River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-02-13

have answered but il didn't. II spreads
like a circle in the water till in the end,
Mrs. Jones heard of it and heard of
course, that the author of the story was
the minister's own self.
The next thing to be done was for Mr..
Jones and his family to leave Mr.. Caper's
church and go somewhere else. The
clergyman was a good deal troubled
about it, and his wife went over to see if
she could discover the cause. Mrs. Jones
received her with good deal OF GOODNESS
and seemed hardly civil Unable to en-
dure it any longer, Mrs. Capers asked
the aggrieveG lady, frankly, what the
trouble was. Mrs. Jones, as frankly,
told her; that was well, for now the lat
ter knew exactly what the matter was
and what it was necessary to do.
Going home and imparting the intelli
gence to her husband, he manifested
quite as much establishment as she. He
sat and thought it over little while, in
order the better to collect himself before
taking single step, and then started on
direct for Mr.. Jones himself. He told
Mr.. Jones what he had heard. and declar-
ginning to end. MIR. Jones went on with
all the minutest particulars connected
with the affair, and making the most of
the case in his power against the minis
ter. Still the latter positively denied
his guilt, and declared his determination
TO ferret out the auther of so base SLAM
der, if il was within human possibility.
And he hurried back home and set about
it
For some weeks it was a mystery still;
he could not get no clue to anything
1t perplexed him beyond conception
Finally bis wife came running down
stairs one day, her face flushed and excit-
ed. and said to him in unsteady breath:
"Mr. Capers, have you noticed that
knot hole in YOU study hoorw
'.Why, no, said he. "Where is it and
what of it2''
"Just come up stairs and see."
And up they went together. She
pointed to the tell-tale spot,and remarked
in a whisper
Il just caught Mrs. Jenkins with her
ear to that very hole"
That was the first step toward the UNI
ravelment of the mystery. la few days
more he whole of it began to come out.
He had sent his wife round to make a
few innocent inquiries; and she had
brought back just such intelligence as he
expected and required; and, putting this
thing and that together, and recalling
certain ideas that up To that time had
passed out of his mind altogether, he
thought the matter was explained at last.
So he went over to MIR. Jones once
more.
"Come," said he, 'it you will consent
10 go home with me for a short time, |
mink I can explafn some things that
ave hitherto stood in the way of our
friendship" Mr. Jones did not happen to
owe malice we'll enough to refuse and
accordingly took walk with the minister
over to his residence. The latter at once
took him up into his study and shut the
door.
I'm the first place, said he, Il suppose
you know that Mrs. jenkins lives in the
IL
Yes"
"welI, and you observe that knot hole2'
"Oh, certainly"
"And this is my study"
ayes y
"And where my wife often takes the
liberty to come and sit with me-"
Mr. Jones said ne understood that.
"Now, tfen," continued the clergyman,
Il am in the hanit of frequently reading
aloud to her. And, once upon time, |
happened to be reading from this very
book (picking up volume of fiction
from the tablet and here is something
out of that very same book that | am
going so read to you," and he went n
to read to Mr.. Jones several paragraphs,
in which occurred the following;
Mr. Jones got to abusing his family
al last. He declared his wife should not
90 out visiting, and threatened to shut
her up if she dared dlsobey him. AS for
going to these evening meetings he de-
clared he meant to put stopso If, he's
had had enough of it. 1t did not do her
any sort Of good, and made great deal
Of trouble and expense for him. He
should put an end to it at any and every
hazard!' r Mr.. Jones burst out laughing
Is that all" said he, his face as red as
The setting sun.
That and the knot-hole," said MIR.
Capers, smiling good naturally.
Mr.. Jones offered bin his hand. From
-ha. moment they were friends again. He
went back TO church the next Sabbath as
ne should have done. But Mrs. jenkins
mas never heard the last oft.