The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-11-09
FIN:L.AY!soN''s OPERA O GLASS

FINL.AYsoN's OPERA GLASS,
From the London Truth.
Mrs. Finlayson felt aggrieved on, -
turning to the domestic hearth In BIyan.
stone square one evening, from . short
visit to some friends in the country, OF
finding that her husband was not 1t
home to receive her. If he would, not
take the trouble to meet her ut the sta
ton. she though tyhs might It least have
made : point ofwelconing her on the
threshold ::of his house. She subne-
Quently ascertained that her lord and
master had started on 4 journey TO. iv.
erpool' early in the morning and was
not expected back till late. This .inior-
nation. however, did not soothe the
good lady's ruffled spirit, though she had
been married long enough 4eleali1e the
exigencies Of business.s The truth wac
that old Mat Finisyspn1 a his friend.
called him, after \ prolonged and jovial
existence, had developed into such q do
Gle and attentive husband, that he
reaped the reward Of his excellence in
the shape Of domestic tyranny and op.
precision II = ! T. =: = .:ss~s
When the truant at length made h;s
appearance he was greeted BY the wife
Of his bosom in the chilliest manner.
The lady was tired and Sleepy, .' or sha
might have had 4 good deal to say on
the subject of his alleged neglect She
contented herself, however, with haupht.
ily repellihg his friendly advances and
answering his questions inmonoeylables
Mr.. Enlayson seemed much less tender.
~ affected by this behavior than usual. q
circumstance which did not escape his
wife e notice. He was evidently in q nerv.
GUS and preoccupied frame Of mind, which
he explained by saying that he
had had long and disagreeable days
business. Mrs. Finlayson was SO struck
by his demeanor that she began to won
der what he had been doing, an uncom-
Portable suspicion which frequently oc.
Cured to her, though IL originated en-
tirely in her naturally exacting and jeal-
Gus disposition.
Next morning Mr.. Finlayson had to
start very early for the city to keep an
appointment, and took his departure
with remarkable alacrity, AZ though glad
to escape from his wife'S presence. That
lady had arrived at the firm conviction.
as the result of close observation and
watchfulness since his return the proceed
ing evenings, that her lord was oppressed
by some guilty secret. She knew the
outward and visible signs Of business
worries, and felt aure that the cause of
his present uneasiness was a troubled
conscience arising from some serious
misdemeaner, No doubt the demon of
jealousy helped her to arrive at this con-
ciuslon, but it is certain that for some
reason or other Mr.. Finlayson did not
appear to re gard the home coming of his
wife on this occasion with unmixed sat
isfaction.
The mornings post did not arrive until
after he had left, and consequently Mrs.
FinlaysOn assumed the wifely function
of opening her husbands letters. It
seemed as though there was nothing in
the correspondence to satisfy the uneasy
curiosity which prompted her to exam
inc every letter with increased attention.
But when she came to the last of the
batch-a blue, official looking envelope,
which she had put aside as eminently
unintersting-she was seized with mild
mystification. It was formal commu-
nication from the director of the Lost
Property Office, at Scotland Yard, stat
ing that pair Of field glasses, bearing
the name and address Of Mr.. Finlayson,
had been found in = public conveyance
the day before, and would be restored
on payment of . small percentage upon
the declared value.
What struck Mrs. Finlayson as strange
upon reading this intimation was that
her husbands field-glasses stood at
the present moment on the mantel-
shelf in his dressing room. She had by
chance noticed them Just before, but to
make sure she imme''s-tely satisfied her
self upon the point The glasses were
beyond doubt in heir accustomed
place. With vague +riosity Mrs. Fin.
LAWSON took them out # the case, inside
of which was glued one of her husbands
visiting cards, inscribed with his name
and address. She knew they were the
Quently they must be the identical ones
referred to in the communication from
the police. j-.G5 s.,5.}! 49,.
A few moments reflection suggested
the probable explanation of what had
happened with regard to them. Evil
IDENTIFY they had been claimed at tie
Lost Property Office after the police had
dispatched 20. her husband formal in
timation of their recovery. This, how
ever, was small part of the mystery.
The serious question was, what had her
husband wanted to take the glasses to.
Liverpool for, and why, had he made no
mention of his singular good luck in re-
covering a valuable article left i'm cab?
The obvious answer seemed to be that
he had not gone to Liverpool 1t oil, but
had attended some race meeting, under
the pretence of being away on business.
This idea came to Mrs. Finlayson like
revelation. and she resolved to sift the
matter to the bottom. For her morning
drive she went to Scotland Yard, where
theory rs to what had taken place con-
corning the glasses. They were brought
in early in the morning by q driver Of
hanson cab, who had just taken fare
at Kings Cross Station to catch the spe-
cial train for QOncaster races. The
owners name and address being found
inside the case an official notice was sent
of, according to custom; but later in the
day lad, apparently q clerk, came, who
said that Mr.. Enlayson had telegraphed
to him to inquire for the glasses at Scot
land Yard. and, If necessary, to pay the
finders. fee. AS the application was
evidently bona fide the glasses were
given up. 49,. 49,.
Mrs. Finlayson did not know whether
to be elated or dismayed by the result
Of these inquiries, for while there was q
sort Of grim satisfaction in finding her
surmises were correct, the Information
thus acquired suggested alarming impos-
ture and deceit on the part Of her hus-
band. = -. a..
Itlooked as though he were accustomed
to spend the time which she innocently.
thought he devoted exclusively to bus
iness in more agreeable but less profit
able manner. But even supposing this
to be the case, what was the reason for,
his concealing the fact? She did not OBJ
jet to his going to a race.meeting occa-
sionally, and she had even accompanied
him now and again on these excursions. ;.
If, during her absence, the spirit bad:
moved him to pay visit to D0ncaster,
p,onA h., hos d. nl>o,>