A GAY LOTHARIO!

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 976, 24 September 1878, Page 3

A GAY LOTHARIO !

Here is the account of a "Platonic" swindle on the part of a l-»dy for which one can hardly help feeling a sorjb ' of sy«npsthy. The story., suggests a -telling? scene for a farce. , W<j su ppress the names of {he »otbra,-a,nd \^t\ie' venue m a well-kflbwn colonial town. Oh the one side, we bave a young woman of prepossessing appearance, whose husband is temporarily absent from home ; and, on the other, a middleaged gentleman, holding an exalted position m affairs connected with the "Ohuich and State." The stray glances of the bewitching damsel and her marvellous beauty caused a strange palpitation m the bosom of ] this highly decorous bachelor. Even m, this fast-paced age there is nothing remarkable .m this situation. But 1 a oar feverish anxiety, gentle j there is both pathos and m the story. Glances led to nods, thence to hat raising, and an evening's visit to the dovecot occupied by the charmer. In delirious ! ecstacy, the bachelor sat talking of " what might have beeu," till, with a start, the lady discovered that it was past midnight. How tiniQ.does fly sometimes. The servants of the household, it was ; discovered, had retired, probably concluding that their mispress was alone. Here was a dilemma ! To be seen leaving the house at such an hour might compromise the fair fame of the lady. What was to be done? Happy thought. The Fiench window led on to the verandah, thence to the garden and iron railings. No sooner conceived than executed, and be trudged home the happiest of mortals. Sly old fox ! Next day's post, brought him a letter. How well he knew the, angular writing. More delirious ecstacy ! Bui this exultation was shortlived. The message was couched m the most fearinspiring sentences possible to conceive. During the night, a thief had stolon a large sum of money, which her husband had left for safekeeping m her bedroom. Horrors accumulate. The worst has to be told. The policeman to whom she had reported the robbery had declared that he could lay his hand on the culprit at any moment, as he bacU seea him leave the house by the window. The cons able further siated that he would have made the ariest, but he had identified the party, and felt sure he could alwaj s tiud him if he was "wanted." What should she do under these drendful circuuir: stanc3S. Her husband was so unreasonable. He would put the worst possible cons ruction on everything. There would be a horrid exposure — murder, a divorce, blood, a scandal ! The bachelor interviewed hi^ solicitor, the result being that be. sent the lady the amount of money— a- large sum— of which the house had been robbed. The husband knows nothiug about the robbery, and the bachelor no, Iquger knows the lady. Such is, ; the ingratitude of some men !