The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-12
Mrs, JOQes' EIopepent'

Mr.. Jones came home that afternoon
feeling cross and tired. Business had been
dull, and the clerks had been provoking.
When ho felt out of sorts, as he did that
day, nice supper aud his wife's company
were the best antidotes he knew of, and he
hoped to have them affect a cure in this
instance, as they often had in other in
stances
But Mrs. Jones was out the girl said.
Sho had been busy in her room all the af-
ternoon; she didn't know what she was
doing. About an hour ago she had put on
her bonnet and gone out, and had charged
her to tell her husband, when he came
home, that she should not be back until
late in the evening. 'Gone out on par
ticular business, she said, )" added Bridget.
"On particular business!" growled Jones.
"Td like to know what particular business
sho has1 I should say it was wife's bust
pess to stay at home She knew, of
course that l was coming home completely
tired out but that doesn't interfere with
her pleasure in the least. She can enjoy
herself just the same-probably all the
more, because am out Of the way. I
wish knew where she gone.
He went up to her room to see if she had
worn some of her best clothes.
Because if she has" reasoned Mr..
Jones, ''she has gone of to have a good
time with some one she cares more for than
she does for me-"
Mr.. Jones brow was black as any thun-
der-cloud at the thought. lie was in pre-
ciscly the right frame of mind to mako
mountains out of mole hills.
But she hadn't worn any of her new
dresses.
"It can't be she's going to party then"
concluded SIR, Jones, ''or she'd have rugged
up more, 1t must be she's going some
where else, and wants to keep dark It be-
gins to look mysterious. A woman don't
generally go off in this way, without saying
something to her husband, and wear her
old clothes, without it meaning something,
I've Observed said Mr.. Jones, solemny,
to the Mr.. Jones in the glass I'D
Ike to know what it does mean, any
how"
1t was just at this juncture that Mr..
Jones discovered letter on Mrs. Jones
writipg-dcsk. 1t was freshly written
page, beginning Dear Edward"
Mr., Jones hair raised on end when his
eagle eye caught tho sight of that name.
What awful thing had he discovered?
Could it be that his wife was in the habit
Of writing letters to gentlemen ? Perhaps
she had gone out to meet one now.
He read the letter through without stop.
ping to tnke breath, from beginning to cnI
IL ran as follows
'DEAR EDWARD: L have read your
touching appeal over and over. until every
word of it is stamped upon my heart. 1t
has caused me to fight terrible battle with
myself | love you, aud there is no use for
me to deny it. / cannot deceive myself,
nor yoa. by 30 doing But my duty is to
stay with my husband. I loathe hm-I
despise him; he is tyrant; but he is my
husband, and as such suppose he has
claim upon me, in the eyes of the world,
that you have not. But, my darling. /
love you, and have come to the conclu-
sion to cast my lot with yours. / will do
as you wish Inc to. will meet you at the
oak tree tonight at ten o'clock. hope l
sAall-"
And here, al the bottom of the page, tho
letter broke of very abruptly. The other
side of the page was blank.
"Great Jehosophat!" !" That was the
awful word that broke from Mr.. Jones
lips, when he had finished reading. 1t was
the nearest TO swearing of any word he ever
INDUCED in. If ever he felt justified in
using II, he did now. His face was
sight to behold 1t was full Of anger
and SURPRISE and complete bewilder-
nlept.
"She loves him, does she ?" he ejacu-
lated, family. "And Pm tyrant, am l
The wretched creature! She loathes and
despises me, does she ? I'll show her
thing or two, Let me see-ten o'clock, at
the oak tree. I'll be there, my dear, and
I'll teach your dear Edward something
he won't forget I'll go this blessed min
ute and get couple of officers, and we'll
wait for you fancy we'll surprise you
little. Great Jehosophat and she's actu-
ally been deceiping me all the time, and
letting some other man talk love to her,
and coax her TO elope with him. I can't
believe 1t, and yet can't doubt it, for here
it is In her own writing wouldn't have
believed it, il hadn't seen it in black and
white. Dear me wonder II l can bear
up under the awful blow ? What will folks
say? shall be ashamed to meet any
body. Its awful awful !" and Mr.. Jones
wiped his face with his handkerchief