Ai-
| The more she endeavored to effect release
| the more the twain chung to her, until finally
their maneuvres attracted the attention o
several within among whom was her Charley
| He started for the scene, and as she saw hin
coming she with vigor renewed her efforts
| to escape, and in doing so her cap fell of
| and her hair fell down over her shoulder
| disclosing her sex Of course this discovery
created some excitement, and the young mel
went infor little fun, making rather FREE
with her. II say" says one, "40ld gal
| what lark are you on! .,..... 49,,
| "Oh! pray do let me CO." = 80
Cant do it, you must take something
| first" fssl i r.s ~
By this time Charley was along side other
and, despite her efforts to keep her face con
| cealed from him, he recognizes her.
The discovery of his wife in such attir,
| surprised him to an extent beyond our power
| to describe. But she needed protection ther
| and it was no time to seek explanations; ant
so, striding up, he led her away, giving the
young nden to understand that she was I'M
| der bis protection. ilg l
| Charley, procuring his coat and hat, left
with his poor, crestfallen wife, who was neve
so humble before. On the road home shs
l explaised sryrhing to HIM; how she hat
I|become jealous and had attributed his un
usual absence from home to the company O
another fair one. Charley forgave her, ad
| hitting that he was partially to blame from