The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-20

y
could tackle him also If he tried any game
on with me. and always did my best 20
reassure her that ] could look after my
SELF and her also.
To please CIar.ssa I carried revolver
and Ufe-preserver with me when I went
abroad: also, 1 dare-say Influenced a little
f by her foreb0dings and warnings. look
ed oft-times about In the streets, ana
studied the faces Of my travelling conpan-
ions much more particularly after my
marriage than / had done betore. Yet
weeks and months went past without any
thing occurring 10 Justify her fears. OF my
precautions. Mr.. FoosbrOoke and MS
chosen son-in-law never crossed our pain,
and as far as appearances went We were
both left severely TO our own tate.
What charming wife for poor man
/ Clarissa proved to be. in spite OF her ex-
pensive bringing up. She would not keep
A servant but did all the homework as II
she had been trained to IT, AS cook she
could not be surpassed. though how she
contrived to produce the dishes she did,
with the small means at her disposal, re-
NAMED ever a mystery TO me. She loved
her house and labored on 1t constantly 10
make ii beautiful There was always some
new surprise for me when / returned, ana
she was always there TO welcome me, like
| the well-dressed lady she was. All, those
! happy golden days,
We had small garden at the back, and
J 4
most OF her time there when not occu-
| pied in the house. I believe. beyond the
/ necessary shopping, that she never went
! outside the front door; for il took me all
/ my arts OF persuasion to get her out for
J a walk when / was at home. All she
! seemed TO care about was to have me in
/ my slippers. with the blinds drawn. and
/ the lamp lit. while she lowered about me
4 doing her best 70 spoil me, or sitting at
/ he cheap cottage piano, which had
/ taken on the hire system, playing soft
| airs. while l arranged and worked at my
/ specimens
! Whenever I came home 1 made a habit
| Of delivering up all my earnings. and it
| amused me to watch her ringing each coin
/ to see that there was no bad money
| amongst them. The bank notes she exam
/ ined narrowly. like an expert; then salts
| fed. she would sigh with palpable relief
| and lock them away. She was most meth
odicsl and exact with her own accounts.
| keeping a book of expenses, which she
/ showed me as if she had been a hired
| hOusekeeper
These accounts always gave me a pang
! Of remorse. as I mentally compared how
| far money went in her hands and how
short a way it went in mine. Already, al
/ though not six months married, 1 found
\ myself a hundred times more comfortable,
at much less cost than I had been in my
| bachelor days. had a bank account now
the Post Office Savings Bank, it is true
but 1t was gradually growing large
enough to think about transferring It else
| where.
Yes, was a man to be envied; for had
| got wife amongst a thousand-young
beautiful, economical and satisfied with
| her bargain. There was nothing left for
/ me TO desire; at least there would be Moth
| ing left when baby came, for with this ad-
vent l expected all her foolish and nervous
fears would be laid at rest.
At the end Of six months unalloyed joy
and perfect faith, left her to fulfil more
lecturing engagements in the country
/ towns. 1 had had a good spell in. London
and the suburbs, so that I had not been
away from her night for the past month.
| My country engagements however, would
occupy me another month, going from
one town to another, after which l would
be home again for another good rest.
We parted, as usual, with fears and
trembling on her side and assurances on
| mine; yet I fancied she let me 20 with an
easier mind from which l augured that
she was gradually getting over this nerve
| trouble
Our rule was to write daily TO each
! other. This she always insisted upon
Wherever l was, and as my route was I'M
| deviating and my places of rest fixed all
| beforehand found at each hotel the let
| ters expected and priced next to herself
| Dear Clarissa, she never failed me in
this task of love, and no matter how tired
was she had my reply by the morning
| post. These letters, where her heart was
| poured out, were my comfort then as they
| are my consolation now
! For seven days all went on as usual
| She was well and busy, and, as she told
/ me, counted the days. In the eighth letter
| seemed to feel slight difference There
was less about herself and doings in it:
! more passion, perhaps, for me- vet a fixed
strain running through it as if she were
holding back some fear or secret, that
gave me the first chill and uneasiness 1
had ever experienced where she was con-
| cerned.
The ninth letter alarmed me stin more,
| for IL was short and verbose, even in It's
brevity. Was she i'll and didn't wish to
| say anything about It.? All that day
| while travelling l was filled with a vague
dread which could not shake off.
! reached the next town about midday
therefore long before the post could bring
me her tenth letter. Having some hours
my traps at the hotel, and went into the
| streets to walk the time away
knew the town well. 1t was a seaport
where large ships put in. 1t also possess
ed a barracks so that It was literally
furnished with slums and disreputable
| quarters.
After promenading the principal streets
| I plunged into one of those SIDEWAYS
which led down to the harbor, keeping nv
eyes about me, as was now my habit, and
noting the faces and windows that 1
| passed.
l was thinking only about my darling
as / went rapidly along, and very little
about the people around me, when all at
once. about halfway down the street
4 drew M with a cry of astonishment. for
there. at a window on the second floor.
saw or thought saw, Clarlssa. 1t was
but momentary glimpse, for even as I
looked again, the face I had seen drew
back quickly, and was lost TO view
Had it not disappeared so swiftly I
might have gone on thinking only that II
was some fancied resemblance, but that
| suspicious drawing back, and a kind Of
recognition which seemed to flash from a.
cut into my heart with a fury. Without
a pause 1 dashed over 10 the door and
| banged at the knocker wildly.
The door opened and "A fat, frowsy wo-
man OF middle age. with dyed golden nair
and painted. dirty checks stood before
| me- giving me the character OF the mouse
before she uttered a word. God, my wife
IN such a den! II struck upon me like
! boiling lead L could NOT sneak. 7 coufd