LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2381, 19 November 1881, Page 4

LITERATURE.

ROBINSON’S WIFE

(Concluded.)

i Ton dollars isn’t a very large sum,’ I said. I had decided now that she wanted to ask me to lend her the money, but didn’t know how to go about, it, and I was at a loss how to help her. 1 had two crisp livo-dollar bids in my rest pocket, but how to get them into her hand was a problem. In the mean while time was Hying, aud Robinson would be back. ‘ You understand my husband, Mr Smith, You know how kind and good he is to me, He has told mo how he confides in you. You must know ho is tho dearest, best of husbands.’ ‘Of course I do, Mrn Robinson. Y7o arc like brothers,’ I said, with intense friendly fervor. •I bate even to deceive him fora moment, Mr Smith. Of course I shall tell him afterward ; but I want to surprise him. I wouldn’t care to give him anything if it wasn’t a surprise.’ ‘Of course, you wouldn’t, Mrs Robinson. Any other way would be so humdrum and commonplace, I know just how you fsel about it.’ 1 And my husband is so thoughtful, he is so anxious to relieve me of every care, that he knows just where every penny goes ; and, oh, dear, it’s too bad ! ’ Big tears gathered in her beautiful eyes ; it was too much for me.

* I understand it all, Mrs Robinson,’ I blurted out. 1 Don’t fret over such a trifle as this,’ and I thrust two five-dollar bills into her hand. She was on her feet in an instant. White now to her lips, and an awful expression in her eyes of reproach, rage, regret, heaven knows what, and all. Tho five-dollar bills had dropped on the floor. ‘Good morning, sir,’ she said. ‘I have been mistaken in you. Please tell my husband I could not wait for him.’ She was a little woman, but she seemed about ten feet high as she swept out of our department. Fortunately some foreign oases had effectually screened ua from observation. It was some time before I could pick up the bills. I felt stunned, bewildered, and exceedingly humiliated and miserable. I had made an ass of myself in some way, and innocently outraged the feelings of this excellent little woman whom I was most desirous to serve.

When Robinson came back he thought it so strange that his wife hadn’t waited for him. He wanted to know when sho came, how long she staid ; whether sho sat down or stood up, or said she’d come in again, and if so, when. At last I was desperate, and went out into the street. Before I knew what I was about I was up town, and ringing the bell of tho brown-stone house that Robinson hired. Tho servant he had selected came to the door, and showed me into the parlor he had furnished. His wife came right down to me, and the moment sho entered the parlor, I saw that her good sense and kind heart bad gained their own again. ‘ Not another word, Mr Smith,’ she said, when I began pouring out apologies and explanations. ‘ I was myself to blame for it all. I wanted you to sell something of mine for me, and with the money help me get tho present at coat. There now, that’s the whole of it. If I had only told you at once. Instead of beating about tho bnsh in that way ! But I’ve given up that ides, because he’d be sure to know if I parted with anything, he's so interested; he’d know if a silver thimble was gone. But I’ve hit on another plan, and I’ll toll you all about it, if you’d like to hear.’ *Of course, I’d like to hear,’ I exclaimed ‘ You are an adorable little woman to forgive that stupid blunder of mine. I was so miserable to have offended you and your husband.’ I added, for I thought I noticed a growing rigidity In her manner from tho word ‘adorable,’ ‘we are like brothers, yon know, Mrs Robinson—twin brothers !’ * Well. I’ll tell you what I’ve decided to do, Mr Smith ; I had to take ma into my confidence, for she’s going to help me. You know I’m going to have a new black silk, and it costs a good deal of money to have it made. Mrs Jones, my dressmaker, wouldn’t do it for leas than twenty dollars, and mamma and I will make it ourselves and take the money we’d have to give Mrs Jones for the present. That will be really my own money, because I shall earn It—my very own. Isn’t it a capital idea ?’ ‘Splendid!’ I said; and shortly after I took my leave, thinking all the way down to the store what an amount of trouble Robinson innocently gave that dear little wife of his.

We settled upon a dressing-case for Robinson before I left that day, and Mrs Robinson and I had to go together to look at the different verities of these articles, and I didn't want her to choose anything in a hurry, and then be sorry afterward; and altogether it was astonishing how absorbed I became in the purchase of that dressingcase. I thought of nothing else. The anniversary of Robinson’s wadding came upon a Saturday evening, and the next morning I was walking in the park, thinking it all over how happy Robinson must have been when she surprised him with the dress-ing-case and what a confoundedly lucky fellow ho was, anyway, I fell into quite a sentimental mood. I suppose the scene around me had something to do with It. It was one of those delightful mornings in May, when happy ripples run through the grass, and the young shrubs burst into bloom and verdure. Birds sang gaily in the hedges and the air was full of a vague perfume. Some white-winged butterflies flitted by. I took off my hat. Though a little bald, I enjoyed the soft radiance of the sunshine. 1 began to understand how at certain seasons a man might slip into rhyme or matrimony. All at once this celestial silence was broken by an advancing figure. It was Robinson—and alone. His head was bowed, his hat jammed over his eyes, the only part of hia face that was at first visible was of an ashen hue. JHIa whole aspect was one c£ unutterable misery and despair. * Good heavens, Robinson,’ I cried, rushing up to him and seizing his arm, * has anything happened to your wife V *To my wife ? Yes,’ he said, and I sank into one of the iron benches. I thought she was dead, and was relieved to hear the next sentence. Believed, though startled. ‘My wife has left mo, Smith. She’s gone home to her mother ?'

‘ Left you ? Gone home to her mother. Why, wasn’t last night yonr anniversary ?’ ‘Yes j that was how it oamo about; that was how I found her out. Smith. She’a deceived me—ahamefuliy and persistently deceived me, and yet, miserable wretch that I am,’ added Robinson, sinking into a seat beside me, covering his face with his hands, ‘ I love her still. ’

* Yon have deceived yourself in someway,* I cried, naturally indignant and incredulous. * It is some miserable mistake of your own. I know that your wife is the soul of integrity and honour,’

‘ God blesa you. Smith !’ he cried, grasping my hand fervently. ‘ Would to heaven I could believe what you ray I but tho facts are too convincing. XTp to yesterday I was the happiest man In the universe. I went home early, and on my way stopped at Mrs Jones’, my wife’s dressmaker, to see if her black silk was done.’ * What ?’ I shrieked.

* Her black silk, yon know,’ said Robinson * the one I told yon about. She said at least a dozen times that it was in the dressmaker’s hand. I gave her twenty dollars long ago to pay for it, and I thought I’d step in on my way home, so that there would be no disappointment. That was perfectly natural, wasn’t it, Smith.’ ‘ Go on,' I groaned. * I went to the dressmaker’s and rang the bell. Mrs Jones came to she door and she said that she hadn’t seen my wife for six months, that she never heard anything about a black silk dress. I was stunned, bewildered. I tried to persuade her she was wrong ; she shut the door in my face. I hurried home, naturally vexed and indignant. My wife came to meet me, smiling and fond, Smith—it breaks my heart to think of it. I asked her about the black silk. Was it dona ? Not quite, she said. Was it at the dressmaker’s 1 Yes. At Mrs Jones’? And waa it to cost twenty dollars? Yes? but why was X so troubled about it ?’ * Because, madam, ’ I cried, 1 you have deceived me ; I have just stopped at your dress-maker’s. She hasn’t seen yon for six months.’ My wife turned pale, called to her mammi, and fell back into Mrs Page’s arms in a dead faint.

• Mrs Page then flew Into a violent rage,

and abused me shamefully. She used language, Smith, that is painful to repeat. She called mo a sneak and a petty tyrant, a spy and a miser. She declared that her daughter never had a penny that I didn’t know when it was coined, and how she spent it; that Annie had no more to do with her own house than a Dutch doll, and the sooner sho was out of it the bettor. Sho sent my servant for a cab. and before my wife had fully recovered, she took her away, I have paced the floor all night, Smith. I shall never go back to the store again. I’m a ruined man—for there’s something behind all this. Smith; my servant told me last night that my wife has been in the habit lately of seeing a gentleman, of going out with him, and remaining a couple of hours ; ho is stout aud dark, a little bald, and wears spectacles. I burst out laughing. ‘ That’s me !’ I cried. ‘ Look at me, Robinson. I’m the man !’

Robinson glared at me In a dazed hut desperate way. I saw that ho was on the point of frenzy, and hastened to tell him all about his dressing-case. Before I was halt through he had absolutely thrown his arms about me, and cried like a baby. ‘ My mother in-law was right, Smith !’ ho cried. ‘ I have been a sneak and a spy, and perhaps a miser.’ ‘ Yon meant well, Robinson ; but It’s better to let women manage their own affairs ’

‘ It’s better to mind one’s own business,’ said Robinson. ' I’ve been a miserable meddler, and deserve to be punished. Before heaven. Smith, it was with the best intentions.’

‘ I know it, Robinson-’ ‘ Bat I’ll never do it again—never! And now lot’s go after my wife—you and I can explain everything to Mrs Page. I don’t wonder she hates mo, Smith. Poor little Annie I What a life she has led I 1 wonder she remains fond of me.’

‘ Well, I can vouch for that,’ I replied, honestly enough; and I persuaded him to stop at home and tidy up a bit, get shaved, and have some breakfast.

‘ That servant must go,’ said Robinson, savagely. * Lot your wife hire the next one,’ I said.

And just as I imagined, when we reached Robinson’s there was the dear little woman waiting for him. He fell on his knees at her feet, and began his protestations. 1 thought it best to leave them alone together; but how exceedingly lonely and forlorn my bachelor chambers did look when 1 reached them.