Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-07-14


ter l took my leave, thinking all the
way down to the store what an amount
Of trouble Robinson innocently gave
that little wife Of his.
We settled upon dressing case for
4 Robinson before / left that day, and
/ Mrs. Robinson and had 70 60 togeth-
er to look at the different varieties Of
these articles, ami | didn't want her TO
choose anything in a hurry, and then
be sorry afterwsrd; and altogether it
was astonishing how absorbed | be-
came IN the purchase Of that dressing
case. Thought Of nothing else.
The anniversary OF Robinson's we'd
ding came upon Saturday evening,
and the next morning l was walking in
the park, thinking it all overflow
happy Robinson must have been when
she surprised him with the dressing
case, and what a confoundedly lucky
fellow he was, anyway. l fell into
quite a sentimental mood. ] suppose
the scene around me had something to
do with it. 1t was one of those de-
lightful mornings in May, when happy
ripples run through the grass, and the
young shrubs burst suddenly into
bloom and verdure. Birds sang gayly
in the hedges, and the air was full of a
vague perfume. Some white winged
butterflies fitted by. | took off my
hat. Though little bald, l enjoyed
the soft radiance of the sunshine. be-
gan to understand how at certain sea-
sons man might slip into rhyme, or
matrimony.
All at once this celestial silence was
broken by an advancing figure. 1t was
Robinson-and 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, | cried,
rushing up to him and seizing his arm
has anything happened to your wife?'
To my wife? Yes he said and
sank into one Of the iron benches. I
thought she was dead, and was re-
lieved to hear the next sentence. Re-
Iieved though startled.
My wife has left me Smith. She's
gone home to her mother
Left you? Gone home to her moth
er? Why wasn't last night your ami
versary?'
Yes, that was how it came about;
that was the way l found her out,
Smith. She's deceived me, shameful
ly and perslstently deceived me, and
yet, miserable wretch that am, added
Robinson, sliding into the seat beside
me, and covering his face with his
hands, 4 love her still
You have deceived yourself in SO me
way cried, naturally indignant nd
incredulous 1T is some miserable mis-
take of your own. I know that your
wife is the soul of integrity and honor.
God bless you, Smith ! he cri ed,
grasping my hand fervently. Would
to heaven could believe what you say!
But the facts are too convincing. UpI
to yesterday was the happiest man in
the universe. went home early and
on my way stopped at Mrs. Jones, my
wifes dressmaker, to see if her black
silk was done
What? shrieked.
Her black silk, you know, said Rob.
1nson-'the one I told you about. She
said at least dozen times that it was
in the dressmaker's hands. I gave her
twenty dollars long ago to pay for 1t,
and l thought I'D step in on my way
home, so that there would be no disap-
pointment. That was perfectly natur-
al, wasn'tit Smith,
Go on, | groaned.
Il went to the dressnaker's, rang the
bell; Mrs. Jones came to the door, and
she said that she hadn't seen my wife
for six months, that she had never
heard anything about a black silk
dress. I was stunned, bewildered |
tried to persuade her she was wrong;
she shut the door in my face hur-
ried home, naturally vexed and indig-
nant. My wife came to meet me, smil-
ing and fond. Smith-it breaks my
heart to think of it. l asked her about
the black silk. Was it done? Not quite
she said. Was it at the dressmakers?
Yes. At Mrs. Jones ? Yes; but why
was | so troubled about it ?
Because, madam I cried, you have
deceived me; I have just stopped at
your dressmaker's. She hasn't seen
YOU for six months
My wife turned pale, called to her
mamma and fell back into Mrs. Pages
arms in dead faint.
Mrs. Page then flew into violent
rage, and abused me shamefully. She
used language, Smith, that it is painful
to repeat. She called me sneak and
a petty tyrant, spy, and miser. She
declared that her daughter never had
a penny that didn't know when it was
coined, and how she spent it; that An.
ME had no more to do with her own
house than Dutch doll, and the soon
er she was out of it the better. She
sent my servant for cab, and before
my wife had fully recovered, she took
her away. I have paced the floor all
night, Smith. l shall never go back
to the store again. I'm ruined man,
| for there's something behind all this,