The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-07-22
son with an energy which considerably
astonished that young gentleman.

maternal DUTY She gave eXpreS5IOn to hel
secret emotions in brief and emphatic
sentences:
$50 that it was which took him out
on Tuesday evening ! Went to that ball,
when he told me he was going to his
club supper. Oh, yes and expected
to go to the theatre last night-only
something prevented, and he stayed at
home. Looking out for him all the
evening, was she? The wretch Romeo
and Juliet indeed A pretty Romeo /!
forty years old, getting bald, and the
father of family And he sends her
lilies. Wonder how much they cost? /?
That's his Pressing necessity 10r money
Just at this time. Keeps another woman
in expensive bouquets, and refuses his
wife nscessary clothing. And he's to
see a Sloti her THIS JeysniERg Oh NesipdAsedfO do
the baby. "Wants him to come early.
Well, he will, no doubt and SO will l.
I'll follow him, and find out who she
is; and I'll expose her, if I live. Only
he mustn't suspect. Oh, the deceitful,
also, ungrateful-O-oh, John y
Here she broke down, and hugging
the baby close to her bosom, burst into
an agony of tears and sobbing.
When Thompson came home that
evening, he found his wife nicely dress
ed and smiling, in the parlor. He
thought, after awhile, that there was
something unusual about her. She look
ed nervous and excited, and rocked her
chair very fast as she knitted the baby's
carriage-blanket, dropping stitch now
and then.
"What's the matter, Maggie? Aren't
you we'll ?" he inquired, standing before
the fire, and looking down at her.
"Oh, yes-perfectly well !" she re-
piled, with toss of her head, and drop
ping two stitches.
Thompson sat down, and unfolded
his evening paper. Then his wife look
ed up with smile.
"Going to the theater tonight -
"No; there's nothing much worth
seeing, and you know I don't generally
care about it. -
"Don't you, indeed? Thought you
liked Romeo and Juliet"
"They had that last night. Hamlet
tonight, believe" =" said Thompson,
glancing at his paper. "Would you
like to go?"
"I go? No, indeed p with another
toss, and dropping three more stitches.
Thompson began to read the report
of the Queen of England speech to the
Parliament. Mrs. Thompson's speech
broke in upon it:
''Was it pleasant at the czub" deep,
sarcastic emphasis on "club") "Tues-
day night p
'Very; some capital songs and
speeches" "
"Oh, no doubt Some 0e,y agreea-
Bile speeches. lie, heI And it was cool
and pleasant on the balcony?"
"What balcony ?"
He was looking at her with eyes a
little wider than usual and she thought
she had him now. He might pretend
ignorance and innocence, but he could
not deceive her again. No indeed :
"What's the price of lilies ?" she in
quired fixing her eyes upon him as
though they had been pair of skewers
to pierce his conscience through and
through.
'Lilies I really don't know"
"Oh, the consummate hypocrite the
cold -blooded deceiver - she thought.
But she only remarked, sarcastically:
"Ice cream is good"
Thompson turned little pale as he
looked at her. She perceived this, and
gave triumphant hysterical giggle.
"Maggie, my dear" said Mr.. Thomp-
son, gently laying aside his paper, and
speaking in futtering voice.
"Oh, yes Pm your dear, am Il?
Yours 0nLy,' of course. lie, lie ! Oh,
my lie, he, he F'
Thompson was white now. He sat
for a moment looking intently at his
wife, then started up and seized his hat
and gloves.
"Where are you going?" inquired
Mrs. Thompson, with sudden forced
calmness, while her eyes glittered oml-
nously.
"Only-ah-only to step out on a
little business matter" he replied.
Then he slipped into the nursery,
where the maid was.
"Mary," he said, breathlessly, ego
down stairs and stay with your mistress.
Don't leave her for an instant until my
return. If possible, get her to bed
She's i'll, and I'm going for doctor. "
Mary obeyed. She found her mis-
tress in the pantry, frantically attiring
herself in an ulster and a poke-bonnet
with a veil.
''Lor's ma am p said Mary; "where-
soever are you going this time Of even,
ing by yourself?"
HGo up stairs and stay with the chill
dren !" said Mrs. Thompson, imperi
ously. ~ have little errand to attend
to-"
"Oh, num-" cried the distressed
Mary, "hadn't you better stay in and
lie down, mum, and get over it?"
"Get over what ?" said Mrs. Thomp-
son, sharply, as she buttoned up the
ulster on the way to the door.
"Master said you was undisposed,
mum, and that | was to watch you and
get you to bed, and that he'd gone for
a doctor" "
"Gone for a doctor? Oh, the deceit
full villain !" thought Mrs. Thompson,
as she placed her hand on the hall-door
knob.
But the door was locked and the key
gone.
"This is too-too much !" she cried.
"He knew that | had found it all out,
and would follow him. And to be
locked up in my own house, and have
my own servants to set watch over me !
I'll never submit to it-never I'll go
home to my darling mother, and never,
never leave her again -
The thought came like an inspiration,
and she at once proceeded to act upon