Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-09-25
An Unfortunate Meeting.

Mr.. john Gamble, OF No. MOntmO-
rency 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 a few jolly
fellows, with whom he intended after
ward to spend bachelor evening. His
wife was usually annoyed when impor-
tant business called John away-which
it invariably did about the time of the
great race meetings-but on this occa-
sion she did not seem TO be particularly
upset.
And you'll not be able TO be back to-
night ?" she asked.
mo, my dear" replied John.
Cant you possibly manage it," she
inquired. 80, . r..
why do you ask%'
"Oh," said she, in tone of regret,
which he easily saw was only meant to
hide her pleasure, 81 don't like your
sleeping away from home. If you could
only get back / shouldn't mind how late
it was, would wait up for you"
at would be no use" answered John.
"Tm certain to be detained over night"
John Gamble and his wife had been
married nearly twelve years, and, on the
whole, had led very happy life. Re
Gently, however, an event had occurred
which seemed likely to disturb the do.
mestic happiness of Mr.. John Gamble.
A young doctor, of handsome appear
ance and engaging manners, had come
10 reside at the other end of Montmoren.
CIV terrace-at No IL. In an evil mo-
ment John Gamble bad called in young
DR.. Shelton TO attend his wife, and he
Lad apparently made his presence ex.
ceptionally agreeable to her, for she ever
afterward refused to consult any other
physician And yet he had not felt JUS
with Mrs. Gamble, but he had frequently
pondered over it in private, and, with
out its being referred to by either of
them, it was steadily making the rela-
tions between them less and less cordial.
AS has been said, on the morning
when John Gamble told his wife that
he should be unable to be at 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 dissat-
isfaction generally on her part; and, al
though he had not altogether liked
these, he disliked their absence now still
more. Indeed, the change in her be.
navior was so complete and striking that
it at once made considerable and most
unpleasant impression on his mind.
That unpleasant impression was not di-
minished by a circumstance which SUBJ
seauently occurred. AS the eldest boy
was leaving for school, Mrs. Gamble fol-
lowed him to the hall door. While she
was speaking to him John happened to
pass through the hall. He noticed she
was giving the child letter. When she
heard her husbands step she turned
round hastily, and observing that he had
seen what she had been doing, she be.
came very red. He could not help con-
Meeting this fact and her previous be-
hay;or in some way or other with her
acquaintance with Doctor Shelton, but
he left without saying anything about
All the way to Goodwood, however,
he continued TO think of what he had
noticed-much mere of it than of the
races he was going to see. Johns jolly
friends soon discovered that John him
self was anything but Jolly. He did bis
best to participate in their gaiety, but
with little success. He pretended to take
an interest III the races, but all the time
his mind was full of the gloomy suspic-
ions about his wife, which would, in
spite of all he could do, obtrude them
selves upon him. To get the better of
them he bet heavily and drank copious-
ly. AT last the races were over and John
was heartily glad of it, for he had never
spent more miserable day in his exist
ence. But he returned with the others
to town, and although all day his
gloomy spirits and bad temper had made
him little less than an intoierable nui-
sance to the rest of the company, they
expected be 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 disappointment.
when at length, late in the evening, he
announced that lie did not feel we'll and
thought he would return home at once,
they were all greatly relieved. He &C
cordingly lett the supper room and drove
to the railway station, reaching it Just
in time to catch the last train for home.
When the train arrived at the "beau-
tiful sud aristocratic suburb" where he
resided il was midnight, and by the time
John rescied Montmorency terrace it
was close upon one o'clock. When he
acme to his own house he saw how just