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

The assertion That MI. ana Mrs. Iad
wallader Tapscott seemed 10 have been
made for each other conveys but feeble
idea Of that atmosphere OF blissful tran
guilty which settled down on their early
married life. 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 over
night in the iron safe at his office He in
no wise lost his reward. His wardrobe
fairly bristled with buttons and sbone
with salutary stitches; tardy meals and
bad coffee were things foreign and un.
heard of; Cynthia mended her gloves and
made her own bonnets, evjnced marvellous
tact in managing servants, arranged her
hair without resort to curl.papers, and
never appeared In her lords presence
minus collar. In short, the conjugal
felicity of this model couple was as nearly
perfect as anything earthly could be
days came and went, and were nodded
into weeks; weeks gliding by in their
turn became months, and the months
were already fast approaching twelve be-
fore cloud rose above the marital ho-
-izon.
The Tapscotts seemed so entirely and
indissolubly unit that their friends had
dubbed them the Siamesc twins. They
gloricd In having no separate secrets each
being blessed with rather inquisitive
and jealous disposition, 1t had been
deemed advisable on their wedding day
to arrange this matter on an equitable
basis, and 10 their resolution then formed
they boosted they had rigidly adhered. At
first, In an excess OF frankness, they were
wont to exchange condolences respecting
the most trivial circumstances of their
daily lives, but soon began TO omit sun.
dry annoying details Of business transac-
tions or domestic economy; these omis.
sions were followed by others and still
others, till at length their conversation
assumed some resemblance 10 that ordi-
narily INDUCED In by married persons.
The anniversary Of their wedding was
fast approaching when Mrs Tapscott's
acute sense discerned--or she fancied II
did--a singular change in her husbands
manner IL had crept over him 30 grad.
ually az almost 10 have escaped her obser-
walton. He grew distracted and thought
full over his newspaper; and sometimes,
when she had come suddenly upon him,
ishe had found him chuckling mysterious.
ly TO himself. Mr.. Tapscott, with sensi-
bilities less refined and delicate, had no.
ticed few peculiarities In his wifc's be-
AhAxinr, but had attached no particular
Significance thereto. He once had occa.
sion, for instance, 70 use something which
she kept locked up In her escritoire; and,
instead Of giving him the key as OF old,
and telling him 10 go and rummage 10 his
hearts content, she took the responsible
ity of the search on her own shoulders,
and exhibited unusual caution In lock.
ing everything after her.
Entering the library before break fast,
one April morning, Mrs. Tapscott found
her husband absorbed La the perusal of
the supplement or the MetrOpolitan Messen-
ger. As the page was entirely devoted to
advertisements, his occupation struck her
AZ 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 a start, and lay
ing the paper hastily aside. Breakfast
almost ready!"
at wants still two minutes by the
clock" answered Cynthia.
$50 1t does; so 1t Does" said Mr.. Tap
scott In an absent tone. ~ wonder
whether shall need 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 disposed of thus
easily; her husbands attempt at evasion
was too apparent.
~ don't think you answered my first
question, dear, did your" she asked
Didn't II ! beg your pardon. Let
me sec--you wanted to know"
"What you found so interesting in the
newspaper that you did not observe my
entrance
"Oh, yes; so you did. Important dis.
patches from China, my love. The Khe.
dive
"or Eeypt~
mo, no; | don't mean the Khedive.
The SHAH
"The Shah reigns In Persia, Caddy."
"H'm, you're quite right; don't mean
the Shah, either, do II Fact is, am In
somewhat OF hurry this morning, and
my ideas are little bewildered."
At this moment relief appeared in the
person of Bridget, who announced that
breakfast was on the table. Her hus-
band speedily intrenching himself
behind coffee cup, Mrs. apscott raised
the siege. There was no use, however, in
telling her such nonsense about Chinese
dispatches; she knew very well that If
the Khedive, or the Shah, or his Celestial
Effulgence the Emperor of all the Chinas
figured anywhere In that mornings Mes
senger II was in the capacity neither
of advertiser or OF advertised. The story
was merely ruse Of her husband's--de-
pend upon tito hide something from
her. Recalling all the trifling peculiar
tiles In his recent conduct, and putting
this and that together, her curiosity re-
ceived sudden impetus. 1t was the
first time mystery hac ever thrust itself
between them; and to probe it she was
determined.
In due season breakfast was concluded,
and Mr.. Tapscott started for his office.
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 reluctance, than her
whole appearance was altered In an in
stant and she strobe back TO the library
Hike woman bent on some desperate
mission. SEEKING the Msssenger, she
swept It's advertising columns with PEN
etrating glance. Presently her fingers