The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-10-20
A MODERN NEMESIS.

n
Mr.. Claverton married his pretty
wife with his eyes open, knowing that
she was notorious firt, 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 trifed
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 a devoted and at
tentiye wife.
But unfortunately things were not as
they seemed in the Claverton MENACE
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 lock up grievance in their bosoms
and brood over it in secret until it is
magni6ed into undue Importance. If
any one paid his wife the slightest atten-
ton he chafed and fretted himself into
a fever, though he probably said moth
ing to her on the subject. But gradu-
ally lie began to keep a strict watch
upon her, to look askance at 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. Claverton, 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.. Clayerton instinctiyely 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.. ClayertOn was spared
domestic fracas upon this subject. His
wife did not attempt to argue the point,
yet yielded with a sort of sullen sur
prise. From that moment, however, he
fancied he perceived marked change in
his wifesmanner; 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
n 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
We're talking in front of the fire in the
smokingGoop as he entered, and the
hateful name of his wifes handsome
cousin cropped up and attracted his at
tcntiOn.
what! Dick Alton!" exclaimed one,
in accents of surprise. "Who saw him %.
"Braithwaite. He spoke to him Just
now at the station.
"Who has he gone off with ?" re-
sumol the questioner, in incredulous
tones.
with"
Mr.. Claverton strained his ears to
catch the reply; but, unfortunately, his
eager attitude was remarked by a prr-
dent member of the party, who nudged
the speaker, and the name was uttered
in 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 of
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
he experienced at this welcome intelli-
gence gave him an excellent appetite
for dinner, and sent him home at a
,deeently early hour, in an amiable and
conciliatory frame of mind.
But he received rude shock when he
reached his house, and learned that his
wife had gone out just before dinner.
time and had not vet returned. The
servants informed him that their mis-
tress, upon receipt Of telegram. had
ordered the broughNm and driven to
the station, sending back verbal mes,
sage by the coachman to her husband
that she would write. The coachman,
on being Intercepted, said he believed
Mrs. Claverton mentioned that she was
going up to town, but that her manner
was so agitatod and nervous that she
hardly seemed conscious of what she
was saying. ~
Mr. Claverton was struck dumb hy
this intelligence, and at once OWNED
what had happened. The recollection
of the conversation he had overheard at
the club flashed upon him like revela-
ton. 1t was evidently not by mere
coincidence that his wife had disap-
peared suddenly and mysteriously the
same afternoon that Dick Alton went
off with-somebody; and he bitterly
realized that he had been chuckling
over an incident which involved dis,
grace and misery to himself. For few
moments he was paralyzed with dismay
and astonishment. But his energetic
nature soon began to assert itself He
went upstairs and packed few clothes