The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-02-06

was Gil u
of feeling, and it was quickly dissipated
by Reginald Chips-young Chips of
the war office-a stuck-up individual
with whom L travel to town every
morning. 1 hate Chips to this day,
mind you.
Here's the train-jump into this
carriage-all the people are staring at
you, and no wonder, poor fellow. 1t
must be great blow to you"
What is the great blown
"Your wife's running away" he
gabbled on. Its no use evadinS the
question, with that internal poster all
over Hatchington. Here you are-jump
in," he said, opening the door of
first-class carriage.
was boiling with rage, but let him
foster his absurd delusion, intending
to crush his monstrous and silly fancies
into powder when we were in the car
riage together.
The idea of Mrs. Thomas Jones ,'un-
ming away from me!
"Now, tell me-" said Chips, when the
train had begun to move and his red
hot paw had clasped mine in his solicit
tude, when did you first suspect
Parker?"
"Parker-what the"
Don't get excited, there's a good fell
low" he interrupted. 1.-THE only thing
is to take hesematters dispassionately.
coolly, with the sangfroid of man of
the world-to consider that, after all,
it is the best-a good radiance of bad
wife, and so look the future boldly in
the face"
"Perdition!"
1.-THE Hatchington Post has treated
the affair very delicately, no allusion
to Parker whatever" he ran on, but
of course we have all noticed-why.
you must have noticed yourself-how
extra attentive Parker has been to
your wife all summer. How old
beg Your pardon-'how Mr.. Jones can
stand that doctor fellow sneaking and
simpering over his young wife, the
Lord knows 1 have said half dozen
times or more. 1 should have told you,
but no one likes to interfere in such
matters too hastily"
"You-you-oficiou and blithering
iackass!'' 1 shouted out at last, you
impertinent addlepate, you silly idiot
of the deepest dye-it isn't my wife.
It's Timothy Jones' wife, round the
corner!"
What, Jones the poet?"
"Yes; there's no other Jones, is
there? And my wife is at homeland
is always at home, and what do you
mean by her simpering and Sinking
with Parker ?-our medical man-do
y-y-you dare to insinuate that there is
anything wrong between my wife and
him? You'll have to pay heavy dam
ages for this libel, sir-thundering
heavy damages-see if you don't"
''Parker's gone, too, you know"
Chips gasped out feebly, "and-oh,
dear-with the other Mrs. Jones, then?
l never thought of that. God bless my
soul, what miNup! was sure it was
your wife who had bolted. I am sorry
I mean, my dear fellow, congratu-
late you heartily that the rumor as
regards yourself is entirely false-I do,
indeed"
was unhappy in that Office through
thinking of Parker and my wife, who
was younger than by two-and- twenty
years.
The green-eyed monster took possess
sion of me and stuck its claws into my
heart. What right had that Chips to
tell me that Mrs. Thomas Jones was
carrying on" with DR.. Parker?
And then l thought of Mrs. Timothy
Jones and felt sorry for Timothy Jones
and wondered what had become of those
two rosy-faced girls and that fat,
sticky boy, and, presto, once more into
the foreground stalked that abomin-
able suspicion that Chips had had Of
my wife.
l met Timothy Jones in the down
train, and we were both down" enough
to match. He had copy Of the Hatch
ington Post in his hand. He was trav-
cling third-class, but l got into the
same carriage with him, and disregard
cd any thought of appearances" in my
impulse to converse with him.
"Mr. JONES'" said, II am extremely
sorry to hear the news"
eve haven't got any news, Mr..
Jones'" he said quite sharply in reply.
That's the worst of it,"
"Have-have you heard anything Of
Tarker?" inquired.
what do you mean?"
IL don't know. But heard that
Parker"
"You mean Parker, the surgeon?"
Eyes"
ITO tell you the truth, he went away
on his honeymoon, quietly, last week.
He's friend of mine. There will be an
account of the wedding at his fathers
IN town in the next number of this in
fernal Post"
"Oh, will there? But-don't you sus-
pect-"
"Mr. Jones, suspect nothing-only
that the editor of this paper is an in
fernal and meddlesome fool! My wife
has been missing several Jays, but
that's no reason why he should make
sencation of it with his innuendoes,
and "a gentleman missing from Hatch
IN oton at the same time and all that