The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-26
THE MYSTERY IN PAL
ACE GARDENS.
CHAPTER III (Continued.)
BY MRS. ]. h. RIpDELL.


who could not, Mrs. Moffat's few ac-
quaintances thought, have approved of
Of his choice, for he never took his wife
with him when he went to see them, and
never asked them to his house. More
over, he did not take the children down
for their grandfather and grandmother
to make much Of, and he seemed as lit
tie proud If his handsome sons as par
ent could well be.
4n the household it was no secret that
"master and missus' had their differ
ences.
They did not quarrel at least he did
not quarrel--but they were not Of one
mind. He went one way, she another.
She was not an easy lady to serve, the
servants asserted; and as time went on
the idea somehow got abroad that, fos-
tered by her own exceeding disagreeable-
ness, that she had beer above her hus-
band in rank, and only married him for
his money.
"She does not care one straw about
him." the domestic detectives decided.
"If he were to be carried home dead
some day, she would not shed tear"
! 1t was perfectly true; she did not care
' for husband in the very least; but she
possessed the negative virtue or act
i've vice-which may it be called?-
of caring for nc one else.
OF all scandal of that sort the house
was perfectly clear. Whatever the cause
of the coolness-and coolness there un-
doubtedIv vast had nothing to do
with undue fondness for any one, male
or female.
| Mr.. Moffat could leave his home and
Iwife with feelings Of the most perfect
security.
Living lifeof such unusual retirement,
and working hard at business which
proved more than ordinarily remunera-
tive, Mr.. Mohat found himself eventual
Ily not merely rich, but very rich man
land when at the death of his father he
inherited the bulk Of large fortune, he
could have retired altogether from City
| an xieties upon handsome income.
How much he was worth his wife did
not know, and she might never have had
no accurate idea of his wealth if he had
Ibeen able to renew his lease of the house
lat Islington.
Not succeeding in this, however, it be-
came necessary for him to shift his quar-
tiers; and under the delusion, perhaps,
that he could lead the existence which
seemed best to please him. in one place
as wellas another, he pitched his tent at
/ Carlton Hill.
There honors were thrust upon him.
there his wife finally made up her mind
that she was the most ill-used woman in
the whole world; there very plain words
passed between the pair, and the first
step into society was taken, which drew
the husband and wife by almost insensi-
BILE degrees into the vortex of fashiona-
Bile life.
During the time Of the distress in Lam
cashire, Mr.. Moffat, unknown to his wife,
had taken prominent and distinguished
part in alleviating some portion Of the
misery which was then endured by the
manufacturing population. He put his
Ehand in his own purse freely, and money
Twas put freely into his hands BY Others
who knew how ably all funds intrusted
to him were administered. In charity,
as in business, he left nothing to subor-
idinateshe thought he could do better
Ihimself;, and while the cotton famine
LASTED nd was in Lancashire almost con-
stinually, travelling there, investigating
there, finding out cases of bitter poverty,
helping all those who were willing to
help themselves, pitiful to the weak,
kympathetic with the strong who stood
Eompulsorily idle, an assistance to those
Who, while anxious to assist, seemed be-
Eildered at the extent Of the assistance
equired. 7a.aoenu
{, | He was never idle, never tired; his re-
turces seemed almost inexhausible, and
et so quiet and SO modest was his with
that not one of his colleagues but
It something ought publicly to be done
Il show that the whole country appre-
n ted his efforts. s c.s "a,4 ..e-4
4 Amongst others,sa certain iohleman,
! Esessed of large political influence, was
strongly imbued with this feeling,
It he worked increasingly to obtain
recognition of his services; and
en,he felt almost certain his req quest
3 in the way Of being complied with,
oted the matter to Mr.. Mofat, then
piping at Lancashire. a.,.
70 his establishment Mr.. Moffat in
ntly, and almost peremptorily, de-
bed the preferred honor. .st gsa
For the little was permitted to ac-
nplish," he said, II thought Of no re-
I'd, and ! will take none. l appreciate
ar kindness, my lord; but the great
kindness you can bestow upon 50
mble an individual as myself is to
nit me to remain in obscurity."
f he had desired a recognition of his
vices most probably he would have
en- suffered to go TO his grave without
y being proposed; but as matters
ood, people refused to be satisfied.
SO long as he lived quietly at Islington
4 might have been imagined his income
ould not warrant the assumption of
ny fresh dignity, and that he had good
,asons for refusing the baronetage
fressed upon him; but once he left that
Gof;ronoonf ond wont avon cO for mt in IN