Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-09

but he had been fortunate enough TO
let his house, and was for the time
Sans honored guest. Now, SANS
household were devoted to their mas
ter, who did not disdain to bride them
to hold their tongues about his abnor-
mallv late hours when his wife was
absent. Sam might, therefore, safely
leave for a. week without fear of be-
ing betrayed, and this circumstance
removed a great danger. There would
be no difficulty as regarded his Office,
for Mr.. Battledore had an easy and
accommodating partner, who could
safely be trusted to keep his secret.
There remained only conscientious
scruples about deceiving his wife, and
these, sad to relate, vanished like
snow beneath a monday sun, as Sam
proceeded to expatiate upon the at
fractions and gayeties of the French
capital.
The upshot was that Mr.. Battledore
and Sam Newell started for Paris the
next morning, and enjoyed their brief
trip amazingly-in an innocent fashion
enough, no doubt. They returned to
London on the Saturday morning as
arranged, and were relieved to find
that no communication awaited either
of them from their respective wives.
In the afternoon they took their
usual train to Eastbourne, as though
nothing had happened, feeling tolera
bly, easy in their minds. Sam Newell
certainly did, but then he was the
more hardened sinner, being mem
Der of the Stock Exchange. Mr.. Bat
tledore's misgivings were chiefly at
tributable to q blister on his nose,
caused by exposure of hesun, and this
troubled him a good deal, especially
as they approached their destination.
"What shall / say if my wife notices
it ?" he inquired, gazing apprehensive-
ly at himself in the polished case of his
watch.
ooh, she won't notice it," said Sam,
in his off-hand way.
"But supposing she does?" insisted
Mr.. Battledore, a little irritably.
"Tell her you've been smelling flat
iron 70 cure cold" suggested Sam.
This was all the assistance Mr.. Bat
tledore received from his companion,
and he worked himself up into quite
nervous state lest his blistered nose
should giverise to awkward questions.
Fortunately, however, Sans opinion
turned out to be correct, for the truth
was that the Disagreement was really
very trifing. Mrs. Bat-ledore made
no comment upon her husbands ap-
pearance, and so entirely unsus-
picious was she of what had
happened that she hardly re-
ferred to his supposed soiourn in
town. Sam Newell's wife made no sus-
picious inquiries either, and the con-
spirators took an early opportunity
of secretly congratulating one another
upon their happy escape from detec-
ton.
Somewhat towards the small hours
was aroused from his first doze by an
ominous question from his wife, who
inquired, rather meaningly as he i'm
agined, whether he had received a let
ter from her.
GA letter. What letter? ?" he asked,
taken aback.
'"The letter [ wrote to your office on
Tuesday," said Mrs. Battledore.
1t would have been perfectly simple,
and also perfectly true, for Mr.. Battle
dore to have answered in the negative.
The next moment he bitterly repented
not having done so. But somehow or
other, when the question was asked,
he was seized by an unreasoning panic
arising from guilty conscience, and
the idea flashed across his mind that if
he said he had not received the letter, his
wife would Instantly suspect he had
been absent from the Office An in
slant reflection would have convinced
him of the foolishness of such notion,
but he replied hastily and thoughtless-
ly, inspired by secret uneasiness and
his evil genius.
ooh! the letter. Oh, yes. Certain
ly,' he said, burying his head in the
pillow again.
"Well?" said his wife, interrogative-
ly.
"What ?" mumbled Mr.. Battledore,
pretending to be doing off again.
"You ordered it, suppose?"
"Ordered it! Ehl what? OH of
course, of counsel" answered Mr..
Battledore. "What on earth made
you write to the Officer" he added, by
way of changing the conversation.
81 thought it would be more con-
venient. You would only have to step
round to the shop" replied his wife.
''What the deuce does this all
mean?" thought Mr.. Battledore, with
a groan.
II hope it will be ready in time.
Joseph! Joseph" cried his wife, en-
phatically, as he feigned to slumber.
'Will it be ready in timer"
"Of course" said Mr.. Battledore,
shortly, trembling with apprehension.
what color did you choose, Jo-
seph?" demanded his persistent spouse,
little suspecting his mental perturba-
ton.
"Color?" murmured Mr.. Battledore,
intly.
Yes, left that entirely to you"
Il think it was sort of BLUSH
green - said Mr.. Battledore with des-
peration.
To his unutterable relief his wife ap-
peared satisfied with this answer, or
more probably, she became drowsy
hArself AT this iunctl1re Ar all avants