The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-03-25

Charlie Cornwall and his wife enioyed.
during the first year or so of their mar
riage, the blissful belief that each had
been the others first love. Still, although
Charlie had been fully persuaded that his
Lucy had never seen anything lovable in
man before she met him. and although
Lucy was convinced that her husband
loved her with true and unadulterated af-
lection, Mrs. Cornwall could not entirely
throw off the distrust of the opposite sex
which is always to some extent innate in
woman. Nothing, however, happened to
interfere with the harmony and happiness
OF their life together until Charlie, having
answerered a very tempting advertise
ment IN The Field, auent a shooting-box
in Inverness shire which was to be let on
application to a certain " X. Y. H. and
having concluded the necessary arrange
ments, had transported himself and wife
thither.
Upon the first day after their arrival,
whilst Charlie went round with the keep
er over the ground which it was pro-
posed to break on the morrow, Mrs.
Cornwall was pretty fully occupied in ar
ranging the little house to their require
ments. Experience of country house
visits and seasi e apartments had taught
Lucy Cornwall, amongst other things,
that the drawers of wash-hand stands are
very often the receptacles of the most ex-
traordinary rubbish and odds and ends,
but during all this experience she had
never met with such shock as awaited
her during her explorations of this little
remote Highland shooting box. In one
of the aforesaid drawers she found pho
tograph of her Charlie, one of a set which
she remembered he had taken when their
billing and cooling was in full SWING, upon
which was written in his hand writing,
From your ever true and affectionate
Charlie The photograph had certainly
not been given to man, or such an lnscrip-
tion would not have graced it, but had,
without doubt, been given to some wo,
man, who, finding herself deceived, had
thrown it away in disgust.
So she awaited the arrival of the uncon-
scious Charlie with that stern JOY which
women, as we'll as warriors, sometimes
feel. Her heart beat quick when we'll
known step and careless whistle down.
stairs proclaimed the approach of the vic
tim, and she made no answer to his Lu-
Cyl Lucy Where are you? Here's a
Highland welcome for fellow who has
been tramping about since breakfast-time,
and who is tired, wet and hungry Hullo -
The last ejaculation was the result of
his first glimpse of his wife's face. He
saw at once that something had happen
ed during his absence, and, therefore,
composed his features to suitable gravl-
ty.
Why, what's the matter, Lucy?'' he
continued. "You look as if"
Mrs. Cornwall cut him short with mag
isterial severity.
"Charles Cornwall" she said, holding
up the photograph, "explain this if you
please - The unfortunate man gazed
at his own counterfeit presentment, and
the color fled from his cheeks.
"Explain what? Explain this photo ?"
she stammered. "Why, my angel, won
der you're not ashamed to keep such a
hideous work of art. 1t was done whilst
we were sweethearting, before grew my
beard. There's coat There's head
of hair Ha! ha! l never did come out
well-never -
"Charles Cornwall" continued his wife,
still keeping her relentless gaze fixed on
the unhappy mans guilty face, 4" | found
this photograph in a drawer upstairs.
Now, how did it get there?"
"My dear, good soul, how on earth
am l to know?" replied Charlie. II
gave it to some fellow, suppose, and
he"
"No Charles" said his wife, "not to
some fellow. When one man gives his
carte to another, he does not, as rule,
describe himself as ever true and affec-
tomato Women may be fools, Charles,
but your wife is no fool There's mys-
terry here which l must and will have
cleared up. o Charles, Charles How
often you have sworn to me that l was
your first and only love!"
About week afterwards, Charlie came
in from shooting, and said:
My dear l met *. Y. T. to-day for
the first time. He is very anxious to
know if we are quite comfortable here,
and said that he hoped very shortly to
do himself the honor of paying us visit"
"H'm! Perhaps the lady whom you
signally favored will come with him."
said Mrs. Cornwall, with sarcastic empha-
Sis
ave shall see," replied her husband.
" He didn't say anything about bringing
lady with him. Shall ask him to p
"Oh, dear, yes, of course" replied Mrs.
Cornwall. You must be anxious to see
one to whom you are ever true and affec-
tionate after all this time Oh, yes, ask
her by all means. It would be such a
delicate act Of courtesy toward me.
What is x. Y. rs name ?"
/ aFordyee-Rlchard Fordyce," replied
Charlie.
The mention of this name produced a
strange effect upon Mrs. Cornwall, which
Charlie could not fail to note; the color
left her cheeks, her breathing came hard
and fast, and her fingers began to twitch
neryously.
Well, my dear, what's the matter p
he asked.
aOh, nothing" replied Lucy. 81
I don't feel very we'll. ! think this Scotch
air b rather too strong for me. ] would
Ike 70 70 sonth again.
Huch : sudden indisposition Of one who
had bsen, mp TO few seconds previously, in
robust health make Charlie Cornwall pom
der. Why should the name Of Richard