The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-06-26

weeks he celebrated his wedding with an |
elaborate rejoicing that reused the old |
mans bitterest contempt.
George fully expected that he would |
now be ignored, and probably lose for
ever any chance he might have had OF |
bis godfather's wealth.. But |
Mark was unlike the generality of men
in many respects, and in none more than
in his behavior to the young man who
had so flagrantly disregarded his advice
and cntreaties.
He redosbled his care over him, and
watched all his movements with a con-
stantly increasing interest. In fact, he
did not blame George at all; he regarded
him as one who, in an unfortunate hour.
had fallen into the hands Of power
which was too great for him. He piticd
the happy bridegroom, and resolved as
soon as possible to release him from the
tolls of the woman who had charmed and
cnslavcd him.
In vain Georges wife smiled upon and
entertained Mark Ripon. He visited her
house, indeed, for it was necessary to
watch her movements; but neither her
smiles, nor songs, nor attentions moved
Mark. Hc had gone through that delu-
sion once, and was not to be deceived
again. 1t was one great point in his
favor that George had taken a house in
such situation that he could keep the
young wife under very close surveillance,
and he was confident that sooner or later
he would prove her all that he believed
women universally to be.
But month after month went by. and
George was more in love than ever. There
had also come to the happy home, over
the way from Marks, !. fine little bow.
that had been called after him, and a
blue-eycd girl, whom not even Mark
could yet find in his heart to regard as
false and dangerous. He was even ven
turing to make Mrs George Downcs that
exception said to be contingent on every
rule, when suddenly all his suspicious
were forced into active life and promi-
nencc.
One day--a very wet one-a close car
riage drove up to Georges house, and
Mrs. George, heavily cloakcd and yelled,
was driven away in it.
Every we'll, ma'am,' said Mark, suspi-
ciously, to himself, 1--WE shall see whether
you confess to having been out to-day"
So he went over to Georges, played
rubber or two with his favoritc. and tried
every way to induce confession as to
the drive in the rain; but the young wife
would make no allusion to it, This was
on Monday. On Thursday at the same
hour, the carriage came again, and
Georges wife went away in it. The next
week she went out on three different days,
and twice, tile wcrthcr being fine, he
noticed that she wore her very best satin
dress, the rich blue brocadc that had been
one of her wedding suits.
The affair was beginning to look very
black to Mark, for he had satisfied him
self that George had been told nothing
whatever of these clandestinc excursions.
On the next Monday he had carriage
waiting, and when the lady went out
again he directed his driver to keep her
we'll in sight. In this way he followed
her beyond the aristocratic precincts of
the city, to little house set back in
garden quite IN the suburbs A very
handsome toreign-looking man met her
at the door, and led her with many smiles
into the honsc.
Mark sent his carriage home and in
spite of the cold patiently waited. After
all interval of two hours Mrs. Downes'
carriage returned, the same gentleman
put her carefully into it, and she must
have driven at once home, for when
Mark passed the house she was sitting in
her plain mcrino dress at the window,
nursing his namcsakc. She ran to the
door and begged him to come III, but
Mark was full OF his discovery, and an
swcred, gruffly, ''Ask George to come to
me after dinner; l have something to
tell him.
George heard what his godfather had
to say, with face half angry, half crcdu-
lous. "It must have been nv wifc's sis
ter he said.
Mark laughed scornfully at such de-
Tense, and, moreover, stoutly asserted
that it was Mrs. Downcs, and not Mrs.
Downcs' sister. "Comc on Thursday,
and see for yourself, Gcargc."
IF l do, godfather, it will not be be-
cause l suspect my wife, but because
am sure to prove you wrong
Still George thought it singular that
he could not by the most adroit question
ing get from his wife any allusion to
these mysterious visits. At length he
said, emma, I will ask for Thursday al
tcrnoon, and we will go out TO Aldbor-
ough Woods, and get the holly and mis-
tletoc for Christmas. What do YOU saw"
II can't go Thursday, George, dear;
have SO much to d."
"What have you to do?"
|'Morc than 1 can tell you. Is it not
near Christmas, and docs not that imply
all sorts of housekeeping duties? But
will go with you Friday, DEAR
George was little cross at the refusal
and answered g|oomily, "No; he had lost
the wish to go now" Then both were
silent, and the evening was not pleasant
one. All the next day he told himself
that he would not go and watch his wife
Thursday; yet when the day came he was
sitting with his godfather at the window.
At the usual hour the carriage arrived,
and Mrs. Downes, with her hair as clab-
orately dressed as if she was going to a
state dinner at the bishops palace, ran
down the steps, and was soon driven rap
idly away.
"Wcll, godfather" he said pleasantly,
"that is Emma, certainly, and She is very
remarkably dressed; but, for all that, I
am sure she has some good reason for
what she IS doing. l believe I will wait
until she tells me-"
"Don't be such a fool, George; go and
question your servants
After little reflection, George crossed
to his own house and rang the bell. The
house-maid seemed astonished at his ap-
pcarancc, and when he asked where her
mistress was, said she had not seen her
since she had taken her orders for dinner.
Then George went up to the nursery.
"Wllcrc is your mistress, Anne
us she not in the parlor, Sir?"
'You know she is not. Where did she
go in the carriagc?'
"Indeed, Sir, it is my business to mind
the children; the mistress knows her
own affairs, without the likes of me med