Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-04-09

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wretch" And her teeth closed so vio-
lsntly that the very exhalation of her
breath caused faint hiss.
She glanced up at her husband. He,
too, was regarding the house with q
strange expression, and as her eye en-.
countered his she fancied he changed
color slightly.
"Can she suspect anythingt" he was
asking himself "She looks very ctri-
ously at the house I should like to know
whether she has received any hint Of what
is going on"
And thus the pair moved along, their
minds actively at work, but their lips
silent Shortly afterward Cynthia re-
quested her husband to put her in an up
ward bound omnibus, and left him to con.
tinue his walk alone
Arrived at his office, Cadwallader sent
clerk to the printing house with instruc-
tons to obtain a yesterdays Messenger at
any price. The boy returned with his
booty, and his employer found the notice
he had anticipated.
"One and one make two; am as good
at addition as any other Dlockhead when
1t is drilled into me-" he remarked lacon-
ically. "By.the-by, this is what made her
so inquisitive yesterday morning. She
almost drove me into corner with her
questions. Considering the position
affairs have taken, she might better have
held her peace. Heighoi how little we
men know about womankind anyhow! If
I had not been so internally wrapped in my
own project might have nipped hers in
the bud"
Well, Saturday came. The sun rose as
early and beamcd as brightly as on other
and less eventful days; there was the
same balmy freshness in the atmosphere,
the same sway in the tree boughs, the
same piping notes from the Threats of tiny
spring songsters.
When Mr.. Tapscott rose he looked as If
he had slept very little, and took view
from the window. When Mrs. Tapscott
rose she looked as If she had shared her
husbands wakefulness, and proceeded to
take a corresponding view from another
window. Then both passed some yawn-
ing comments on the weather and tried
to appear sublimely unconscious of ap-
preaching events; and each secretly won.
dcred how the other could be so cool un-
der existing circumstances.
They retired TO their respective dress.
ing.rooms and adorned themselves for the
day. 1t was like making ones last toilet
prior TO execution.
Next in order came coffee and rolls and
broiled chops and the disgusting necessity
of forcing an appetite. Afterward Mr..
Tapscott complained Of headache and
thought he would not go TO the office that
morning.
"Oh, don'tl" exclaimed his wife joy
fully. "Stay home and let me nurseyou (;
there's good Caddy."
Good Caddy Stay at home! Nurse
If she is so enthusiastic, there Is some
thing at the bottom of it, reasoned Cad
wallader.
~ have decided TO change my mind, !" he
added aloud, as he bent his steps toward
the hall to put on his overcoat. The
fresh air will probably do me good. am
just as much obliged TO you for your be
nevolent intention, however" He said
this with a cynical smile, and Cynthia
sighed.
Benevolent is a cold word, DEAR"
said she, "and hardly applicable to my
intentions; they are spontaneous offerings
from an affectionate, faithful wife" She
laid particular emphasis on the last three
words. The whole speech cost her an effort.
"Humph |" was the ungracious re.
spouse from somewhere inside the surtnut
/ Then they embraced for farewell kiss
Each party feeling like the veriest hypo-
critic the caress was, Of course, unusually
fervent.
Cadwallader went no further than the
hotel on the corner. In the readiRgroom
he took up position whence he could
command the best view of his dwelling,
with all Its channels Of entrance and exit
lie sat there perhaps an hour-it seemed
an age-when he saw his wife emerge,
neatly but unconspicuously attirad, and
walk at rapid rate In the opposite direc-
ton.
He darted off in pursuit, but kept a
safe distance behind her. At length she
turned corner; he hurried after, and just
as he completed the curve found himself
face to face with her. She had evidently
! forgotten something, and was going back
4 for 1t.
Cadwallader!"
"Cynthia!"
Which blushed the deeper 1t would be
hard to tell. The wife was the first to
speak.
81 supposed you were at the office"
"That was natural enough but you see
/ changed my mind again"
"Ohn
Yes. And now which way are you
boundS should like to accompany you. "
Every glad TO have you, I'm sure.
am on my way back to the house."
Both were victorious, both discounted;
so they walked back arm in arm. Tap
scott led The way to the library, gestured
to his wife to enter, followed her, and
locked the door on the inside.
Before very long," he began huskily,
1--WE had better bring this game of fast and
loose to close 1t may be highly anus
ing but my mind is not in fit condition
to appreciate It,"
"What do you mean, CadwalladerY
Your words have some hidden import"
Have they, indeedY You are doubtless
very much mystifeds"
~ am. If your remarks contain any
allusion TO conduct of mine, am utterly
dumbfounded.n
Her selfpossession was amazing; II
looked like effrontery TO Cadwallader, and
he resented 1t accordingly. Folding his
arms with an air of indignant virtue, he
inquired:
would your enlightenment prove an
easier task IL we were to send for Edf"
His wife stared at him In blank amaze
ment