Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-08-12

ter myself that | had not been mar
ried much over a year when, by as
siduously making loye-which |
have not ceased to do to this day
to my wife, as well as to her father,
| gained my point, and / do not be-
lieve that New York to-day possesses
a better specimen of married lovers
than we are"
THAT'S true, Sim, and am ready
to make my 'davy' on it, but how
does that hinge on the original ques-
ton 2"
I'm coming to that. Now, you
know that Clarez when he first came
to this country was a very handsome
fellow-not that he has got over it
yet-and speaking English very
perfectly, was rather what might be
called fascinating man, and con-
sequently it was no wonder that
both myself and wife took a great
fancy to him."
land you became jealous ?''
"Stop stop! old fellow Pm tell
ing this story. Perhaps if | did be-
come jealous | had some cause for
it."
"Bah ! I'll never believe it"
"Sinee you have requested my
story, it would only be politeness for
YOU to hear me out. Very well, |
had then only been married few
months and ClareZ, not having en- :
tered on his business pursuits, had
more time than / had, and that time
| found he was devoting almost eX-
clusively to my wife, to say nothing
of the fact that we never went any.
where, to opera, ball or theater, that
we were not sure to meet him. /
heard of them walking together on
Broadway, driving in Central Park,
and various other little affairs that
were not exactly palatable to a
middle-aged husband, without any
very special attractions of personal
appearance.
"That's your way of putting it,
Sim, interrupted Barrett. 81 have
heard women say that you were a
wonderfully fne-looking man Of your
age"
"All right Have it your own
way, only let me go on. Well, | con-
tend that though all this annoyed
me, | was not jealous, and did not
say anything to my wife about it. l
laid aside my business as much as
possible, and played the rival to
Clerez by monopolizing the attention
of my wife, as far as | could, in
promenading, driving and flirting
generally. Do you see that speaking
tube +? Yesl Well, that commu-
nicates directly with my wife's little
sitting-room up stairs, and had it
put there when | was having the
house fitted for her reception, pre-
vio1s to our marriage, so that we
might easily communicate though
each might be in their own particu~
lar den. Very well, one day | came
in especially early, intent on some
particular scheme | had on my mind
to amuse her, and passed directly by
the closed door of this room and
made my way to her apartments,
feeling sure l would find her there,
but found the rooms deserted. | rang
the bell for her maid, but before it
was answered, threw myself into IA
chair and instantly became aware of
the sound of voice, or voices, and
knew at once that they came from
the room below this room, and
reached me by the medium of this
speaking tube. | knew, also, that
the voices were those of my wife and
ClareZ. y
1.-The maid answered the call and
started in establishment at the sight
of me, though why she should | do
not know, except from a guilty
knowledge of what was going on.
In answer to my question she said
that her mistress had dressed and
gone out. Alone? No, with Mr..
Clerez, | dismissed her and applied
myself to the speaking-tube, which,
for the first time, | found out to be
equal to a telephone when the ear is
properly applied"
You listened ?" said Barrett
with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
Il did, and as the end justified the
means, it was well | did. | could
distinguish every word-the plead
ing, passionate tones of ClareZ, the
deprecating words of my wife. He
| told her of his love, of the deep pas
sion he had conceived for her at first
sight, which he could never obliter-
ate from his heart, She told him to
remember that she was married and
could not listen to him. He said he
knew she did not love her husband.
and that her marriage had been one
of convenience; that, in fact, she
had been bought by my wealth. Thi:
she tacitly confessed, and then he
basought her to fly;with him; that he
had wealth in abundance, and would
take her to France, to any part OF
the world, where they could live fol
each other and love. She responded
by declaring it too late, but adj
mitted that had she met him before
she knew me the matter might have
been different. At this point ]
thought it best to interfere, and SC
| called Clara's name down the pipe
and asked if she was there. With z