Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-09
in the world, he was pretty severely
henpecked AFT home

in the world, he was pretty severely
henpecked at home.
However, it occurred to him that
the case was not absolutely hopeless.
for Sam might find out through Mrs.
Newell what the letter was about. and
by putting him on his guard enable
him to avoid sinking deeper into the
mire. Accordingly, next morning,
having previously arranged with his
friend to have an early dip into the
sea, he started off before his wife .7as
awake, and conided his trouble to his
faithful companion. Sam scoffed at
his fears, and undertook to find out
the necessary information from his
wife without delay. Fortunately Mrs.
Battledore made no aliusion to the
subject during the breakfast, and after
that meal, being excused from church
on the ground of over work at the
office during the week, the friends seat
eG themselves on she bench and threw
pebbles in the glistening water which
rippled musically at their feet.
But to Mr.. Battledore's dismay it
transpired that Sam had failed in his
mission. His wife pretended to know
nothing about tie letter, aid in her
turn questioned him quite sharply
about it.
"She put me in corner" said Sam,
rubbing his nose with a perplexed air,
"by asking what you had told me
about it, and why | was putting ques-
tions to her."
"What did you say ?" inquired Mr..
Battledore, breathlessly.
"I said | only asked for fun. That
was little weak, wasn't it? But
don't think she twigged that I was dis
concerted" said Sam. "She seemed
more curious to know what you had
let drop about the letter."
eyes, yes" murmured Mr.. Battle
dore.
81 said I had forgotten, but believed
you had mentioned something about
light green, turned up with blue or
some other color. Evidently Maria
did not know what to make Of my
answer"
"Then she will go and speak to my
wife, who will be at me again." moaned
Mr.. Battledore.
l. u,
what an ass you've made ofyourself!"
said Sam, revealing a little uneasiness
on his own account. "Who knows
what your stupidity may lead to? 1t
may turn out to be the little cloud no
bigger than a mans hand. There is
no trusting you. You would let out
everything if you had chance"
Sam Newell had much more reason
to be afraid of his wife than his friend
of his, but he was animated by bolder
disposition. Nevertheless, he shrank
from the ordeal of having to confess
to the Paris trip in the face of dis
tinct prohibition, and, in a minor de-
gree, he began to share his friend s
depression. Mr.. Battledore's ner-
vousness gave him just cause to fear
that he would betray them both on
the smallest provocation, and he
rather jumped at the suggestion that
they should return to town that even
ing, instead Of waiting till the NOR
row.
81 think we had better, and then
you will be out of harms way all the
sooner"
'"That will put an end to the diff
Guilty, for 1 shall no doubt find the
letter somewhere about the Office to-
morrow, and can set everything right, :"
said Mr.. Battledore, eagerly.
Accordingly, these two dissemblers
shirked their families as much as pos
sible all day, and then created consid-
cradle surprise and CONSERVATION by
unexpectedly announcing their in
tended departure on an early morning
train. Business was, as usual, the ex-
cuse put forward, and after an uncom-
Portable afternoon they started back
to town, consoled by the reflection
that the danger was happily over.
On the folio wing evening, however,
Mr.. Battledore greeted his friend with
a very rueful countenance.
''The letter is not to be found any
where. Those idiots at the Office must
have mislaid it."
cor else it miscarried," suggested
Sam, with an exasperating grin.
"But | said Ireceived it Now what
am | to do? What is it Pm supposed
to have ordered? It might be any
thing from wallpaper to g. pair of
gloves or a drawing-room sofa," ex-
claimed Mr.. Battledore, quite tragical-
ly.
"It is certainly awkward; but if L
were you should pretend to forget all
about the thing when next wego down.
Ten to one your wife will then mention
what it is" said Sam in his confident
way.
Poor Mr.. Battledore plucked up
heart a little at this suggestion, but
he continued to grow more and more
uneasy, especially after receiving a
postcard from his wife, day or two
later, enioining him to remember her
commission, and to bring it down with
him on Saturday, without fail-the
last two words being literally under
scored.
Glow can I pretend I've forgotten
it after that 2" said Mr.. Battledore,
peevishly, as he threw the post card
on the table.
"You will have to. It's the only
chance" said Sam, looking quite seri-
Gus.