The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-07-05
TERRIBLE MOMENTS.

TERRlBLE MOMENTS.
Twas to be an exhibitor at the Paris Ex
hibition, and while was in the office pur
chasinsa ticket, I had the agreeable sur
prise OF meeting an old friend OF mine
Henry Clay Cooke, who was on simila
Grand. His destination was Paris ant
the Exhibition, the firm OF which he was
member having dsputed him to rspresen
1t there and look alter ita interests.
thad known Henry for long time, sut
many q pleasant day had spent at hi.
house. A happier couple than be and bill
vile never cav, and 1t seemed pity tha
they were childlsss.
For couple Of years past business hat
interiered with these visits Of mine TO my
friends, although had seen Cooke severs
times IN the intervals; go was still better
pleased when he told me that his wife ac
companied him. She was a lady for v hon
bad the greatest respect and esteem, and
anticipated most enjoyable voyage.
In the luLi OF the conversation when the
surprise OF meeting was over, I noticed,
that there came into my friends features
An anxious, harsssed look, as il some DOM
inaut idea, that the surprise had momen.
tarliy displaced, had quickly taken hold
again. This was ths more noticeable NJ
Cook was the most sprighty.uinded man
OF my acQuain,ance-!ull OF answers and
puns upon which he evidently prided him.
sell.
He noticed my scrutiny and in a very
self CONSCIOUS manner assumed the gay air
that had known as habitual, bu. bis spir.
lts seemed fatigued and to need spurrlnv.
Perhaps some business trouble was i'm
pending. Perhaps he felt the symptoms
OF illness, and dreaded being overtaken
with a protrsctsd illness that would be such
calamity at that time. "
As We parted az the door, sincerely
hoped that neither Of my auesses we're cor.
rect, and that when saw him tomorrow
ne would be himself again, and naturally
go.
1atalted for Dover. That day saw moth.
ing OF Cooke and his wits when I arrived.
| was beginning to wonder il they were on
board, and was intending to make inquiries
ABOUT them. But next meraing Cooke sp.
peared on deck. Ibid not see bis wife, but
following him came Miss Daddy, whom
had met the last time was at his house,
two years ago.
They sat down opposite to me, and at
once saw that Cooke was indeed himself
again. Atler explaining the absence Of hia
vile, who had been taken suddenly Ill an
hour after coming on board, be went on
with an apology in mock candid msnna;
saying that although Mrs Daddy vss pres
ent 1t had Just occurred 10 him that he had
forgotten 10 tell me that che lad been in
tuced by his wife to accompany her. This
being first and foremost q business trip,
that arrangement would relieve his an1-
isty when compelled to leave his wife, Miss
Daddy and she being very intimate and
dear friends.
Mrs. Cookies illness continued nearly the
whole voyage, as she only made her sp-
pesrance, and in very weak state, lust
before We reached France.
Was very much shocked at the change
the seasickuess had wrought in her. l
forgot that l was contrasting the genial
hoste So Of two years ago with Door lady
Just recovering f,om-a distressing disease
Soon We were in Paris; and although
Cooke and bis wife and her friend put up
at the same hotel with myself, business on
both sides prevented all but the most
mesgre intercourse for several weeks
Then, when things were moving smoothly
at the Exhibition building, Cooke and
found time to carry out plan We had pre-
pared to "see" Paris.
At the end Of the first week Of sightsee.
ing, in which museums, picture galleries
and public buildings had been visited, We
reached on our liat the Column Vendome.
Our party had been very pleasant and
harmonious one. l never saw Cooke in
better spirits. He was as kind and thought
ful to bis wife as had ever known him,
and gay and gallant towards Mics Daldy,
which IVES natural with him. His vile
enjoyed herself thoroughly; bu. it seemed
to me that she would have done go fully as
we'll almost anywhere, providing Cooke
was at her side.
Mics Daddy Tas very appreciative and
enthusiastic. She impressed me fa7orably,
being lady ofconsidersble alent and in.
,elligence. One peculiarly about her al
fected me dissgretabiy, although could
Justify myself in feeling 80 about it, and
mat was that che was under perpetual high
pressure every moment OF tie time. II
must have been strain upon her similar
10 that undergone by the actress OF a long
leading part Not that she Was artificial,
and assumed an interest where she had it
not. 1t Is oniy because that otherwise
abe was ouch IN addition 10 any other
party that have set down this peculiarly
with the impression it gave me.
Another speck discovered Miss Daddy
vas lady in the Usual deception OF the
term, and yet she never missed an oppor.
tunity to make what fancied was an o.
srntatious display o; her love Of children.
This must have been painful to Cooke, and
especially 80 to his wife, both dearly loving
children. They had been married fifteen
years, and were yst child!ess.
To rssume: When we came to the Col
umn Vendome, and it was proposed to as.
cend to the top Of that DIZZY column, Mrs.
Cooke hesitated, but for a moment, as
Miss Daddy was anticipating the splendid
view to be had from such height. So We
furnished ourselves with lanterns from
The keeper in damp, dim basement, and
began the accent OF tie spiral stairway,
ending 80 far overhead.
| At intervals a little daylight came
through the bull s-eye windows that SEEM
ed bored in the solid masonry. Other.
wise We might have been climbing from
the bottom Of mine. It was long, long
way up, and Ts were quite weary when
at length, We reached the open air.
Alter laying aside cur lanterns and rent
ing awhile We began to view the great city
from our hpight. 4 score Of people, prin
cipally men, were epjoyingthe msyuiicen
sign,, these who were familiar with the city
pointing out the buildings and parks to tht
others. We had been looking for ,wert!
minutes, and Miss Daddy and were sepa
rated from Cooke and his wife about tn,
tenth of the diameter Of the turret Some
L. i