The Monmouth inquirer., 1890-09-04
THE TALE OF A JAGUAR.

THE TALE OF A JAGUAR.
Mr.. Thomas Hanscom is the junior part.
ngrin the great coffee and spice house of
lHanscom, Blackstone s. Co., of New
York, Chicago, Omaha, Kansas City'and
San Francisco. The senior partner Is Mr..
Joseph Hanscom, who lives at Lake View,
nearC Chicago. Until within the last two
yearsiThomas has had the management of
lie Omaha house; the other member of
the firm, Mr.. Blackstone, was the pur-
Ehasing agent at Rio Janeiro. 1t was just
As1ittle over two years ago that a dispatch
arrived announcing his death. It came,
too,iat particularly inopportune moment.
Thomas, on the day previous, had mar
,rfeda very charming young lady, Lydia
Iathrop, of Council Bluffs, and the intel
aSEeilce of his uncle,s death necessitated
that the newly made husband-who by
the way, had only become acquainted with
Ibis bride some six weeks before marriage
should without moments delay take
khStrain to New York and thence sail for
Bio. ~
The affair was pressing. Mr.. Black
stones death would certainly throw the
business into confusion, and any hesita-
tion on the part Of the home partners
might imperil the future Of the firm.
ago at once, my dear boy,0 wrote Mr..
Joseph Hanscom to his son, land send
y6trwife to me. would go myself, but
my health will not permit me-"
There was no help for it. Mr.. Hanscom,
j., felt that he must go; so go he did,
putting the best face on the matter and
bidding his poor young wife very long
and tender farewell. She settled downsin
shersnew home and he for many months
afterward worked hard at his desk in Rio,
sarranging the worldly affairs of his dead
uncle, and from time to time sending home
reports of his progress and sending his
loveto Lydia.
Two years, in fact, elapsed ere he was
able to return, and then he returned asfhe
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 it 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 at least month.
He travelled home without adventure and
imdue course landed in New York, and
without having written word of warn
ingto Lydia hurried on next morning to
Lake View. Just why he did not write or
telegraph is not known; perhaps hethought
his sudden appearance would agreeably
surprise his wife, or perhaps hewas too
excited to be abe 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
1ure, in Omaha 1t was one of the most
lovely of June days, and he was walk
ing eagerly up the carriage drive leading
tothe 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 cry of salutation
wfren 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.
It was foolish but not wholly unnat-
ural one. He would pretend to be some
one else-a friend, say, of her husbands
and would ask tosee her as such, OF course
she would at once recognize his voice, but
then the surprise and consequent pleasure
would be 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 perturba.
ton Of mind he awaited the appearance OF
the wife from whom he had been 80 long
and so cruelty separated.
'sI suppose that she will know me" be
reflected, although am considerably
tanned and have grown a very large beard,
but suppose that viii make no 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 l hope my sudden
appearance won't upset her.
Here his thoughts were switched aside
by the unmistakable sound of rustlinQ
skirts in the passage without, and as the
door opened he voluntarily turned and
gazed into the garden.
MAY offer you a chairP" said a soft
voice behind him.
70, no; not at all" he returned. facing
hs.wife for an instant, and then hastily
resuming his survey ofithe garden.
Mrs. Hanscom did not in the least REQ
ognize her husband. Tom turned around
atslast, conscious that even his nervous
ness was not an excuse for his rudeness.
The fact is, Mrs. -"
My name is Hanscorn-' y
"Ohl thank you yes! The fact is that
ann not yet entirely reconcled to this
aboihdnable climate. I-a.h-that is to say,
aman Who has existed in groves Of mango
withstke thermometer standing doggedly
at 169 in the shade, is alb, but dare say
you understand. 2
sOh, perfectly, Mr.. think have
not the pleasure Of knowing your name. =
sWho ann !, thought Thomas. MY
na1ne . said he after a pause, is Thomp.
SON.
Yes, my husband writes that the heat
In Brazil has been excessive Possibly, Mr.
Thompson, you may have called TO give
mo solnc news of him. hope SO. at least. 4
Thax i satisfactory, Thought Mr