Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-07-07
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
One day Richard happened to 60 home
for bill at eleven o'clock in the forenoon
and found his wife absent This was unusual
and as he was passing down the street, he saw
her approach from the other side of the way,
attended by gentleman.
For the first time in his life, pang OF
jealousy shot through his heart. He stopped
to observe the parties. Isabel entered the
house, and her companion, politely touching
his hat, passed on.
Richard was alarmed. Could his wife
permit the attentions of a gentleman Two
or three times after this he went home at the
same hour and found the door locked, his
wife absent. But she was just as loving and
afectionate when he came home at night as
ever. There was nothing to indicate the
diminution of her affection for him.
Still he was not satisfied, and he ventured
to say that he had been home several times,
and found her absent in the forenoon. She
colored up, much to his grief, and tried to
turn off the subject. He permitted her to do
so, resolved, however, to probe the matter to
it's roots.
One morning, instead of going to the store as
usual, be remained near the house. At nine
o'clock be saw her come out, and he followed
her to al elegant house in the neighboring
street. She remained there an hour, and
then went to another house, where she stop
ped another hour, and then went home.
She had never spoke to him of visiting in
these families, and his suspicious began to
gather considerable weight. He became pos
itively unhappy, and in spite Of all his ef-
forts, he could not wholly disguise his feelings
from her who was intimately interested.
He was not yet prepared to expose her,
for he had not yet fully satisfied himself that,
to say the least, she firted with gentlemen,
for he once again saw her with him who had
first excited his suspicious. Home began to
lose some of its charms, though Isabel was
the afectionate and devoted wife.
While these things were pending, another
quarter day came round. The expenses bad
been somewhat reduced, but there was moth
ing to pay for the piano.
And another quarter came round, and still
there was nothing to discharge the debt. A
year had passed since the piano had been
purchased. Richard was gloomy and mo-
rose. He could ind nothing to prove that
his wife was inconstant; nothing in her man.
ner even to indicate it, yet that dreadful sus.
picion still haunted him. She was young and
pretty, and q splendid singer and pianist
She might have been led to think that her
husband was not all-in.all.
He often asked her where she went every
forenoon, and she always answered him, but
he was not satisfied with her replies. The ap-
pie Of discord was sown in his heart, yet 1sa-
bel was merry, cheerful, and happy as ever.
One morning, just as Richard had gone
to the store, man appeared, who informed
her that he was the deputy.sherif. He had
come to attach the piano for the unpaid debt.
He was very polite, and discharged his un.
pleasant duty as gently and inofensively as
possible.
"But I will pay the debt" said Isabel
81 have no authority to settle the account"
he replied. II must put in keeper but if
you wish, will inform the firm that you will
pay it."
Il will do so a: once; l have the money by
me-"
The sheriff departed, and in half an hour
one of the piano firm appeared, and apollo.
gized for the trouble he had caused received
the money and receipted the bill and in the
furry of dealing with lady; forgot about
the costs. He departed, taking the keeper
with him.
When Richard came home that night,
Isabel handed him the writ the sheriff had
left He was astonished and confounded.
"They have dunned me a dozen times
within week, but did not think Of their
doing this"
II have been afraid of it for some time, "
added Isabel. "Such things always 60 with
these debts"
"But where is the keeper?"
He has gone
"Gone!'
"Here," and she handed him the receipt
for the 5000 she had paid.
"What does this mean ?" he asked, bewil-
dered.
at means that | have paid for the piano"
"You?"
YES and she laughed with merry twin
kle in her eye.
"And how could you pay ?"
81 had the money"
"Where did you get it?'
"One hundred dollars got for singing in
church. and the other hundred dollars made
by giving music lessons"
She mentioned the families to whose houses
he had followed her. He understood her
now.
"You have saved me, my dear, from know
not what difficulties,' he exclaimed, press.
ing her to his heart and then confessed his
jealousy, and mentioned the gentleman he
suspected.
"The gentleman was the father of the lit.
tie girl to whom gave lessons" she added
mischievously. "We are not only out Of
debt, but out of jealousy"
"Bless you, my wife. You were right
That debt of two hundred dollars might have
ruined me, for tried in vain to borrow mon
ey to pay it."
They never got in debt again, and Rich
ard was never Jealous again. His salary wat
raised, and from that time, they not only
lived within their income, but saved a small
sum every year.
sas- He who begins with child and carrie: