The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1882-10-21
4 MODERN NEMESIS.

was a notorious flirt, 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 de-
served his fate, for nobody doubted that
marriage would prove an equlvocal bless
ing to him. But Mr.. Claverton showed
hilnself equal to the situation, for in the
earliest days of the honeymoon he sue
eeeded in impressing upon his wife that,
though nearly double her age, he was
not to be triaed with, and intended to
be master of his own house. Whether
Mrs Clayerton took this wholesome les
SON to heart, or whether she was
prompted by landable aspirations; 1t is
, CERTAIN shat she became more sober and
discreet in her conduct, and, to all out
ward appearance, developed into a de-
voted and attentive wife.
But unfortunately things were not as
they seemed in the Claverton menage.
Mr.. Claverton regarded his wife with
suspicious jealousy, and showed dispo
sition to beSome what harsh and exacting
He was one Of these men who will lock
40 i grievance in their bosoms and
brood ever it in secret until it masniiied
into undue Importance. If any enc paid
his wife the slightest attention he chafed
and fretted himself into fever, though
he probably said nothing to her on the
subject. But gradually he began to keep
strict watch upon her, to look askance
at her private correspondence, or to be
mQuis;tive when she went UP to town for
days shopping or to pay visit He
had thought lightly enough of the ru-
mors of his wife's love of admiration in
the halcyon Gays of his courtship and
honeymoon; but ls soon as they were
launched INTO matrimony this feminine
weakness troubled him very much in
deed, 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-nlinded woman, and
generally yielded to his wishes. But on
several occasions she openly resented her
husbands distrustful conduct, and Mr..
ClaYerton instinctiyelv felt that a Sc
rious quarrel might arise any day. He
thought the niomentous occasion had ar.
rived when he imtimated 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 do
nestle fracas upon this subject. His
wife did not attempt to argue the point,
yet yielded with a sort ofsulen surprise.
From that moment, however, he fancied
lie perceived marked change in his
wlfes manner; she had fits of abstrac-
ton, and went about her duties listess-
"; and it dawned upon the afflicted hus-
band that his own image had by no
means rftaced that of the old and con-
stanL admiret,
pnn evening Mr. Claverton, who was
government official of some standing.
was detained late at the office, and find,
ing he could not reach his suburban
ccne in time for dinner, he turned into
his cub-the Blenheim-to take his
meal there. 4 group of young fellows
were talking in front of the fire in the
smoking room as he entered, and the
hateful name of his wife's handsome
cousin cropped up and attracted his at
tention.
What! Dick Atom exclaimed
one, in accents of surprise. "Who saw
ilinlo"
"Rraithwaite. He spoke to him just
nov 1T the station"
no has he gone off with?" resumed
the qlestioner, in incredulcus tones.
"N'ith-n .,..t ".
{ Mr.. Claverton strained his ears to
catcil the reply; but, unfortunately, his
eager attitude was remarked by a pru-
dent member of the party who nudged
the speaker, and the name was uttered
in 4,-hJS foI IL
raised at having betrayed curiosity. the
more especially as he really did not care
the least who Dick Alton had gone offwith.
lie had heard, however, quite sufficient to
put lin IN good humor for the rest of the
evening; Tor it was evident that his wife's
lover had compromised himself with
somebody, and would, therefore, prob
ably,dlsappear from the scene. The keen
satisfaction he experienced at this well
come Intelligence gave him an excellent
appetite for dinner, and sent him home
at a decently early hour, in an amiable
and concillatory frame of mind
But he received rude shock when he
reached his house, and learned that his
. wife had gone outju before dinner time
and had not yet returned. The servants
informed him that their mistress, upon
receipt of telegram, had ordered the
brougham and driven to the station, send
ing back verbal message by the coach
man to her husband that she would write
The coaehman, on being Intercepted,
said he believed Mrs. Claverton men
toned that she was gong up to town, but
that her manner was so agitated and
nervous that she hardly seemed con-
scious of what sue was saying.
Mr. Claverton was struck dumb by
this intelligence, and at once OWNED
what had happened. TIE recollection
of the conversation he had overheard al
the club flashed upon him like a revela
ton. It was evidently not by a mere
coincidence that his wife had disappear
Ell suddenly and mysteriously the same
afternoon that Dick Alton went off with
somebody; and he bitterly realized that
he had been chuckling over al inciden
that involved disgrace and misery te
himself. For few moments he was
farayzed with dismay and astonish-
ment. But his energetic nature soon be-
gan to assert itself He went up stairs
and packed few clothes in portman.
teau then with clinched teeth and throb
bling heart, he unlocked the mahogany
case in which he kept his revolver, and
carefully loaded all the chambers. He
told the servants he was going to join |
his mistress in town, and having fortified |
himself with stiff glass of brandy, he |
caught the last train to London.
His brain was in whirl with furious |
excitement. and the only definite idea
he had in his mind was fixed deter,
mination to overtake the guilty pair
He did not pause to consider what he
should do if he succeeded in this, but
the presence of the revolver in his side |
pocket afforded him savage satisfaction |
On arriving at the London terminus, he |
drove to Atoms club, and ascertained |
from the halfporter that the Captain |
had started for the continent by the |
evening mail. Mr.. Claverton controlled |
his Impotence as best he could till the |
next morning, when he followed in pur- |
suit. Instinct, rather than reason |
caused him to go straight to Paris, for il |
never occurred to him that the fugitive |
might have stopped short of the capital |
or branched off to Belgium. Guided by |