The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-09-23
ate was defeated. A petition was lodged

date was defeated. A petition was lodget
and there was considerable excitemen
over the whole country. Despard tar
ried few days more to indite some
leaders about the petition; ant
after this he remained yet awhile t.
help the plaintiffs in getting up theil
case. Every morning he used to write
to his wife, Il hope to be able to start
for home tomorrow but something
always occurred to delay his departure
and day after day slipped by without
his noticing the flight of time. Hav-
ing been well paid for his work, he was
anxious, like good fellow, to do more
than he had been strictly paid for; but
one morning he was abruptly recalled
to sense of his marital obligations
by receiving an anonymous letter. 1t
was female hand, and ran as fol-
lows:
when the cat is away the mice will
play. The beautiful Mrs. Despard has
no doubt a complacent husband, who
does not mind his wife receiving COM
promising attention from Lord Gal
lizard. At least this is what the world
will say if Mr.. Despard continues to
shut his eyes much longer
Some jealous catamaran wrote this,
1 suppose muttered Charley, as he
crumpled up the letter. But after re-
fecting moment, he resolved that he
must go up to town. He took a train
a couple Of hours later,
and on the journey disagreeable
thing happened. He had bought
some of the lighter weeklies and comic
papers to read in the carriage, and ir
two of these he read accounts of the
beautiful Mrs. Despard's' appearance
at the Charade Club and at fancy fair.
One of the papers called her the DAWN
ing Beauty and gave rough portrait
of her with some idiotic lines of poetry
appended. Despard was not pleased
by this homage to his wife; but he was
still less satisfied when on reaching
his house in Cover street he found that
Lottie had just gone out to dinner
party. 1t was seven o'clock; but the
season was summer, so Charley, feel
ing unreasonably veXed at his Wife's
absence (for he had not telegraphed to
her to say that he was coming), set out
on foot to ramble toward his club. On
his way some more disagreeables con-
fronted him.
In the window of shop in Oxford
Street he saw number of photographs
of Lottie displayed Capital photo
graphs, they were too), with the name
Mrs. Despard' written over them
just as though that name were already
well known to fame. AstonishmenC
rooted him to the spot for minute,
then he marched into the shop and said
sharply to ayoung man behind the coun-
ter Il am Mr.. Despard, and these are
portraits of my wife. Have you Mrs.
Despard's permission to exhibit her
likeness in this fashion?'
l don't know, I'm sure, sir, answer
ed the young man, startled. Il know
Mrs. Despards photographs are in
trade? We got them from the Colo
dion Company
You must withdraw them from
your window, please. The Collodion
Company have no authority from me,
and 1 shall take their manager to task
about it tomorrow
He walked out much offended, but
he had already made up his mind what
to do. He repaired to the Office of the
Early Mail, newspaper for which he
worked a good deal while he was in
town, and waited until the editor had
arrived-towards eleven o'clock-ask-
ed him point-blank whether he could
give him any commission for work
abroad. The foreign manager of the
Early was just then looking out for a
correspondent to 60 to Athens and
write up the Greek question in all its
bearings. Il am afraid, though, this
will keep you several months away,
he said, 'and know you don't much
like foreign journeys
This will do capitally for me- re-
piled Despard. Il can start the day
after tomorrow and thereupon he
went home. His wife had just come
back from the dinner party. He thought
he had never seen her look so lovely
before; but her greeting was as affec-
tionate as it ever had been. Her lovely
eyes fairly sparkled with joy at seeing
him. %, Charley, what long separa-
tion this has been,' she said with her
head nesting on his shoulder, but we
won't part again eh?
No, dear, if you and baby can come
to Athens with me, he said, stroking
her hair. What should you say to let
ing this house for year and going to
Greecep l have capital engagement
there
TO AthensY Lottie echoed, opening
her eyes wide, but showing no other
sign of emotion. why, dear, of course
III 90 if you go. But l was just GO
ing to tell you that Lord Galliard has
been assuring me he could get you
nice post in the customs at home.'
Il would rather not be indebted for
any thing to Lord Galliard,' answered
Charley Despard, with frown.
why not2 But, after all, do not
like the man either, exclaimed Lottie,
without waiting for an answer to her
first question. 'We'll go to Athens,
then, eh p What fun it will be, Charleyl
1t will be like the old times, just after
we were married.
'And sha'n't you be a bit sorry to
leave the scene of your new triumphs