The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-05-28

for him. He wanted to know when she
came, how long she staid whether she
sat down or stood up, or said she'd come
in again, and if so, when. At last I was
desperate, and went out into the street.
Before knew what I was about / was
uptown, and ringing the bell of the
brown-stown house that Robinson hired.
The servant he had selected came to the
door, and showed me into the parlor he
had furnished. His wife came right
down to me, and the moment she entered
the parlor saw that her good sense
and kind hear had gained their own
again.
Not another word Mr.. Smith," she
said, when I began pouring out apollo
gies and explanations. " l was myself
to blame for it all. I wanted you to
sell something of mine for me, and with
the money help me to get the present
at cost. There, now, that's the whole
of it, If L had only told you at once,
instead of beating about the bush in
that way! But I've given up that idea,
because he'd be sure to know if | part
ed with anything, he's so interested;
he'd know if silver thimble was gone.
But I've hit upon another plan, and I'll
tell you all about it, if you'd like to
hear"
"Of course I'd like to hear" I ex-
claimed. You are an adorable little
woman to forgive that stupid blunder of
mine | was so miserable to have
offended you; and your husband" /
added, for [ thought I noticed grow
word adorable, I'VE are like broth
ers, you know, Mrs. Robinson-twin
brothers p
"Well, I'll tell you what I've decided
to do, Mr.. Smith. I had to take ma
into my confidence, for she's going to
help me. You know I'm to have new
black silk, and it costs good deal of
money to have it made. Mrs. Jones,
my dressmaker, wouldn't do it for less
than twenty dollars, and mamma and I
will make it ourselves, and take the
money we'd have to give Mrs. Jones for
the present. That will be really my
own money, because I shall earn it
my very own. Isn't it a capital idea p
"Splendid!'' [ said; and shortly after
[ took my leave, thinking all the way
down to the store what an amount of
trouble Robinson innocently gave that
dear little wife of his.
We settled upon a dressing case for
Robinson before / left that day, and
Mrs. Robinson and had to go together
to look at the different varieties of these
articles, and I didn't want to choose
anything in q hurry, and then be sorry
afterward; and altogether it was aston
ishing how absorbed l became in the
purchase of that dressing case I
thought of nothing else.
The anniversary OF Robinson's we'd
ding came upon q Saturday evening,
and the next morning I was walking in
the park, thinking it all overflow
happy Robinson must have been when
she surprised him with the dressing case,
and what confoundedly lucky fellow
he was anyway. I fell into quite sen
timental mood. I suppose the scene
around me had something to do with
it. 1t was one of those delightful
mornings in May, when happy ripples
run through the grass, and young shrubs
burst suddenly into bloom and verdure.
Birds sang gayly in the hedges and the
air was full of vague perfume. Some
white-winged butterflies fitted by.
took off my hat Though little bald,
| enjoyed the soft radiance of the sun
shine. / began to understand how at
certain seasons man might slip into
rhyme, or matrimony.
All at once this celestial silence was
broken by an advancing figure. 1t was
Robinson alone. His head was
bowed, his hat jammed over his eyes
the only part of his face that was at
first visible was of an ashen hue. His
whole aspect was one of unutterable
misery and despair.
"Good heavens, Robinson" I cried,
rushing up to him and selling his arm,
has anything happened to your wifeY
"To my wife A? Yes" he said and
sank into one of the iron benches. ]
thought she was dead, and was relieved
to hear the next sentence. Relieved
though startled.
"My wife has left me, Smith. She.
gone home to her mother"
cleft you? Gone home to hel
mother? Why, wasn't last night You
anniversary?
Yes that was how it came about
that was the way / found her out
Smith. She's deceived me hamefully
and persistently deceived me, and yet
miserable wretch that I am" added
Robinson, sinking into the seat beside
me, and covering his face with his
hands, 81 love her still"
you have deceived yourself in some
way" I cried, naturally indignant ant
| incredulous. 1t is some miserable
mistake of your own. know that you
wife is the soul of integrity and honor.
Good bless you, Smith p he cried
grasping my hand fervently. " Would
to heaven [ could believe what you say
} but the facts are too convincing. VI
} to yesterday I was the happiest man IL
the universe. [ went home early, ant
[ on my way stopped at Mrs. Jones', m,
! wife's dressnaker, to see If her blacl
> silk was DONE.
3 "What % shrieked.
t "Her black silk, you know, salt
? Robinson" the one l told you about
: She said at least dozen times that
! was in the dres smaker's hands. l CAV
> her twenty dollars long ago to pay fc