The Washington critic., 1886-11-02
Mr.. CASSANER'S COTTAGE.


ing in his forty seventh year welded
charming girl of nineteen, his wife at
least very soon learned to her sorrow
A charming girl of nineteen usually
las admirers, and unless she is kept in
close confinement evidences of their
admiration will occasionally come TO
the notice Of third person, Yet that
seems hardly sufficient reason why
every glance from wife's masculine
acquaintances should awaken in her
husbands breast suspicious fear of
some plot to undermine his happiness,
or why every time she gives an an
sworing look he should torment him
self with the dreadful thought that she
regrets her choice aud is forming new
attachment. But, like love, jealousy
is blind, besides being deaf as well
wien required to see or listen to a rca-
son--althOugh only too open eyed ana
cared at other times--so ii is folly to
attempt to convince 1t by any known
line of argument, and its attacks, like
those of other fits, must be left TO work
themselves off as best they may. How
ever, though few unpleasant differ
ences--the outcome Of his ridiculous
suspicions-bad arisen between Mr..
and Mrs. Cassaner, she appeared as
fond Of him as the most doting lover
could wish, and they had got along
very happily together up to the day
following their removal to the fur
nished cottage at Sackville Corner.
Mrs. Cassaner had lately received
letter announcing prospective visit
from her cousin, Clarence Wemyng.
ton, and had said, before bidding her
husband good by in the morning
You will be sure and come out
early, for Clarence will be here to-
night" adding with some confusion
as she thought of his unfortunate
weakness, "you won't mind, dear,
much if he does seem a little demon
strative In his manner toward me |
am his favorite cousin, and we have
always been very intimate, just like
brother and sister, you know"
AT first he wanted to frown, for on
general principles he regarded good
looking male cousins as undesirable
companions for nineteen.y year. old wives
with elderly husbands; then seeing her
beseeching look, and remembering the
absurdity Of some of his former jeal-
ousies, he changed his mind, smiled,
and promised to receive Mr.. Wemyng-
ton as brother and permit him to in.
dulge in reasonable amount of
fraternal familiarity, upon which she
had kissed him with unusual fervor
and accompanied The caress with few
murmured loving words, which, being
meant for his ear only, cannot be given
to the public. Then he had walked
down the short gravel path with
buoyant step, had turned as he mounted
the heap of dirt Temporarily left be-
fore the gate by the worlimen who
were putting in the drain), waved his
hand gayly as she stood smiling on
him from the doorway, and had gone
up the street thinking himself the hap.
piest man in the universe, and resolved
never again to suffer any doubts of
her constancy to disturb him for mo-
ment.
Alas! how little did he then think
what u fearful change would be wrought
within twelve hours, anu how before
night the mornings fair sky would be
hidden, both tiguratively and literally,
beneath canopy of most inky black
ness.
Affairs at the office had not gone
slIlOOlHly thS u'y uHNl Nll. Vas
saner started for home with the foun.
dations laid for fit of ill-humor.
He was so unfortunate as to miss
his train by three quarters of n minute,
and was obliged to wait half an hour
for the next one. During his ride to
Sackvillc Corner, the black clouds had
been rolling up from the west, and
when he left the station the fear of
getting wet forced him to hurry on his
homeward way more than was quite
agreeable to his years and habits. He
entered G. street at rapid walk that
was nearly run, aud, traversing half
its extent, passed the double row of
cottages all so monotonOusly alike, aud
stumbled over the pile of dirt in front
of his own dwelling with muttered
malediction for the men who had left
II there. As he approached the door
he heard the tones of mans voice
through the open parlor windows.
"The cousinl" he said to himself,
and following an instinct of his suS.
picious nature he slackened his pace
and entered the hallway almost by
stealth, He looked cautiously in at the
open door, and saw, sitting very near
each other on sofa with their backs
toward him, lady and gentleman
his wife and her cousin. He could not
see veiy distinctly, for the sky had be-
come 50 densGly overcast with murlv
clouds Ihat the room was dismally dark
and moreover he was rather near.
sighted, but he thought the cousin had
his arms about his companions slight
waist
D Upon my word" he soliloquized,
che Is demonstratiye"
But their attitude toward each other
was nothing compared to their conver.
satiop, which the listner heard with
feelings that may be imagined.
81 have thought it all over" said
the cousin, "and am sure there Is no
other way. Why do you hesitatey'
She murmurcd response which Mr..
Cassaner was unable to catch, and the
cousin proceeded:
1--WE can go away, anywhere You
choose; what matters it so long as we
are together, my dariingl"
Here followed something that
sounded like kiss on his part, and
some inarticulatc remonstrunces on
hers, Boiling over with Indignation,
the outraged husband was about to
make his presence known to the guilty
pair, when the cousin spoke again, and
he restrained himself Il moment to near
what he would say.
''hy dearest girl" he urged, "lct us
goa at once; what is the use OF further
delay? He will never consent"