The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-04-18
From the Galaxy.l
A Personal Matter.

each other other CONVEYS but feeble idea of
that atmosphere of blissful tranquility which
settled down on their early married life. No
mother-in-aw profered il-timed advice in
the settlement of household difficulties, no
impecuDious cousins tagged at the strings of
their joint purse. Moreover, husband and
wife were scrupulously considerable OF each
others comfort. Cadwallader never brought
any of his business annOyances home with
him; they were carefully locked up overnight
in the iron safe at his Office. When he
donned his great-coat to 60 up town, the in
vestiture was magical in its effect, transform
ing ''Tapscott, ESQ.," the merchant, into
lost his reward His wardrobe fairly bristled
with buttons, and shone with saIutary stitch
es; his slippers were in state OF calefcence
before the library CRATE; taIdy meals and bad
coffee were foreign and unheard of, butcher
and grocer plumber and gas-collector, were
promptly paid out OF the allowance set apart
tor that purpose; Cynthia mended her gloves
and made her own bonnets, evinced marvel
Gus tact in managing servants, arranged her
hair without resort 10 curlpapers, and never
appeared in her lords presence minus col
lar. 10 short, the conjugal felicity of this
model couple was as nearly perfect as any
thing earthly could be; the stream of their
existence presented surface as unruffled as
that of meadow brook; days came and went,
and were moulded into weeks, weeks gliding
by in their turn became months, and the
months were already fast approaching twelve
before cloud rose above the marital horizon.
The Tapscotts seemed so entirely and indis-
soluby unit, that their friends had dubbed
them the Siamese Twins. They gloried in
having no separate secrets; each Icing blessed
with rather inquisitive and jealous DISPOSE
ton, it had been deemed advisable on their
wedding-day to arrange this matter on an
equitable basis, and to the resolution then
formed they boosted that they had rightly
adhered. At first an excess of frankness, they
were won't to exchange condolences respect
ing the most trivial circumstances of their
daily lives, but soon began to omit sundry
annoying details of business transactions or
domestic economy; these omissions were fol-
lowed by others, till at length their conversa-
ton assumed some resemblance to that ord-
nariy in obliged in by married people.
The anniversary of their wedding was fast
approaching when Mrs Tapscott's acute
sense discerned-or she fancied she did-a
singular change in her husbands manner. 1t
had crept over him SO gradually as almost to
have escaped her observation. He grew alb
stracted and thoughtful over his newspaper;
and sometimes, when she had come suddenly
upon him. she found him chuckling mysteri-
ously TO himself Mr. Tapscott, with sensi-
bllities less refined and delicate, had noticed
few pscua1ites in his wife's behavior. but
PSSNiieti
once had occasion, for instance, to use some
thing which she kept locked up in her escri-
tolre; and instead of giving him the kew, as
OF Old, and telling him to go aud rummage to
his hearts content, she took the responsible
" OF the search on her shoulders, and ex-
hinlled unusual caution in locking everything
after her.
Entering the library before breakfast. one
April morning, Mrs. Tapscott found her hus-
Dand absorbed in the persua O: the supple
ment OF the metropolitan Messenger As
Inc page was entirely devoted TO advertise
ments, his occupation struck her as rather
remarkable.
"What do you find so interesting on that
page, my dear?' she inquired.
"Ah, Cynthia. that's you, is it?" he re-
sponded, looking up with start, and laying
ready?''
at wants still two minutes by The clock,''
answered CYNTHIA.
$50 it does; so it does,'' said Mr.. Tapscott
in an absent tone. II wonder whether shall
peed an umbrella to-day, the sky is clouded
over"' He strolled to the window, looked
out, and drummed uneasily on the sill.
But Cynthia was not to be disposed of thus
easily; her husbands attempt at evasion was
too apparent.
II don't think you answered my first ques-
ton, dear, did you"' she asked quietly.
'sDidn'tI? beg pardon. Let me see
you wanted to know"
what you found so interesting in the
newspaper that Won did not observe NV on
trance"
"Oh, yes; 30 you did. Important des-
patches from China, my love. The Khe-
dive"
"Of Egypt?''
mo, do; don't mean the Khedive. The
Shah
The Shah reigns in Persia, Caddy."
I'm you're quite right; don't mean
the shah, either, do !? Fact is, 1 am in
somewhat OF hurry this morning, and my
ideas are little bewldered."
son OF Bridget, who announced that breakfast
was on the table. Her husband was speedily
behind cofee-cup, and Mrs. Tapscott raised
the siege. There was no use, however, in
telling her such nonsense about Chinese dis
patches; she knew very well that if the Khe-
dive, or Shah, or his Celestial Efulgence the
Emperor OF all the Chinas, figured any wher~
capacity neither OF advertiser Do ~ tne
used. The story was mere .r VI aeT Yer.
husband u" ny t h;da " so nel
thing from her. ION Ito nlue some-
cuiiaritles hecan'ng an Il'e .llninS .. Pc
tnis 80 us , ~, ~. $500. a p.o;rro5
ia tnsI .oge'he.' ner cuIios e rt t;aa
st ~ AL, aI tot ee 4hnn,
- -. S.roI,o :. .I,o -, doto ,,,;,,oS
ana 70 proos II she was aete .uhineu.
In que season preaklast was conclq1ed, ana
Mr.. Tapscott started Tor his ofilce. His wife
had no sooner said, .'Good-by, Caddy; come
up early" and kissed him, and shut the door
behind him with the most bewitching reluc-
lance, than her whole appearance was altered
in an instant, and she strobe back to the Ii
brary like woman bent on some desperate
mission. Selling the Messenger" she |
swept its advertising columns with pene-
trating glance. Presently her fingers relaxed |
their hold the sheet fell to the floor, and she |
sank back into chair with stifled moan.
The following PERSONAL had caught her
eye:
&c. i. Meet me at the old place on Satur-
day: Two +: M.
The sckenlng horror that had at first over
whelmed her now gave way to a very differ
snt emotlon-that OF Jealous indignation.
SATURDAY, n. NJ. Not II L can prevent
ltF she procured pair OF scissors aud cut
the paragraph out.
Then she proceeded to her own room, op-
sned her escritoire and lifted a number OF pa.
psr'. As she stood gazing at these, her bear
ral& of y;1Ia,