The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-04-09

With this she took her seat Ct. the desk
and worked stesdily for several hgura
stopping only once 70 partake Of night
lunch. She was still bustly writing
she heard her husband's footstep In the
entry. She rose hurriedly, and tried to
elose and lock The folding Leaf but
had mot succeeded In doing % when
ticed her agitation, but stopped to pick mp
to the d0or, and stood twirling It in his
fingers - he inquired:
"Well, Cynthia, what's the matter
Aren't you going to bid me welcome
came home early ON purpose to please
YOU"
Standing there in that quiet expectant
attitude, I doubt whether the most criti.
cal physiognomist would have detected
In his appearance IN indication Of craft
or guile. In his cool, passi0nless gray
eye lurked mo- suspicious CLEAN; and the
lines about his large mouth were drawn
40 evenly a. In . preraphaelite picture:
Mrs. Tapscott advanced mechanically and
kissed him.
II. anything wrong, my love'" he
asked anxiously.
Cynthia's heart was beating wildly, but
she endeavored to control her voice, and
answered with 40 much unconcern -
possible: .s- ~. ii
Nothing, thank you"
Now it was Cadwallader's turn to be
mystified. He repaired to his dressing
room, and began to arrange his toilet for
the evening. What had come over his
wife! Why did she cram those papers
into the desk as he entered the roOml
Why, in fact had abe acted 90 strangely
of late in everything affecting that escri-
toire? and why was she to-day 90 dis
traught and absentminded - to forget
her customary salutations 1t was unac-
countable.
All Il once his eye fell on the twisted
bit of paper in his hand, and he unfolded
it 1t proved to be the blank side of .
note.sheet, such a. his wife used to jot
down memoranda before entering them In
her journal; On i was the inscription:
"Mem.-Ed writes me, requesting in.
terview at his Office, Saturday, 10Th. He
wants proofs. Have answered, promising
compliance" AE5
Mi. Tapscott did not sink into chair;
he did not utter stifled moan he did not
allow the paper to fall to the floor. He
simply looked daxed, and said something.
What he said is neither here nor there; I
am sure the reader would not wish me to
record it. 80
Then he read the words second time.
"And who the dickens ID Edf" he de-
manded, directing the question partly to
his shaving glass and partly to vacancy.
He wants proofs, does he? By the pow
ers, he shall have them! I'll give him all
the proofs he wants of one fact-that it's
not safe to cultivate the acquaintance of
Mrs. Cadwallader Tapscott without the
cognixance and consent of her husband"
He folded the paper carefully and put
it in his porte-monnaie.
mo wonder she's acted 20 oddly, car
rying this thing on under my very nos"
he added, q he resumed his dressing.
Saturday, Ell? The very day Of my ap.
pointment. Well, this being of primary
importance, the other can wait. The
first instinct in . married man, by J0ve,
is self-preservati6nl'
No sooner had her husband left her
apartment than Mrs. Tapscott burst into
tears. They were the first she had been
able to shed, and brought her world of
relief. Suddenly she started up, bathed
her eyes in cold water, and FASTENED to
the floor below.
II am wasting valuable time," she
solilOquiked. HE carries tablets in his
overcoat. Who knows but they may con-
tain the very information I want!"
So saying, she went to the hat rack and
began rifling the pockets of Cadwallader's
surtout. The tablets we're soon forthcom-
ing, and under the head of Saturday was
the inscription:
"Afteraoon-Miss Isabel Whitney, "a
Marcelin place."
Every lingering hope of her husbands
innocence now vanished; every doubt
was dispelled. She must face the dread
reality and make the best of it.
Returning the tablets to their proper
pocket, Cynthia adjourned to the dining
room, and employed the ensuing interval
in giving orders to the servants and look
ing after the dinner. When husband and
wife next met both were q calm - usual,
and the evening meal was eaten -
though nothing had happened, or was
about to happen, to destroy their domes-
tic peace. If anything, they were more
twin-like than ever.
The following morning, when Mr.: Tap
scott entered the library, he beheld his
wife engaged in reading the advertise
ment columns of the xesssn0er. A soon
as she saw him she made some excuse to
lay the newspaper aside and leave the
alert, and he was fortified against any
surprise after the developments of yester.
day. He bit his lips when he noticed
that certain item among the Person
ais" had been partially cut out. What
did it meant
.. .will Pss =. you as per yesterday Mes,
C.T.-Cynthia Tspscott! It was plain
a. day.
NeveEtheless, to make assurance doubly
sure, he sent servant to find the supple
ment for the previous day. She returned
with the mutilated copy, which had been
stuffed away with q pile of old papers
down stairs.
So Mr.. Tapscott INDUCED in another
ejaculation very like one mentioned .
little way back.
When breakfast was over, and he pre-
pared to 60 out, his wife proposed accom-
panying him. With q wOman's tact, she
managed to direct their course through
Aarcelin place, and past No. -. It was
handsome house-much Landowner
than the one she lived in-with brown
stone facings and broad flight Of steps.
On the door plate was the name "Whit-
ney," In large, prominent 1etterA
"Thie then" she pondered, 2 ID the
abode of the woman who has stolen my
husbands confidence from me- Oh, the
wretch" And her teeth closed 20 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 .
strange expression, and - her eye en-
countered his abe fancied he changed
color slightly.
"Caa abe suspect anythingi' he was
asking himself. She looks very. curl
ously ct the house should like to know
whether she has received any hint Of what
10 going on.'