Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-03
THE CANON'S WIFE

-CAse.go TrtnuaA
THE CANON'S WIFE
Rev Canon Alison was generally known
among his scquaintanco - - saintly man,
but be was one Of those 70 whom saintlinso had
not refused fair share Of temporal bis.dnes
to wit, . snug canoury, good Wea End
living. and Last, though BY no means iaAss, .
pretty little wife. full fifteen years youne~
than himself
Both the canon and bis wife we're very
fond Of society, and they were undeniabiy
in the SWIM their faces were TO be seen q
most Of the large balls and receptions which
took place during the season He $50 great
favorits with the ladies. TO whom hs was 10
commended by his fine figure, handsons fscs,
Winning manner and brilliant couv rxation,
whereas she, being much too pretty and fas-
cinaiing 70 have the approval Of beg own sax
usually formed tho center Of . ring OF male
admirers
Now, no lady can attract TOO much Asten
ton from the opposite sex without rousing
the mortal jealousy Of all her less fascinating
sisters. and the iair. when once thoroughly
Jealous, are quite reckless In the asperxions
which they cast on their rivals character.
80 In the present case IL Is not 10 BE- won.
dered at that most OF them shook their heads
over that Alison woman's disgr0ceful con
duct, and that, when the noble earl, who
occupied a prominent position among Der
msjesty's ministers, began 70 show the can
ons wife rather marked attentions. they do
clAred the little iAdys behavior to be posi-
tively scandalous, and advocated her speedy
eiectmsnt from the pale Of decent society.
IL wonder that the dear canon does not put
. stop to IT," said Lady Malise Shnders TO
her intimate friend Hon Mrs Mailar
"Ah. my dear" was the reply. the canon
thinks everyb body as innocent and guileless ~
himself He neither suspects nor notices
anything"
at would be q charity to open his eyes TO
the true character Of that woman, returned
Lady Malise. Il have a good mind to take
the duty upon myself"
Don't do that dear; the canon Will never
believe you. Let time bring about the ex-
posture. People can't go on walking upon ice
without slipping, and I'll lay a modest wager
that, before twelve months are out, the ALI
sou woman's name will figure In the divorce
court"
I'm sure you're right; but to zee her con-
Quoting herself as she does makes me so angry
that can scarcely restrain myself. Lookl
the earl OF Templecombe Is bending over hsr
now, and she is encouraging his attentions
with all her might. Really it makes me
blush for the honor Of my sex"
The above conversation is q fair sample Of
what the ladies' Of the London drawing rooms
were constantly saying about the canon's
wife. But it served neither to open the can
on's eyes nor to make Mrs. Alison change
her ways; indeed, her conduct was (so the
ladies' averredJ. if possible, more outrageous
than ever.
Twelve months slipped by, ushering in an
other "season," and still the event on which
Mrs. Medlar had offered to lay . modest
wager hal not come to pass.
Nemesis, however WAS close on her victims
heels, and did not mean TO let this season
also come to an end without bringing mat
ters To u climax.
Ii happened in this wise: Mrs Alison had
been out shopping early in the afternoon,
and returned home about O'Clock. On en-
terng the library she found her husband sit
ting in his customary armchair, with q news
paper lying open on his knees; but he was
evidently not reading it. since his face was
buried in his hands He turned round at
the noise of the opening door, and looked at
her with a glance which showed her at once
that something was wrong
Uneasily conscious Of more than one little
secret which her husband might have dis
covered, she felt thrill Of dismay At Der
heart
shut the door, il you please, Edna" said
the canon gravely. Il have something to
say to you"
The tone Of his voice. half stern, half sad,
only served to confirm her fears, and when,
. minute latsr, he drew . bundle Of letters
from his vest pocket and laid them on the u
BILE beside him, she knew that the worst had
bean discovered.
"Some Of these letters, Edna" he said, In
the same grave, measured tones which, how
ever, alarmed her far more than passionate
rage would have done, are from Lord Tenn
plecombe to you, and the rest are from you
to Lord Tsmplecombew
She stood before him with her hands clasp
ed tightly together and her lips parted una
BILE at first to utter single word. But when
her sudden dismay had subsidized . little, she
At length found her voice. oh Hugh"
she said pleadingly. st was wrong-very
wrong-of me to have written those letters,
know; but there has been nothing worse
than little harmless Irritation between me
and Lord Templecombe-I give you my SOL
smn word"
II do not accuse you Of actual guiltf' an
swered the canon, in the same grave tones.
but recollect that what in an unmarried
woman is merely an indiscretion, in . mar
ried woman becomes sin. And my wife shau
not carry on q clsndestine correspondence
with another man.
"Oh, Hugh, do forgive me this oncew sobbed
the little woman. II meant no wrong--in-
deed didn't! won't speak to him or even
look at him againl Do say that you forgive
me,r
AT present can say nothing" he returned
coldly, rising from his chair ani king full
into her face, except to tell you this-that
have suspected your conduct for some time
past, and have only waited TO 70 . certain
announcement in the papers before speaking.
That announcement appears In todays Morn
ing Post Take it, and SOC whether you can
discover what mean"
Thereupon he handed his wife tho paper,
and, without another word, left the room,
closing the door behind him.
For some minutes after he WAS gone she 70
manned wholly overcome with dismay; then
me OeRhu eaHtTiy " bCdu kuo 1Aoi uos
In search OF that announcement OF which tbs
canon hal spoken. What could it BET Was
it possible that the newspapers had published
any scandal about herseiff Surely not Yet
what else could her husbands words implyl
She cast her eye quickly down the various
columns. half hoping, half dreading, to 6nd
that for which she was looking. She even
psrused the leaders" the law reports and
the sporting intelligence. but found no sort
OF announcement to account for the canonS
words. 1t was certainly . puzzle
While she vas thus engaged abe beard .
carriage stop at The door and, looking out Of
the window, saw that it was the canon's
brougham. A minute Later he himself came
out OF the house, entered it, and drove away.
On what errand, she wondered. was be
benti Had it any connection with this un-
happy discovery Perhaps the footman had