The daily gazette., 1875-08-05
The Second Husband.

shaii III WHICH, he "Ss CaiiAiy icAu
ing
II beg your pardon" said Paul Car.
ter. looking in; "did you say you were
"Whatl Paulr' exclaimed Maurice,
rapturously, and seizing Paul by the
hand; sis it really you or your ghost ?
| haven't seen you for year. Sit down.
What have you been doing with your
self? hear you have been and got
married?"
Il have" SAID Paul sighing.
"Hullo?" said Maurice opening his
eyes. Married life unhappya Now
l come to notice it, you do look rather
pale. Jealous of any one?"
"Nonense!" said Paul impatiently,
nothing of the kind. My wife is the
sweetest little woman you ever set eyes
on, and never gives me the least cause
for jealousy"
"Violent tempers" limited Carroll.
mot at all !" said Paul, smiling -
You don't know her; she never is an.
cry"
Then what is the matterY" deman-
ded Maurice. "for something is. Don't
tell ms. Iknow. When fellow comes
in and sighs when he is asked about
his wife, something's up. Come what
is it9 Unbosomp
We'll, you know" said Carter hest.
tatlngly, my wife; before I married
her, was widow, and her name was
/ Johnson"
Exactly. Romantic name. Pro-
, ceed."
"Well, johnson was a pretty good
sort of fellow, / believe" continued
Paul, though rather humdrum. l
don't believe Mary loved him so devo-
tedly while he lived, but now she idol
ICES him, and reverences his memory,
and all that sort of thing"
"Ah, l see!" said Maurice, nodding
sagely. "She's always throwing his
great worth at your head?"
"Ie-e-s," said Paul, slowly; "that's
about it. Continually holding him up
as an example for me to copy FROM
Not in an angry manner mind, but in
mildly reproachful tone that is i'm
menssely aggravating. I can't stand it
any longer"
Eyes; | suppose it does become mo-
notonous after awhile" said Maurice
commiseratingly, 'But was the late
lamented johnson such model of pro-
prlety as she representa-"
ut seems So" said Paul, dismally {;
"and that's the worst of IT. AS far as
l can find out, he never did anything
wrong from the day of his birth TO the
day of his death. If could only find
out any offence he had committed, l
might hush her up, but can't; he never
even thought anything wicked"
NITlr, ~ oo;1 RTo,,;o,,
Well, | pity you, and if 1 can relieve
you l will. Take q cigar, and forget
johnson, if you can."
II can't" groaned Paul, despair
ingly.
y
Paul." said Mrs. Carter, mildly,
"have you brought that silk floss /
asked for?'
"I-I forgot it, Mary" said Paul
mcekly. How stupidl'
Never mind," said Mrs. Carter.
johnson never forgot anything / told
him."
Mrs. Carter sighed and there was a
short pause.
"Well?"
"Do you think you can go to the sta
. ton TO meet Mrs. Allway when she
comes on her visit to me?''
"I'm afraid not" said Paul, quietly.
'My business will not admit of it. I'm
really very sorry"
signedly, "I'll go myself. But John
son never allowed his business to in
terfere with any project for obliging
me-"
I'VE can't all be like Johnson" said
Paul, little tartly,
VERY true, said Mrs. Carter, qui-
city. THE late Mr.. johnson was
good man"
"Do you suppose he ever did any
, wrong?" asked Paul. cynically.
II don't think he ever did," said
Mrs. Carter, decidedly. "Tm firmly
convinced"
Here she was interrupted by ring
at the bell.
A middle-aged man was shown into
the room, inquiring for Paul.
Mr.. Carter, believer" he said, in.
quiringly.
And, as he spoke, he produced from
his coat pocket bulky note book.
81 am" said Paul surprised at the
mans manner. "Do you wish to see
me for anything Important"
"Well," said the stranger, coolly,
''that's according to what light you
view it in You see," he went on Sc
lecting several slips of paper from his
book, II have here several little bills
against the late Mr.. johnson, your
wife's former husband"
against Mr.. Johnson" exclaimed
Mrs. Carter, incredulously. "You
must be mistaken; Mr.. johnson left
no bills unpaid at his death"
"P'r'aps you think So" said the man
mysteriously, "but you're wrong.
Mr.. johnson was an uncommon sly
fox, and reckon you didn't know all
of his affairs"
"What do you meany" asked Mrs.
Carter, looking as if she was about to
burst into tears.
"This bill" said the man, slowley,
disregarding the interruption, is for
cigars, brandy, ETC., furnished to the