Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-10-31
A WIFE'S MISTAKE.

"l on probably 1ouha IL dry
Well, yes--but that isn't it. The
lecture was well enough, but | got in
to such an awful scrape after it was
over, that l never think Of temperance
meetings without shudder. III tell
you about it. 1t was in Jersey city,
where was something ofa stranger,
and the night was one OF the worst OF
the season. Boreas how it blew J
1t was enough TO take your breath
away. Well, sir, the lecture was
over, and walking out with the crowd,
fingered in the doorway, contem
plating the awful scene, when some
body took my arm.
"Where have you been 2" said the
sweetest voice in the world. Il have
been looking for you everywhere"
Very much surprised, | turned my
head and saw-bLt | can't describe
her 1t makes me mad now TO think
how prodigiously pretty she was !!
With her left hand she leaned on my
arm she was arranging her veil with
her right, and did not notice my sur.
prise.
"You have been looking for me ?" |
taltered.
"Comc, let us be going was her
reply, pressing my arm,
"A thrill went to my heart. What
to make OF my lady's address, | did
not know but she was too charming
creature for me to refuse to accom-
pany ber. We started of i'll the
midst of the tempest, the noise of
which prevented any conversation.
At length she said with a scream:
"Put your arm around me, ! shall
bow away"
need not describe to you my SELL
salons, as l pressed her to my side,
and hurried on. 1t was very Clark
nobody saw us, and allowing her to
guide my steps, [ followed her mo.
tons through two or three short
streets, until she s.opped betoro an
elegant mansion.
"Have you your key O. she asked.
"My key!" | stammered, ''there
must be some mistake"
ooh, have one"
And as she opened the door | stood
waiting to bid her good night, or to
have some explanation when, turning
quickly, she said
How queer You act tonight! amt
you coming in q
There was something very tempting
in the suggestion. Was l going in?
A VAIN house and a pretty woman
we've certainly objects Of considera-
tion, and it was dreary to think OF
facing the storm and seeing her no
more.
it took me about three quarters of a
second to make up my mind, and in |
went. There was dim light in the
hall, and as my guide ran rapidly up
stairs, why, thought could do moth.
ing better than to run up 100. l fol-
lowed her into very dark room.
Lock the door, John" she said.
Now, as If l had been the only John
in the world, l thought she knew me.
l felt for the key, and turned it in the
lock, without hesitation, wondering all
the time what was coming next. Then
an awful suspicion of some hcrrid
trick flashed upon my mind, for had
often heard of infatuated men being
lured to their destruction by pretty
women, and | was on the point of re-
opening the door, when my lady
struck light. Then n-being an ex-
cessively modest ,ran--l discovered to
my dismay that l was in a bedroom /!
with a woman in bedroom =
alone with woman in her bed room /!
Il canpot describe my sensations. 1
said something, l don't know what it
was, but the lady, having lighted her
lamp, looked around, stared at me an
instant, turned as white as a pillow
case, and screamed
"Who are you' How came you
here Go, quick-leave this room
HI-thought you acere my hetSbandr
and covering her face with her hands,
she sobbed hysterlcally.
was petrifed, OF course | was
quite as anxious to leave, as she vas
to have me do so. But in my confu-
sion, instead of going out at the door
1 came in, l unlocked another door,
and walked into closet.
Before | could rectify my error,
there came terrible laundering at
the first door. The lady screamed );
the noise increased, and felt peculiar,