The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-03
THE TALE OF A JAGUAR'

Mr. Thomas Iianscom Is the junior part
rcr in the great coffee and spice mouse "
Uanscom. Blackstone Co, OF new
vi Chicago. Omaha. Kansas Clty an"
Co.. Francisco. The senior partner Is MI
rosorb Uanscom. who lives AT Lake view
,oar Chicago. Until within the last Two
years Thomas has had the management 81
The Omaha house; the other member "
,bc firm. Mr Blackstone. was the p"I
chasing agent az Rio Janelro. IL was JuS'
a l,,tle over two years ago that "A dispatch
arrived announcing his death. IL came
TOO. at a particularly inopportune moment
Thomas. on the day previous. had mar
ried very charming young lady Lyui'
J.athrop. of Council Bluffs, and the inter
liocnce of his uncle's death necessitated
that the newly made hushand-who' 10y
the way. had only become acquainted with
his bride some six weeks before marriage
-sbould without a moments delay take
the train 10 New York and thence sail for
Rio.
The affair was pressing. Mr.. Black
stones death would certainly throw the
business into confusion, and any heslta-
tion on the part Of the home partners
might i,nporil the future Of the firm.
'iGo at once. my dear boy, wrote Mr..
.Joseph Hanscom 20 his son. land send
vour wife 10 me- would 20 myself, but
my health will not permit me.
There was no help for IT, Mr.. Hanscom,
5r. felt that he must 20; 50 90 he did,
uniting the best face on the matter and
bidding his poor young wife a very long
and tender farewell She settled down in
her new home and he for many months
afterward worked hard at his desk in Rio,
arranging the worldly affairs Of his dead
uncle. and from time 70 time sending home
reports Of his progress and sending his
love to Lydia.
Two wears, in fact. elapsed ere he was
able 10 return, and then he returned as he
had gone, without moments notice.
Unforeseen circumstances suddenly left
him free and unwilling to lose day he
took the first homeward bound steamer
which so IL happened, was also taking TO
Richmond letter written a few days
earlier. in which he regretted to his wife
that the pressure of business would not
leave him at liberty for al least a month.
He Travelled home without adventure and
I'm due course landed in New York, and
without having written word OF warn
ing 10 lydia hurried on next morning %
Lake View. Just why he did not write or
telegraph is not known; perhaps he thought
his sudden appearance would agreeably
surprise his wife, or perhaps he was too
excited to be able TO think at all.
But in any case he neither wrote nor
telegraphed single word Of preparation.
He arrived in Chicago, but was at the
home he had purchased, before his depart
ure in Omaha. IL was one of the most
lovely Of June days, and he was walk
ing eagerly up the carriage drive leading
to the house, when, happening to cast his
gaze toward the upper windows he caught
sight of fair, white, draped figure that
was watering some flower plants that
stood in row on the sill. He at once
recognized the figure as that of his wife
and was about TO utter a cry of salutation
when became conscious that she did not
recognize him, for with graceful mOdesty
she withdrew from the window and disap-
peared as soon as she became conscious OF
his gaze.
An idea struck him.
1t was a foolish but not wholly unnat
ural one. lie would pretend to be some
Olt l't-t llltl'A BAY VI htA tAh1ittA4NA
and would ask to see her "a such. OF course
she would al once recognize his voice, but
then the surprise and consequent pleasure
would he the more complete. To the serv-
ant who appeared he announced that he
had Just returned from Brazil and desired
TO see Mrs Hanscom. He gave no name,
but he was admitted and shown into the
reception room, where in some pctturba-
ton OF mind he awaited the appearance OF
the wife from whom he had beea 50 long
aud SO cruelty separated
IL suppose that she will know me-" he
reflected. although | am considerably
tanned and have grown IA very large beard.
but suppose that will make Eo difference,
and she would know me in my shirt
sleeves and with both legs cut off at the
knees. On the other hand. she thinks | am
still in Rio, for she must have had my
letter this morning | hope me- Sudden
appearance won't upset her"
Here his thoughts were switched aside
10y She unmistakable sound Of rustling
skirts in the passage without, aud ~ the
door opened he voluntarily TUNED and
gased into the garden.
"May J offer you "A chair" sud 4 soft
voice behind him.
80, no; not at ALL be returned, facing
his wife for an instant and then hastily
reJuIning his survey Of the garden.
Mry Ianscom did not in the least rec
ognize her husband. Tom turned around
at last, conscious that even lDs nervous
ness was not an excuse for his rddeness.
THE fact is, Mrs. ---'
! MY name is lIanscOm"
"Oh. thank you-yesl The facs is that
am not yet entirely reconciled To this
abopinahle climate. I-ah-that is to say,
"a man who has existed in groves Of mango
with the thermometer standing doggedly
at fO2 in the shade, is-ah; but dare say
you understand.
"Oh, perfectly, Mr.. -. | thiak have
not the pleasure of knowing yourname."
"Who am ], ~ thought Thomas. "My
name" said he after pause, SIS Thomp
son"
ayes, my husband writes that the heat
IN Mazil has been excessive. Possibly. Mr.
Thompson, you may have called u give
me come news of him. hope so, at sas-... -
THAT 10 satis;acto.y." sh&asns ,Jr
Hanscom. "The lapse Of two years has not
changed her love for me-"
"Yes," he said aloud, II can give YOU
some news Of him. for month ago l saw
him ia Rio"
"Indeeds How delightful DO sit down,
Mr.. Thompson. Ii is very pleasant TO meet
any one who has seen my husband 50 re
Gently How was hei"
"He was" he said, with deliberate hest
tation, "as well as could be expected
AS well as could be expected repeated
Mrs HanscOm with alarm. DO you
mean that lac has been illi'
"Well. not exactly Ill.," prevaricated
Tom, who had not yet quite made up his
mind just what u say.
"But do / understand your Tell me,
please. what has happened 10 him"
Mr. Ianscom wondered what the end
would he lie heartily wished that his
wife would recognize him and settle the
difficulty by throwing her arms around
| his neck
"Nothing very serious said he. 81
dare say he has told you that he has be
oomc very fond Of jaguar huntingw
"Ah. jaguars. Tell me, Mr.. Thompson.