The Van Buren press., 1873-03-04

| black vel, were so eUectlVe tnab cue sal
lied into the picture gallery few mo
ments before time, with the air ofa coun'
tess, and was secure in the consciousness
OF her marital dignity and her unsuspect
ed presence.
The pictures were fine, but Mrs L. had
no immediate interest in pictures; she
watched the door and the stairway, and
turned her back as the widow, whom she
had not before suspected, came into the
room and warmed her neat littlo boots
and the feet within them at the hot Air
register.
The widow compared time with the
clock and her own watch, and SO did Mrs.
Thistledown; the pretty widow was i'm
patient, and SO was Mrs T.; and the i'm
!, patieaco Of both the ladies in waiting was
soon ended BY the appearance Of Mr., y.
In light docskin gloves, well'1rushed
ovcrcoat, shining hat, and his favorite
cane, jast as q gay decsiver would prob
ably be when keeping sub rosa appoint
ment early in the afternoon at picture
gallery.
The meeting was not atlectonate--
they were wary and discreet, thought
Mrs. Il. There was no whispered con-
vsrsation between them; they were up in
tho business Of such mcetings-an old
story, thought Mrs. T.
Are you ready1" asked Mr. r., to
which the lady answered: =" Yes. but l
must be back to dinner" and Mrs. +.
was thoroughly satisfied that tho faith
| n IN OF
ter, aud it took all the possible control
of her actions to prevent an interruption
of the interview and the sscno which
would be the consequence, as shc nor.
vously followed the quiet couple over to
Broadway, where they took an omnibus
| bound down town-and SO did Mrs. T.,
but Of another line and, with the window
down, and the cold air reddening her
nose and blowing in upon her aching
forehead, she watched.
To Maiden Lane she followed them, and
then to the store Of 4 well-known furrier
where she saw them enter; and she had
the unpleasant alternative of waiting out
side for a whole hour, till she felt that
she must be discovered; and then went
Monochrome, which to her seemed the
eharnel house of her affections, and where
she clasped her children to her mothcrly
bosom, and while she allowed her tears
of agony TO fall upon their dears little
heads, she waited and watched for their
father, who had deceived her so cruelty
But Mr.. Timothy Thtstledown did not
come punctually at the dinner hour; the
clock which stood upon the mantiei in the
library was sepulchral in its tones, and
sounded like the knoll Of her affections
as it tolled the hours away, and dinner
! was cold npan the table. when the sound
Of wheels at the door aroused her, and
the slammng Of a carriage door caused
her to start.
True enough, it was her husband with
the light gloves, the shiny hat, and the
pet cane, and he came directly into the
library where the light was burning. and
where there was no drop-light, for 1t had
been demolished by the sofa pillow at
thsir morning encounter
Mr.. Thistledown kissed tho children,
threw down his newspaper and small
brown paper bundle and said nothing to
his wife.
Then he looked at her in a cold, un-
feeling manner, she thought, and rang
the call-bell.
"Dinner, Janev was all he said as the
waitress answered the summons, and then
his face lightened up with expectation rs
the sound OF the door-bell ringing vas
family heard And then the cruel, heart
less, dcceiving husband went to the door
"A drop too much, this action, in the
cup Of matrimonial unhappiness already
placed at Mrs Thstledowns lips, aud
which was ovsrAswng with bitterness
"Stsp there, Timothy! Stop, say |!
know all ~ shouted his wife, catching
him by the arm.
But he smiled at her-a sardonic de
ccptive smile, she thong ght-and opened
the door despite her remonstranee.
The pretty widow stood upon the door
step, her pretty cheeks red from the cold,
and she came forward pleasantly to greet
Mrs. Thistlsdown and the children. call
ing her Maria, as she always did, and
stopped down to kiss the children.
She did not, however, although little
Timothy, Jr.'s lips were ready for greet.
ing; a strsng hand pressed her back and
Mrs. T. placed her arms around the chill
dren in a sheltering manner-just as she
had seen the prims donna in "Norma
do at the Academy. -,
"Stand Off from my children, madam y
said the agonizcd lady, almost overcome
by the confident assuranec Of her visitor
"go with their father, if you choose, but
not with my children. They are not nj
for you"
She did not pause long enough to
think that it was not her proper play 70
EXPOSE her knowledge; but before tho
pretty widow could render an explana-
ton, o. even ask the question which
should have preceded it, she told her sto'
ry, the quarrel at table, the note In tht
coat pocket, the Delnonico breakfast
tho appointment at the gallery, and the
visit to Maiden Lano, where she had CIV
on up the chase and awaited the issue d
home, and then handed ~ Mr. Timothy
Thisledown whole page ofelosely writ
ten letter which she had indicted TO hin
by way ofa farewell epstlc, and whici
she had concealed in her motherly bosom
ill the proper moment for its presenta
ton. :.
Mr.. Thistledown read the letter, tore
up, and laughed, and then the wldo
laughed, while Mrs. Thistledown crled
But the door-boll rang again, ana
-, ;,,st aI;ohtnd from 4 furrlors wa