Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-09-26

HI. DdLIlG0OIC q llGllC
Tell her you've been smelling a
fat-iron to cure a cold" suggested
Sam.
This was all the assistance Mr.. Bat
tledore received from his companion,
and he worked himself up INFO quiet
nervous state lest his blistered nose
should give rise to awkward questions.
Fortunately, however, Sans opinion
turned out to be correct, for the truth
was that the Disagreement was really
very trifing. Mrs. Battledore made
no comment upon her husbands APP
pearance. and SO entirely .unsuspi
cious of what had happened that she
hardly referred to his supposed So
iourn in town. Sam Newell's wife
made no suspicious inquiries either;
and the conspirators took an early
opportunity of secretly congratulate
ing one another upon their happy
escape from detection.
Somewhat toward the small hours
of the night, however, Mr.. Battledore
Gas aroused from his first doze by
an omin0us question from MS wife,
who inquired, rather meaningly as
ne imagined, whether he had received
a letter frem her.
"a letter. What letter. he asked,
taken aback.
The letter wrote to your Office on
Tuesday" said Mrs Brattlodore.
1t would have been perfectly simple
and also perfectly true for Mr.. Brat
tledore to answer in the negative.
The next moment he bitterly repent
ed not having done so. But somehow
or other, WHEN the question was
asked: he was seized by an unreason
ing panic arising from guilty con-
science, and the idea flashed across
his mind that if he said he had not
received the letter, his wife would in
stantly suspect he had been absent
fir m the office. An instants refec
ton would have convinced him of
the foolishnesS of such a notion, but
he replied hastily and thoughtlessly,
inspired by secret uneaslness and his
evil genius.
''Ohl the letter Oh. yes. Certain
ly. " he said, burying his head in the
pillow again.
"Weli?" said his wife interroga-
gatively.
"What2" mumbIed Mr. Brattledore,
pretending to be doing off again.
"You ordered it | suppose?'
Ordered it! Ell! WHAT Oh! of
course, of course, answered Mr..
Br4ttledore. What on earth made
you write to the officer he added by
way of changing the conversation,
II thought it would be more con
veniont. You would only have to
step round the shop" replied his
wife.
"What the deuce does this all
mean" thought Mr.. BrattledOre, with
a groan.
Il hope it will be ready in time,
Joseph, Joseph cried his wife en-
phatically, as he feigned to slumber.
"Will it be ready in time3'
"Of course" said Mr. Battledore,
shortly, trembling with apprehen-
sion
what color did you choose,
Joseph2' demanded his persistent
spouse, little suspecting his mental
perturbation.
'Color?' murmurcd Mr. Battledore,
family.
Eyes; left that entirely 10 YOU"
II think it was ii sort of BLUSH
green, said Mr.. Battledore with des-
peration.
To hls unutterable relief his wife
appear satisfied with this answer,
or, more probably, she became drowsy
herself at this jurcture. Al all events
she asked no more, and Mr.. Battle
or was left to reflect upon the CONVEX
Sation.
By this time he had rea 'iztd that he
had made n fatal mistake III pretend
ing to have received the letter and
greater mistake still in felgnlng TO
have executed some mysterious com
mission. He tossed about rcstleSSly
as he perceived how foolishlv he walk
ed into a dangerous trap. Should his
wife now discover that lac knew moth
ing Of the letter, and had answered
her at random, her suspicious of
something wrong would be imMedia-
tcly aroused, and Mr. BAttledore was
haunted by dismal forebodiug that
the smallest clue would lead TO the
discovery of his recent escapade. He
dared not anticipate the scene that
would enSue when his wIckedness and
deceit stood revealed, for the truth
y - that he was afraid Of his wife
and though pompous aud self impor
tant in tho world, he was pretty
severely henpecked at home.
However, 1t occurred to him that
the ease was not absolutely hopeless,
for Sam might find out through Mrs
Newell what the letter was about,
and by putting him on his guard Ell
able him to avoid sinking deeper into
the Mire. Accordingly, next morn
ing, having previously arranged with
his friends To have All early dip into
the sea, he started off before his wife
was awake, and contided his trouble
to his faithful companion. Sam scott
cd at his fears, and undert roll to find
out the necessary information from
his wife without delay. Fortunately
Mrs Brattledore made no allusiou to
the subject during breakfast, and
after that meal, beng excused from
church on the ground of overwJrk at
the Office during the week, the friends
seated themselves on the beach and
threw pebbles in the glistening water
which rippled unsteady at ,heir
feet.
But to Mr.. Bratrledore's dismav it
TRANSFERRED that Sam had failed IN his
mission. HIS wife pretended to know
nothing about the letter, and had in
her turn questioned him quite sharply
about it,
She put me in a corner by asking
me what you had told me about it,
and why | was putting questions to
her, " SAID Sam, rubbing hls nose in a
perplexed way.
What dld you say2" iHquired Mr..
Brattledore breathleSsly.
Il said | only asked for fun. That
was little weak, wasn't it! But
don't think she twigged that | was
Disconnected She seemed more curl
Gus to know what YOU had let drop
about the letter." said Sam.
Yes, yes, murmured MIR Brattle-
dore.
Il sid l had forgotten, but be
lie we'd you had mentioned something
about light green, turned up with
blue or some other color. Evidently
Maria did not knoS what to make of
my answer
Then she will go and speak 10 my
wife, who will be at me again"
moaued Mr. RrattlPdore