The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-10-13
A MODERN NEMESIS.

Mr.. Claverton married his pretty
wife with his eyes open, knowing that
she was n notorious fiirt, and was more
than half engaged to her cousin, Dick
Alton, of the artillery. His friends
called him an old fool, and his enemies
said he deserved his fate, for nobody
doubted that marriage would prove an
equivocal blessing to him. But Mr..
Claverton showed himself equal to the
situation, for in the earliest days of the
honeymoon he succeeded in impressing
upon his wife that, though nearly
double her age, he was not to be tritied
with, and intended to be master Of his
own house. Whether Mrs. Claverton
took this wholesome lesson to heart, or
whether she was prompted by laudable
aspirations, it is certain that she be-
came more sober and discreet in her
conduct, and, to all outward appear
ance, developed into devoted and at
tentive wife.
But unfortunately things were not as
they seemed in the Claverton menage.
Mr.. Claverton regarded his wife with
suspicious jealousy, and showed dis
position to be somewhat harsh and ex
acting. He was one of those men who
will look up grievance in their bosoms
and brood over it in secret until it is
magnified into undue Importance. If
any one paid his wife the slightest atten-
ton he chafed and fretted himself into
fever, though he probably said moth
ing TO her on the subject. But gradu-
ally he began to keep a strict watch
upon her, TO look askancc mt her private
correspondence, or to be inquisitive
when she went UP to town for days
shopping or to pay visit. He had
thought lightly enough of the rumors
of his wife's love of admiration in the
halcyon days of his courtship and
honeymoon; but as soon as they were
fairly launched into matrimony this
feminine weakness troubled him very
much indeed, and caused him to be
haunted by dismal forebodings as to
what it might lead to.
Mrs. Clnverton, on her part, showed
symptoms of rebellion at the restraints
which her husband put upon her. She
was not strong-minded woman, and
generally yielded to his wishes. But
on several occasions she openly resented
ker husbands distrustful conduct, and
Mr.. Claverton instinctively felt that
;serious quarrel might arise any day.
He thought the momentous occasion
had arrived when he intimated to her
that her cousin, Dick Alton, came to
the house too frequently, and requested
her TO ask him to discontinue his visits.
But. though he had nerved himself for
the ordeal, Mr.. Claverton was spared
domestic fracas upon this subject. His
wife did not attempt to argue the point,
vet yielded with sort of sullen sur
prise. From that moment, however, he
fancied he perceived marked change in
his wife's manner; she had fits of abstrac-
ton, and went about her duties list
lessly; and it dawned upon the afflicted
husband that his own image had by no
means effaced that of the old and con-
slant admirer.
One evening Mr.. Claverton, who was
Government official of some stand
ing. was detained late at the office, and,
finding he could not reach his suburban
home in time for dinner, he turned into
his club-the Blenheim-to take his
meal there. A group of young fellows
were talking in front of the fire in the
smoking-room as he entered, and the
hateful name of his wifes handsome
cousin cropped up and attracted his at
tention.
what Dick Altonl" exclaimed one,
in accents of surprise. "Who saw him ?"
"Braithwaite. He spoke to him just
now ut the station"
"Who has he gone off with ~ re-
sumed the questioner, in incredulous
tones.
with"
Mr.. Claverton strained has ears to
catch the reply; but, unfortunately, his
eager attitude was remarked by q pru-
dent member of the party, who nudged
the speaker and the name was uttered
In a whisper. Mr.. Claverton felt en-
barrassed at having betrayed curiosity,
the more especially as he did not care
the least who Dick Alton had gone off
with. He had heard, however, quite
sufficient to put him in good humor
for the rest of the evening, for it was
evident that his wife's lover had COM
promised himself with somebody, and
would, therefore, probably disappear
from the scene. The keen satisfaction
lhe experienced at this welcome intelli-
sgence gave him an excellent appetite
for dinner, and sent him home at
decently early hour, in an amiable and
.conciliatory frame of mind.
But he received n rude shock when he