Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-08-20

1HeIo udu alsO Como W Vic uappy uome,
over the way from Marks, a fine little
boy that had been called after him, and
blue-eyed 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 Downes that
exception said to be contingent on every
rule, when suddenly all his suspicious
were forced into active life and promi-
nence.
One day-a very wet one-a close car
riage drove up to Georges house, and
Mrs. George, heavily cloaked and vailed,
was driven away in it.
every well, ma'am," said Mark, sus-
piciously, to himself, eve shall see
whether you confess to having been out
to-day"
So he went over to Georges, played q
rubber or two with his favorite, 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 Or three
different different days, and twice, the
weather being fine, he noticed that she
wore her very best satin dress, the rich
blue brocade that had been one of her
wedding suits.
The affair was beginning to look very
black to Mark; he had satisfied himself
that George had been told nothing of
these clandestine 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 gar
den quite in the suburbs. A very hand
some foreign-looking man met her at the
door, and led her with many smiles into
the house.
Mark sent his carriage home, and in
spite of the cold, patiently waited.
After an 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 sit
ting in her plain merino dress at the
window, nursing hisnamesake. She ran
to the door and begged him to come in,
but Mark was full of his discovery, and
answered gruMy, "Ask George to come
to me after dinner; I have some thing to
tell him."
George heard what his godfather had
to say, with face half angry and half
incredulous. cit must have been my
wife's sister," he said.
Mark laughed scornfully at such a
defense, and, moreover, stoutly asserted
that it was Mrs. Downes and not Mrs
Downes' sister. "Come on Thursday
and see for yourself, George"
If I do, godfather, it will not be be-
cause suspect my wife, but because I
am sure to prove you wrong"
Still George thought it singular that
he could not, by the most adroit ques-
tioning, get from his wife any allusion
to these mysterious visits. At length he
said, Emma, [ will ask for Thursday
afternoon, and we will go out to Aid
borough woods and get the holly and
mistletoe for Christmas. What do you
say?"
al can't go Thursday, George dear; I
have SO much to do.'
"What have you to do?"
"More than I can tell you. Is it not
near Christmas, and does that not imply
all sorts of housekeeping duties? But
will go with you Friday, DEAR"
George was little cross at the refusal,
and answered gloomily, "No; he had
lost the wish to 60 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
hair as deliberately dressed as if she was
going to state dinner at the bishops
palace, ran down the steps, and was soon
driven rapidly away.
"Well, godfather" he said, pleasantly,
that is Emma, certainly, and she is
very remarkably dressed; but, for all
that, l am sure she has some good reason
for what she is doing. I believe will
wait until she tells me-
"Don't be such a fool, George. 90
and question your servants"
After little reflection, George crossed
to his own house and rang the bell. The
hOusemaid seemed astonished at his ap-
pearance, and when he asked where her
SeACSo w CAS, ScAlO oAC uau uCG SCcu u6I
since she had taken her orders for din
ner. Then George went up to the nur-
sery. where is your mistress, ANN"
lis she not in the parlor, sir?"
"You know she is not. Where did
she 60 in the carriage?"
Indeed, sir, it is my business to mind
the children; the mistress knows her own
affairs, without the likes of me meddIing
in them"
He turned round impatiently, went
back to Mark Ripon, and got an accur-
ate description of the house in which he
had traced Mrs. George; and in half al
hour the half curious and half half
angry husband stopped at the pretty
cottage. ALI was quiet about; it there
was no appearance of company, it looked
almost deserted in it's wintry garden.
An exceedingly lovely woman, though
evidently in frail and failing health,
I e L