The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-05-06
CURED BY A PHOTO.

each had been the others Hfst love.
Still. although Charlie was fully per-
suaded that his Lucy had never seen
anything lovable in man before she
met him, and although Lucy was con-
WINGED that her husband loved her with
true and unadultcratcd affection. Mrs.
Cornwall could not entirely throw off
the distrust Of the opposite sex which
j. always TO sope extent innate IN
woman, and being aware that there is
Il very popular code Of ethics which
makes marriage equivalent 10 license.
she kept jealous eye upon her hus-
band. Nothing, however, happened
to interfere with the harmony and hap
piness Of their life together until Char
lie. having answered a very tempting
advertisement in the Field. anent a
shooting box in Worcestershire which
was to be let OH application to a GER
tain N. Y. H.. and having concluded
the necessary arrangements. had trans
ported himself and wife thither.
Gpon the first day after their arri-
val. while Charlie went round with the
keeper over the grouLd which il was
proposed to break on the morrow.
Mrs. Cornwall was pretty fully occu-
pied in arranging the little house to
their requirements. Experience Of
country house visits and seaside APP
partments had taught Lucy Cornwall.
among other things, that the drawers
of wash-hand stands are very often
tho receptaeles of the most eStraordi-
mar, rubbish and odds and endS, but
during all this experience she had
never met with such shock As await
ed her during her explorations OF this
little remote Highland shootin.-kox.
In one of the aforesaid drawers she
found a photograph Of her Charlie. one
OF set which she remembered he had
taken when their billing and cooling
was in full swing. upon which was
written in his handwriting: From
your ever true and aifcctionate Char
lie.''
But for this writing she would have
regarded this discovery as being mere
IL an extraordinary coincidence, but
the inscription was a damning fact
aud when She put two aid two togeth-
er, and recalled his ardent professions
OF fidelity to aud affection for her at
the time the photograph was taken, at
one fell swoop was shattered the pleas
ant belief into which she had lulled
herself a- to her husbands immaculate
behavior before his marriage to her.
There was not an extenuating circum-
stance conceivable. The photograph
had certainly not been given to man,
or such an inscription would not haya
graccd it: but had without doubt been
given to some woman, who. finding
herself deceived, had thrown il away
in disgust.
So she waited the arrival Of the nn.
conscious Charlie with that stern Joy
which woman. as we'll as warriors,
sometimes feel. determined, no matter
at what cost, to find out to whom he had
been sever true aud atfectionates at q
time when he was continually swear
ing that she was his only idol on earth.
Her beat quick when well-known
step and a careless whistle down stairs
proclaimed the approach of the victim.
and she made no answer to his Lucy.
Lucy! Where are you? Here's a
Highland welcome for a fellow who
has been tramping about since break
fast time, and who is tired. wet and
hungry! Hullo!''
This last ejaculation was the result
Of his first glimpse Of his wife's face.
He saw At once that something had
happened during his absence and
therefore composed his features to 4
suitable gravity.
why what ! the matter, Lucy?' he
continued. You look as IT,
Mrs. Cornwall cut him short with
magistcrial severity.
Charles Cornwall she said. hold
ing up the photograph. ''explain this
il YOU please
own counterfeit presentment and the
color fled from his cheeks
Explain what? Explain this photo?'
he stammered. "Whv, my angel,
wonder YOU re not ashamed To keel
such a hideous work of art 1t was
done whilst We were sweethearting,
before grew my beard. There's i
coat. There's a head Of hair! Ha.ha
| never did come out well--never.
Charles Cornwall" continued his
wife, still keeping her relentless gazt
fixed on the unhappy mans guilt,
face. | found this photograph in !
drawer upstairs. Now, hoN did it &c
theref"
my dear, good soul. how on eartl
am 10 know2' replied Charlie. =.
gave it TO some fellow, suppose, an.
mo, Charles said his wife, not t,
some fellow. When one man gives hi
cart to another. he does not as a rul,
d, scribe himself as ever true and afiec
tomato. Women may be fools
Charles, but your wife is no fool
There's a mystery here which mus
and will have cleared up. u Charles,
Charles. How often YOU have sworr
to ne that was your first and onl,
love!'
$50 you were said Charlie; Zane
You can't prove anything to the con
trary.n
No. but this photograph could,
| answered Mrs Cornwall. ..You'v.
given it TO some woman and | shall
make il my business to find out who sht
| WAS"
The wreiched man groaned inward,
and racked his brain 10 recall any in
judicious little present Of this kind h
might have made during that period q
festive enthusiasm which usually mark,
the close of bachelor life. 1t could mo-
have been Stella OF the Jocosa Theatre
or hat pretty girl in the pink dress h.
met at Henley Or No; Ia was posi-
lively sure that even if he had dis
tributed little mementoes of this nature
amongst his fair friends he would mo-