Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-12-06
MY LADY'S WRATH.


Biggeto. 1t ought to have been obvious
to her that the baronet was only wooine
Ter money, and that, this being the
case, there was no reasonable prospect
of married happiness between them.
But wherever the original mistake lay
every ounce of subsequent blame at.
itached to Sir John, who, even if hi
we're unable to love his elderly anG
commonplace spouse, had, at any rate,
no excuse for neglecting her SO shame
fully as he did Why, he was always
away from home-by himself. The
number Of business appointments that
he had in London and elsewhere were
legion. When his wife pressed him for
details and particulars, he invariably
grew evasiye. When she offered to ac-
company him, he emphatically declined
to take her. He had abandoned the jour
neys altogether. Of course this spoke
for itself 1t pointed to Il disgraceful
conclusion. So said Lady Biggeto. So
said Lady Biggeto's friends, and SO III
deed said all right minded persons who
were apprised Of it.
What made it worse in Sir John Big
geto was that he was by way Of being
one of the elect. 1t was in this charac-
ter that he had wooed and won his wife
-relict Of Croydon alderman and fell
low worshiper with the baronet at the
church of Trinity i'll the Marshes
Trinity in the Marshes was served by
that evangelical light, the Rev. Mat
thew Nader.
1t was the more scandalous, therefore,
that Sir John, member of Matthew
Madder's flock, should be behaving as
he was in bis private life, His spouse
had serious thoughts of applying To
Matthew Nader himself and request
ing the fiery servant of the Lord to tao
kie her recreant husband. Some years
ago she had adopted these tactics i'll ref
erence to her nephew Tom, her only sis
ter's child, who had fallen away into
raaitious paths.
But Lady Biggeto hesitated at pres
ent to invoke Matthew Madder's assist
ance in reconverting her husband There
were several reasons why she hesitated.
One was that, having boosted not lit
tie of Sir John 8 devotion to her before
her marriage, she was nON naturally
loath to acknowledge the complete fail
ure of her expectations afterward. An
other was that she was still without
proofs of Sir Johns infdelity, and that
she felt it would be wiser to secure these
before making any decided move And
a third-and still more cogent reason
was that Lady Biggeto, after much
scheming and contriving, was now i'll Il
fair way TO achieve the fondest wish of
her heart - namely, be presented at
court. Any public scandal, and when ID
scandal passed into Nader charge it
did not remain private, was, from this
point OF view, &c be strongly deprecated.
The only person therefore whom she
took into her confidence for the discoY-
cry Of Sir johns iniquities was her
nephew Tom. The young man under
took to keep a close watch upon Sir John
Biggeto and report to his aunt all that
he might hear and see. 1t was about a
fortnight before Tom was able 10 make
any definite report At the end of that
fine he called one day at his aunt's
yyitis a very meaning and important look
upon his face. Lady Biggeto sagY at I.
glance that be had made some great dis
coyery.
SWELL, Tom, what is it you have to
tell me?" she inquired rather nergous1y.
"Are my worst fears realized:'
s4They are, - said Tom, with grave
nod OF his head. 1.-The very worst"
"What? Is there->lave YOU began
Lady I5iggeto, with some excitement.
HAS he''-
"There is a lady i'll the case," said
Tom, >Fl:l? solemn expression.
<'Ahi 7 was sure Of it! Who is she?"
demanded Lady Biggeto.
f'She goes by the lame OF Mary
Jones'" replied Tom. 1T appears that
Sir John has been constantly with her
for more than II gear past. She''-
"What sort of a person is shef Old OF
youngr" interrupted his aunt agitatediy,
Young-qnite young. aunt
"And how far has this intrigue gone:
Tell inc al. Hide nothing from me p
exclaimed his aunt, now in great state
Of excitement and rage.
sf[The intrigue has gore to a shocking
e.=-to Il shameful extent,H said Tom i'll
gnepmful voice. t:Sir John has evident
1y been spending lot Of yonr money,
aunt, upon her, He''---
''The-the brute! Tie hnssyi'' she
cried, ss;3njng from red to white. "Ge
On, Tom, go ol2. y
"He has, ia fact, heen-un-er-
keeping ID an-ali-establi si1niellt for
her," continued Tom, lowering Ills
voice in evident shame at mentioning
such a thing, 'tand a smart and costly
establishment it is. Dear, dear aunt, /
am sorry, indeed, sorry aud sad to tell
gou this.
81 have ascertained, y continued Tom,
THAT Sir John is going down into the
country-into Yorkshire, III faet~-next
week with this Mary Jones. Now, if
you and Mr.. Madder could follow
them
II will! AS am an outraged wife,
l will" cried his aunt suddenly and
with most vehement determination.
And it seems to me, pursued Tom,
with il knowing nod, that if you could
actually confront them at the entertain
ment, and if Nj. 1Iadder could then
and there administer public iebul<e to
the sinners, 1t would-er-neet- the
er--reeu Dejnents Of the case as nothing
else would. What dc you think, aunt"
SIT shall be dons,' asserted Lady
Biggeto. firmly pursuing up her month.
1t shall be done. Sir John shall be put
to public penance il this world i'll order
to save his immortal soul from eyer
lasting penance iii the next You can
find out exactly where they are going,
Tom
On the afternoon preceding the fate
full day the three-Lady Riggeto. MIST
thew Nader and Tom-proceeded to
Doncasta- by aa afternoon mail. OF
course her iadyship bore all the ex-
penses of the expedition, She treated
her guests handsomely at the Y. hotel.
Chosen vessels as they We're, neither
Nader nor Tom was (stomachically}
all ascetic. They did justice to the good
things set before them. Was there not
aDostDlic authority for this iudn lnence?