Year: 1867

not, why Pll-Pll-just go with MN 10
the masquerade, and will firt with
him all the evening just as hard as ever
l know how" 1t is presumed the vile
is not woman of spirit, for last even
ing about nine o'clock carriage drove
up to the widows house, and Spanish
cavalier, very gentlemanly, very de-
votedly, and very lover-like assisted q
domino into it and it drove to Music
Hall.


At the hall the couple paid little at
tention to the funny scenes about them.
If thew laughed at all it was at their
own wit. Prying eyes tried hard to
find out who they were. They saunter-
ed about until tired. They took re-
freshments and occasionally a glass of
wine. They made no attempts to peep
beneath each others masques. for IT was
evident they knew each other well. At
all times the cavalier seemed whisper
ing the softest things to the domino,
and a close observer might have seen
that occasionally the words were very
soft, for they made the fair domino start
and tremble Just little, but she seemed
to have good control of herself, but there
is no doubt that could her face have
been seen, there would have been traces
of bushes. -,


1t was not very late hour when the
cavalier and the domino had disappear
ed from the scene. When the masks
were removed at twelve o'clock, anx-
ious ones were looking to see who the
couple were, but they were gone, and
all were disappointed. Let us follow
4. 4 nf ho xyiHnu yvhara
they drove in haste, the cavalier very
happy, very talkatiye, and almost be-
side himself with joy-the domino very
quiet and very reserved. They were
shown into the drawing-room, and the
domino throws himself upon q lounge.
The cavalier steps forward to turn up
the gas Q little, but a pleasant voice
saws, II will do it for you, Mr.. NJ" and
the room is ablaze with light. The
voice was that of a young widow, and
the blaze of the light showed the law
yer leaning upon chair, perfectly
aghast with astonishment, looking from
the widow to the domino, yet unable to
utter word. g


why, what is the matter with Mr..
Y f"-asked the widow, "you look as
tonished. expected you, and have
been waiting for you for some time.
Your wife told me she would come
hero"


'My wife, gasped the cavalier.


"Yes, your wife. Why, what is the
matter. Are you unwellT


The cavalier scarce seemed to know
whether he was unwell or not. He
turned to the domino. She had removed
her masque, and he saw his wife sitting
before him. His astonishment was
greater than before. Still he could say
nothing. His wife was too indignant
to speak. The widow came to the relief
of both.


~ tell you what it is, Mr.. X.," she
said, "you've one of the best women in
the world for wife, and you abuse her
worse than any man ever knew. just
wish l was in her place for about five
minutes"


The cavalier looked as if he wished
nothing of the kind. The widow went
on.


uinsulted me in asking'me to 90
with you. If had had big brother able
to whip You, he should have done it, and
if it had not been that woman cannot
do those things, l would have done it
myself. You deserved it any way, You
You ugly monster. AS could
not do it, told your wife, and we de-
termined to punish you, and / guess you
have had pretty good lesson, aud one
which will last you some time. know,
by the way your poor wife bushes, you
have said all sorts of insulting things
to her, thinking it was me; but it was
not, and l guess you have found it all
out. You've had lesson; now go
home, and if ever hear of your neglect
ing your wife again, or running off af-
ter other women, I'll tell the. whole
story, and have it published in the pa
pers, with your name in great big type
oh! you big monster you"


Poor X, was suffering terribly. He
had never been caught SO fairly before.
The perspiration was pouring down his
forehead, and the air of the room SEEM
ed terribly confined. He mentally cursed
masquerades, dominos, bewitching wild
ows and his own stupidity, and it was
relief when his wife, who evidently
felt that he had been punished suffi-
ciently, intimated that they had better
go home, and the poor cavalier skunk
away, like whipped school boy. We
trust the lesson will be lasting one
to him.