The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-10-10

The rumors of domestic unfaithfulncss
which NJ. Swis!,er generously distributed
throughout the neighborhood did not reach
Charles Gold>by for almost two weeks after
thcir inception. There was a decidedly
bearish tendency manifested in the stock
market that week, and the young speculator
was fearful of getting in the tolls. At the
end Of hard days fighting malicious
friend aroused his anger to white heat
by repeating the distorted reports indus
trionsly circulated by the local gossips.
AT any other time Charles Goldsby would
have spurncd the story and dealt harsh!y
with the narrator. In his detected state of
mind he simply listened in silence. After
his visitor left he sat for an hour in the
deserted Office, vague suspicion preying upon
him.
That evening Charles was missed at the
brokers' weekly club meeting. He wasalso
absent from the society OF his wife. After
bidding her farewell and starting for the
city, he had sneaked back through the al.
eys, entered his house by rear window
and secretcd himself in an alcove adjoining
the paror,
A familiar voice aroused him from his
troubled reverie. Madge had entered the
parlor. Yes, she wSs addressing someone
in a soft. low tone. Cold beady drops Of
perspiration stood out on the forehead Of
the man in the alcove, screened from the
view of his wife by the heavy port jere.
Charles clcnched his bands until the nails
fairly cat into the flesh. Restraining
wild impulse to dash ont Of his place Of con
cealInrnt, he listened with pale face and
beating heart for some hint concerning the
personality Of the mysterious stranger
Say you dar'ing''
\ harsh. raSpng voice attempted to pro.
nounce the sentence. Moi.ar laughed at
the awkward effort and repeated it, A seq
ond attempt on the TART of tie industrious
learner succeeded little better than the
first.
''fou dear thing" said Madgc.
Dear thing Yourself, came in harsh,
guttcral accents from the unknown in
trnder.
A longer colloqny ensucl Madsc tried
a new phrase with little success. She re-
pcated the sentence again and again. Then
she did some scoiing.
"The devil" fairly screamed the strange
voice.
'Now, yom naughty creature: stop that"
said Madge, with great severity. "If you
don't quit that I'll send you away"
Glad she disapprovrs of profIne language
anyhow" was the reflection ui the silent
listener, who was now trying to mount
chair in order TO peer over tne top of the
curtain.
Charley is such a GOOSE murmured
Aladge.
Charley" shrieked the voice.
lis such goose
"Goose. goose"
"Charey is such a goose" repeated
Madge.
There was crash, feminine shrek. an
uneathly screech, and something that
sounded like smothered masculine oath
In his effort to see who was in the parlor
Charles had overturned the chair The next
he dashed from behind the por-
iere and faced his frightened wife perched
lpon her arm was large parrot. its green
'idmage glistenng N the glare Of the gas
light. On the center table was large cage.
seeing that it was useless to 6ttempt to
onceal her pupil, Madge slammed the bird
nto the cage, and throwing herself upon
he lounge, began to cry.
"It was mean Of you, Charley she
obbsd. Even if You did know, think
on might have waited until got the bird
rained. ( bought the parrot of the old
talian, and didn't want you to Know
Charley caught her in his arms and, in
pite of her protests, kissed the tears from
er eyes.
"Charley!" screamed the parrot.
"-!s great big goose" added the hus-