Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-09-17
{From London TRUTH
AN UNFORTUNATE MEETING.

Mr.. John Gamble, of No. 4 Mont
morency Terrace, had deceived his
wife. When he told her that he had to
leave town on important business and
would not be back until the next day,
he really was going to Goodwood with
few Jolly fellows, with whom he in
tended afterward to spend bachelor
evening. His wife was usually annoyed
when important business called John
away-which it invariably did about the
time of the great race meetings-but on
this occasion she did not seem to be
particularly upset
"And you'll not be able to be back
to-night?" she asked.
No, my dear" replied John.
Cant you possibly manage it?" she
inquired.
mo, my dear, it's impossible: but
why do you ask"
"Oh," said she in a tone of regret,
which he easily saw was only meant to
hide her pleasure, "I don't like you
sleeping away from home IF you
could only get back [ shouldn't mind
how late it was; would wait up for
you"
1T would be no use," answered John.
"I'm certain to be detained over
night
John Gamble and his wife had been
married nearly twelve years, and, on
the whole, they had led very happy
life. Recently, however, an event had
occurred which seemed likely to dis
turb the domestic happiness of Mr..
John Gamble. A young doctor of
handsome appearance and engaging
manners had come to reside at the
other end of Montmorency Terrace-at
No. II. Tn an evil moment John
Gamble had called in young DR.. Skel-
ton TO attend his wife, and he had APP
parently made his presence exception
ally agreeable to her, for she ever
afterward refused to consult any other
physician. And yet he had not felt
justified in demonstrating concerning
it with Mrs. Gamble, but he had fire.
quently pondered over it in private,
and without its being once referred to
by either of them, it was steadily max
ing the relations between them less and
less cordial.
As has been said, on the morning that
John Gamble told his wife that he
should be unable to be home that night,
he noticed that she seemed rather
pleased than otherwise by his announce
ment. Hitherto he had been accustomed
on such occasions to poutings and dis
satisfaction generally on her part and,
although he had not altogether liked
these, he disiked their absence now
still more. Indeed, the change in her
behavior was so complete and striking
that it at once made considerable and
most unpleasant impression on his
mind. That unpleasant impression was
not diminished by circumstance which
subsequently occurred, As the eldest
boy was leaving for school, Mrs. Gamble
followed him to the hall door. While
she was speaking 10 him John happened
to pass through the hall. He noticed
she was giving the child letter. When
she heard her husbands step she turned
around hastily, and observing that he
had seen what she was doing, she be.
came very red. He could not help con-
Meeting this fact and her previous be-
havlor III some way or other with her
acquaintance with DR. Shelton. but he
left without saying anything about it.
All the way to Goodwood, however.
he continued to think of what he had
noticed-much more of it than the races
he was going TO see. Johns jolly friends
soon discovered that John himself was
anything but jolly. He did his best to
participate in their gayety, but with
little success. He pretended to take
an interest in the races, but all the time
his mind was full of gloomy suspicious
about his wife, which would, in spite of
all he could do, obtrude themselves up
on him. To get the better of them he
bet heavily and drank copiousIy. At
last the races were over and John was
heartily glad of it, for he had never
spenta more miserable day in his ex-
istence. He returned with the others
to town, and although all day his gloomy
spirits and bad temper had made him
little less than an intolerable nuisance
to the rest of the company, they ex-
pected he would be himself once again
at supper, since there was no place.
where, as rule, John Gamble showed
with SO much advantage as at table
But they were doomed to disappoint-
ment. When at length, late in the even
AGS. hO dIuOuuC0u budG DIS uO U1u not
feel well he thought he would return
home at once, they were all greatly re-
lieved. He accordingly left the supper
room and drove TO the station. reaching
it Jast III time to catch the last train for
home.
When the train arrived at the ssbeau-
tiful and aristocratic suburb" where he
resided it was midnight, and by the
time John reached Montmorency Ter
race it was close upon l o'clock. When
he came to his own house he saw how
just his suspicious were. Although it
was long after his wife's usual time for
retiring, the drawing room on the first
floor was lighted up. What could she
be doing at that late hour of the night?