The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-23


make me aware of what was being said
though doubtless falsely, respecting the
behavior of Mrs. R. Here / should
have locked the door and informed Pea
body that his last hour was certainly ar
rived and that he had better make hi;
peace with Providence before | cut hi:
| throat. But from ignorance of the proper
conduct to be adopted in such exceptions
circumstances, aud perhaps from the
| knowledge that there was nothing but g
| paper-knife in the room with which tc
| effect this righteous punishment, | only
burst out laughing, and called him med
| ding and impertlnent old fool.
| Every true" returned he, for he always
makes use of that form of words, Every
| true. But still the facts are worth investi.
| eating, even from their singularity. Dc
you know, for instance, that at eleven
O'Clock, three days a week, your wife goes
out in a cab by herself?"
| NO" said /, II do not; though, if she
does it is surely better than if she had any
| Ineligible companion. As matter of fact
| however, she does not do so; for have
| offered to go shopping with her twice this
| week, and she has declined to accompany
me upon the ground of having bad sore
| throat"
upon what days did she give this ex.
cuseP' inquired Peabody, taking out his
| pocket-book
Last Monday and last Thursday" re-
| turned l.
'Well, here's memorandum: Monday,
4th. Saw Mrs. R start as usual at
| eleven Thursday, 18th, ditto, ditto. She
could not be going to a morning concert
because she had no white gloves on"
Il will grant that much" quoth l sar-
don1cally, yet not by any means unmoved
by this unexpected Intelligence. MY wife
does not go to morning concerts"
Very true" observed Peabody. "Then
I w n
Now, as an inhabitant of the crescent
peabody" interrupted |, severely, 81
ackno Wedge the right of no man-no, not
OF the man in the moon himSelf-to NEEDLE
IN my affairs upon that ground. l am
obliged to you for the interest you have
taken in this matter, but the simple fact is,
that it has been entirely misplaced | have
been perfectly well aware of my wife's
movements, and they have had my fullest
permission and appreciation. Ionly wanted
to see to what lengths your impertinence
| and love of interference would carry you.
That is your hat, believe; your umbrella
is the alpaca one. l wish you very good
morning.
ushered my visitor out, and then sat
down in my private parlor with my elbows
upon the table, and both my hands thrust
into my hair. l had temporarily extin-
guished Peabody, but l was on fire with
Jealous apprehensions myself. What could
it all mean} For sixteen years my wife had
never taken any excursion unless in my
company, upon which, she had always given
| me to understand, she dotted; and vet after
refusing to go out with me upon Monday
and Thursday last on the plea of sore
throat, she had started, the instant that
my back was turned in hansom-or even
supposing it was four -wheeer-in a cab,
WITHOUT white gloves on, and Con.
found 1T here a0as a row in the pantry, and
one which my peace Of mind demanded to
have cleared up at once.
ANNA Maria" cried |, huskily from the
bottom of the stairs, Gamma Maria, l wish
to speak with you Immediately"
'Lor' bless me, )" answered my wife from
the top story, sit isn't ono of the children,
is it, John! Pray tell me the worst al
once.n
mo, madam, it is l." replied I, stiffly.
"Then it's the kitchen chimney" she ex.
claimed in dogmatic tone. "And didn't
ltell Mary to have it swept week ago
and now the fire-engines will spoil every
thing, even if we are not burnt out OF
house and home"
have deceived me, as Peabody had said,
and yet talk so simply of her children,
and of the house and home! By
the time Anna Maria had got down
to the drawingroom flight l began
to be rather ashamed of myself
sitting-room door, with her honest face
aglow with animation, and her voice so
earnest about the SCOT, did not dare to
mention what had in my mind.
Il called you down. dear, to say that |
was going to give myself holiday to-day
and to ask you to come with me to Hamp-
stead Heath and dine at Jack Straw's Cas-
tie this afternoon, it being a beautiful
day"
A ray of joy passed for an instant over
her features and then, as if recollecting
herself, she began to stammer that she was
very, very sorry, but really she had so
much to do about the house just then; if
would only wait till Friday week, which
was my birthday, then we would go some
where, and she should enjoy it above
measure. This afternoon, however, the
thing was impossible.
well" said |, gravely, 1--WE have not
many holidays together, and am sorry.
You had a sore throat on Monday and on
Thursday, when offered you similar OPP
portunity."
80, yes" answered she, shaking her lit
tie head, which is very prettly-could it
be too prettily?-set upon her shoulders;
lit is quite impossible that could go out
with that throat"
Here" thought for she could not
have gone without her throat-''is some
dreadful falsehood. But Peabody may have
GOlu lt anu not Sne. fernapS she never
went out at all. Should l not rather be-
lieye the wife of my bosom, than that
scandalous old retired indigo merchant?
Was it not base even to suspect Anna
Maria of deception! Doubtless it was; but
yet thought l would just satisfy myself
with my own eyes"
every WELL" observed 1, quietly; ''since
you can not come with me to-day, l shall
go to the city as usual. don't care for a
holiday by myself"
Poor, dear fellow said Anna Maria.
coaxingly, as she helped me on with my
greatcoat, 81 am quite grieved to disap-
point you. Goodbye, John. Mind you
have good luncheon. It's very bad for
you, eating those buns and rubbish"
"Ah, what tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive;
Though, after but tile trying.
There's nothing easier than lying"
says somebody. protest felt like pick
pocket, as lodged and lurked about our
crescent, watching in the distance my own
door, to see whether my wife would cross
the threshold. suppose have none of the
attributes necessary to the profession of
detective, for whenever passer-by cast his
eyes on me, l felt myself blushing all
over, and hanging my head on one side. l
dared not, OF course, stop in the crescent,
but loitered at the corner of a street which
commanded it, now trying to dig up the
nozzle Of my umbrella in their circular
by dragging it against the area ratings.
Exhausted with these exercises, l had been
leaning against a lamp-pos6 for about ten
m n W ha nf n hnrrcn fa