Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-09

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.
ooh, don'tr' exclaimed his wife joy
fully. " Stay home and let me nurse you !;
there's good Caddy."
Good Caddy! Stay at home! Nurse!
thing at the bottom of it, reasoned Cad
wallader.
g | have decided to change nv 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. l 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 atfectionate, 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 surtout.
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 readiRg-room
he took up position whence he could
command the best view of his dwelling,
with all its channels of entrance and exit.
He sat there perhaps an hour-it seemed
an age-when he saw his wife emerge,
neatly but unconspicuously attired, and
walk at a 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
for it.
Cadwallader!"
"Cynthiap'
Which blushed the deeper it would be
hard to tell. The wife was the first to
speak.
" I supposed you were at the office"
"That was natural enough; but you see
CudHSeu my ulHu again.
"Oh!"
yes. And now which way are you
bound? l should like to accompany you"
very glad to have you, Pm sure. l
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,
eve 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, Cadwallader?
your words have some hidden import"
Have they, indeed? You are doubtless
very much mystifed?"
I" / am. If your remarks contain any
allusion to conduct of mine, l am utterly
dumbfounded."
Her selfpossession was amazing; it
looked like effrontery to Cadwallader, and
he resented it accordingly. Folding his
arms with an air of indignant virtue, he
inquired:
Would your enlightenment prove an
easier task if we were to send for Ed?"
His wife stared at him in blank amaze
ment.
"Send for Ed?" she echoed.
"Aye, send for Edr those are the exact
words | used. You can give him what
ever proof he needs in my presence, can't
you?''
Mrs. Tapscott moved her head slowly
from side to side, to indicate her want of
comprehension. Cadwallader became
simply exasperated. He tried once or
twice to hurl forth some denunciation, but
his utterance seemed choked. AS last
resort he drew from his pocket the crum-
pied memorandum, and, slapping itvigor-
ously with his forefnger, vociferated:
Read thatp'
Mrs. T apscott redeemed, and looked up
into her husbands face with an express
sion of mingled pain and merriment.
is that all you have against me?
Explain that first"
She hesitated; her pride revolted at
what seemed to her an unmanly attack
from behind cover
"Stop moment" she said gently, but
firmly. CAS- head of the house it becomes
you to start this era of explanations. What
is the nature of your errand to-day at
Miss Isabel Whitney's?"
"My goodness, Cynthia! How did you
find that out?"
"Never mind the method the fact is all
sufficient When you shall have answered
my question, | will y0airs." She composed
herself in rocking chair and met her
husbands gaze quite fearlessly.
"If you are resolved to know, | will
tell you. My business profits nave in
creased so within year that I felt able
to support a more stylish establishment
than this. have had my eye on % Mar
celin place for month or more, learning
that Miss Whitney was thinking of rent
ing it. a day Or two ago l saw her adj
vertisement IN the Messenger. l. was the
same morning that you were so very, 0ery
pressing with your interrogatories." His
lip curled slightly and he paused.
GO Oh, please"
"Well, | hurried down there directly
after breakfast, but the house was not to
be shown to visitors till to-day. Never
theless, | have the refusal of it, if | con-
tinue to like it after due inspection"
Why did you not say something to
me about all this? You don't know how
your behavior has worried me-"
81 wanted to keep the secret as a sur
prise for our anniversary. Now are you
satisfied %
Mrs. Cadwallader gave no direct re-
ply, but tossed into her husbands lap a
roll of oblong strips of paper, with print
ing on one side, and cabalistic pencil
marks on the margin.
Ed stands for editor and there are
the proofs, she exclaimed, triumphant
ly. This, also, was originally intended
for surprise on anniversary day"