The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-05-26
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anu lH0 Ndpuluu says llG > luob dSlttD,
and quite tOsticatedi''
Nonsense, Maryl" said her mis-
tress, angrily, and advancing into the
hall; there must be some mistake"
mo mistake, ne'm," said the cab
man, touching his hat respectfully;
i've brought the gent from the Welsh
dinner, and here's his card
Good heayens!" said Mrs. Jones,
recognizing her husbands card, "it is
too true. o dear, however shall SUR
yye this shocking disgrace? Mary, go
down stairs: | know can rely upon you
not TO say word of this dreadful mis-
fortune to the other servants
Mary retired accordingly, and Mrs.
Jones continued
"Cabman, | must ask you to assist
Mr.. Jones up to his bedrooms it is the
front room on the first floor; you will
find the gas ready lighted. l can give
you no help; for 1 think it would kill
me to see him in such a condition."
"L0r don't take on so, ma am" said
the cabman, gOod-naturedly: "it amt
nothing when you're use to it. Why,
some O. them nObS does it every night.
My old horse'll stand as still as a
church, and III have the genelman ups
stairs in jiffy."
Poor Mrs. Jones returned into the
dining.room, holding her handkerchief
TO her eyes; and after moments pause
she was made aware, by n sort of scuf-
fling in the passage, accompanied by
exclamations OF "Wo.ho" "Hold upl"
and other CALCULATIONS of horsey nature,
that the cabman was assisting Mr..
Jones upstairs. After an interval of
about ten minutes, which seemed an
age, he reappeared at the dining-room
door, and said in confidential man.
| neT:-
"I've got the gentleman into bed
quite comfortable, mum. He was a
little okard to undress, but done him
ht last proper: and he's sleeping like a
babby."
Mrs. Jones dismissed the man with a
fee beyond his widest expectations,
and resumed her seat, feeling as if her
peace of mind was forever lost. She
felt that she could never have the same
respect for her husband again. He,
who had always been model of all
that was dignifed and gentlemanly, a
very pattern husband, to come home
help!essly drunk from a tavern dinner
1t was Incredible; and yet the fact was
beyond question. Surely there must be
5onie mystery about the matter. Gould
lie be i'll? But no.. he had never been
in better health than when he left her
few hours previously, and to send for
doctor would only be to publish his dis
grace. Could his wine have been drug
ged? But surely at a public dinner, at
iirst-rate place of entertainment, this
was equally out of the question. There
seemed no alternative but to suppose
that carried away by the excitement of
tie occasion, Mr.. Jones had fallen into
one of those su lden frailtieS to which
poor human nature, even that of the
nObleSt, is subject. At first the weep
ing wife had felt as if the offence was
beyond all pardon;but gradually a soft
er feeling came over her, and she felt
that, though the wrong could never be
forgotten, it might in time be possible
to forgive it. And then she mentally
rehearsed the painful scene which would
take place between herself and her er-
ring husband on his return to conscious
ness ard sef-respect; and she had just
arranged few little speeches to be
spoken more in sorrow than in anger,
when a latch-key was heard in the
door, and in walked Mr.. Jones himself,
: calm and unrut1led, without hair out
of place, or a crease on his snowy shirt
front. Mrs Jones gazed at him mo-
ment, scarcely believing her own eyes.
2 Owen land sober !" she eXclaim-
ed then flung herself into her arms,
| and went into a fit of decided Mysteries.
My darling wife, what ON earth is
the matter ?''
: 80 Owen, am so thankful, ," said
the little wife as soon as her sObs would
LEI her speak, am so thankful But
then, who is the man ia your bed ?"
, The man in our bed I" said Mr..
e Jones, whatever do you mean ?"
; Oh, Owen dear,you cant tell what
l | have gone through. A cab came half
an hour ago, aud brought you home
from the dinner at least the cabman
= said it was you, very tip'y aud fast
: asleep, and he had your card AID 80
told him to put you-l mean TO say him
! in our room, and there he is now"
X The devil he is |" said Mr., Jones.
; 81 must ha,e look at this double Of
r mine - and selznG candle, hs strobe
u up stairs. Presently he again entered
> the room.
q J think / see how the mistake hap
pened," said he. This fellow up
stairs was ut the dinner tonight, and
k had more than was good 20: him al
{ an early period of the evening. lie
was rather rude to me but 1t was nc
4 u,e to be angry with man in such a
d condition, SO l merely handed him my
card, and told him when he returned to
d his senses he might come and apologize,
though | can't say l had much expeeta-
J, tion that he would. What became OF
+. him afterwards can't say. / smoked
?, a cigar with our friead Grilfiths, and
le then walked leisurely home Meanwhile
IF l suppose the fellow was too drunk tC
=, answer for himself, and finding my
card about him, they assumed it was
N his own, aud sent him here accordingly
The only thing that puzzles me is thai
t you didu't find out the mistake"
d. Well, dear, to tell the truth, wal
le so shocked and horrifed that you shoulC
ar be, as l supposed, in such condition
that L would not even see you, or lie