Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-09-11

dlulOot ever bdJs VoeCAiSAoA1 W
the shooting, but really to keep an
eye on Joseph.
One day, while the competition was
going on, Bessie thought she would
give her husband a little surprise.
She had arranged to go that day to
\ Wimbledon, if tho weather proved
fine. Joseph was to meet her at the
station, and, after seeing some of the
matches, she was TO have dinner IN his
tent with some fellow-members OF his
corps with whom he was sharing it.
1t occurred, therefore, to Bessie that
it would be delightful surprise if
she went down by an earlier tram.
She knew Joseph vas in his tent all
the morning, for it was then he at
| tended To his business correspondence;
and she also knew where his tent was,
as she had been at the camp the day
before. 1t amused her to imagine
his establishment to see her walk in at
a moment when he thought her miles
away. As she had, however, some
idea that her mother would object to
the scheme, she did not tell her of her
design, but, under the excuse of hav-
ing something to do in town before
starting for the camp, she left hons
about two hours earlier than was ar
ranged.
She arrived all right at Wimbledon,
and easily found her way from the
station to the inclosure Once there,
she was soon able to identify Joseph's
tent. She was hurrying up toward it
when ii occurred to her that, as there
were other men besides her husband
in the tent, the surprise might not oe
so pleasant as she anticipated if she
went in pectedly. She had never
thought of this before. But she did
not like now to turn back, 50 the best
course she could think of was not to
20 into the tent at first, but to rap on
the canvas, and bring someone out.
Then, if things were all right inside,
she would 90 in. Advancing with
that intention, she heard her hus-
bands voice, and, with a womans
curiosity, paused before rappng, to
see if she could hear what he was talk
ing about. AS she did 50, his voice
was interrupted ny another - =
woman'sl She started in amazement
and horror. In moment all the sus-
piclons which had so long haunted
her, and which she had vainIy tried
to dismiss, came rushing into her
mind The past was now clear to her.
She could understand his passion for
volunteering, and his anxiety to spend
his time away from her roof. What
a simpleton she had been She miss
ed what the woman had said Waen
her husband replied she heard him
clearly.
90, Kate, Kate" he laughingly
shouted, you're not a bit improved y
I'm not like your mustache, then,
Joe, replied the woman, in a gay,
tone. How long and Zero
cious it has grown Why, you're quite |
warlike looking"
"Upoa my word you're teasing the
life out of me, said Joseph. II wish
you would get out of this.
That's a nice way of treating me,
after I've run away from my husband
for you.
II wish to goodness you'd run back
again. If you vex him as much as
you have me, I'm sure he must be glad |
to get rid of you"
"Oh, you're as gallant as ever, Joe |
Here, old solemn face, give me that |
gun. Don't be afraid I'm not going
to shoot you, though you deserve it.
I'm only gong to show you how you
looked when | saw you this morn |
ing
And Bessie heard the woman march |
ing up and down the tent in military |
style. Then there was the sound as
of Joseph rising. and of short strug- |
gle, ending with kiss She listened |
to all in "A state of mortified astoRish- |
ment. She felt inclined fora moment |
to go IN and confront the guilty pair,
but her courage deserted her, and |
while her husband and the woman
were still laughing and chatting she |
turned and hurried off to the station.
When she reached it a train was
about to start. She stepped into it,
and IN little over half an hour was
back again IN her mother's house.
When she entered the room where |
her mother was sitting, she was almost
III ~ idliAtihS AphNlbAths htS. 0tlul
noticed this at once.
"What on earth is wrong with you,
child2' she cried, in alarm. You
look like a ghost. ~
"Oh, mamma, mamma, | am ruin
ed " exclaimed the young wife, sob
bing bitterly
what do you say What have you
donel Where have you been2 Tell
me at once, you silly' screamed the
old lady, IN great excitement
AT Wimbledon, and oh, dear.
dear, my husband has deceived me.
"Oh, is that alll' answered Mrs.
Grim, in a relieved tone. What has
he done my dear}'
Mamma, dear can hardly t-tell
you sob | went ear-early, you,
know, intending to surprise him sob.
and wh-when came to his tie tent, /
heard him talking to a w-wo- woman
sob, sob Ard she w-was saying
she had r-run away from h-her h-hus.
band for him Sob. Oh, dear dear,
what an unfortunate girl | am Sob,
sob sob