The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-10-09

moved Mark. He had gone through
that delusion once, aud was not TO b
deceived again. II was one great poin
in his favor that George had taken
house in such a situation that he coul,
keep the young wife under very clos
surveillance, and he was confident that
sooner or later, he would prove her al
that he believed women universally b,
be.
But month after month went by, an(
George was more in love than ever
There had also come TO the happy home
over the way from Marks, fine littlt
boy, that had been called after him, anC
blue.eyed girl, whom not even MARI
could find in his heart to regard as falsC
and dangerous. He was oven venturine
to make Mrs. George Downes that ex
ception said to be contingent on every
rule, when suddenly all his suspicious
were forced into sctive life and promi.
nence.
One day-a very wet ene-a, close car
riage drove up to Georges house, and
Mrs. George, heavily cIoaked and vailed,
was driven away in it.
Very well, ma'am,' said Mark, sus.
piciously, to himself, we 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 a 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 differ
ent days; and twice, the weather being
fiue, 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, for he had satisfied him
self that George had been told nothing
whatever of these clandestine excur-
sions. On the next Monday he had a
carriage waiting, aud when the lady
went out again he directed his driver to
keep her well in sight. In this way he
followed her beyond the aristocratic pre-
cincta Of the city, to little house sct
back in garden quite in the suburbs.
A very handsome foreign-looking man
met her OF 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 sitting
in her plain merino dress at the window,
nursing his namesake. She ran to the
door and begged him to come in, but
Mark was full OF his discovery, and
answered, grufiy, ASK George to come
to me after dinner; l have something to
tell him..
George heard whit his godfather had
to say, with his face half angry and half
1T must have been my
wife's sister, he said.
Mark laughed scornfully at such
defense, aud, moreover stoutly asserted
that it was Mrs. Downes, and not Mrs.
Downes' sister. Come on Thursday,
and see for yourself, George
IF / do, godfather, it will not be be-
cause I 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, l will ask for Thursday
afternoon, and we will go out to Aldbo-
rough Woods, and get the holly and
misiletoe for Christmas. What do you
sayp'
Il can't go Thursday, George dear; 1
have SO much TO do
What have you to dor
More than / can tell you. Is it not
near Christmas, and does not that imply
all sorts of housekeeping dutiesp But
l will go with you Friday, dear
George was little cross at the refusal,
and answered gloomily, No; he had lost
the wish to go now.' Then both were
silent, and the evening was not pleas
ant one. All the next day he told him
self 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 elaborately dressed as if she was
going to state dinner at the bishops
palace, ran down the steps, and was soon
driven rapidly away.
We'll, godfather he said, pleasantly,
shat 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. 1 believe / will wait
until she tells me-
Don't be such fool, George; go and
question your servants.
After little reflection, George crossed
to his own house and rang the bell.
The housemaid seemed astonished at
his appearance, and WREN he asked
where her mistress was, said she had
u - IL koIra., l.