The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-01-11
Jealousy.
BY MARGARET VERNE.

Yes, Harry is jealous, am sure of it,
| am writing by the table, and gof course
cannot see anything that is --going on
around me-. Yet this thing am sure of,
that Harry and Minnie have been quar-
reling; that Minnie has tapped her little
foot on the hearth-rug, examined the rosy
nails of each slender hand attentively,
and that Harry has whistled Yankee
Doodle with all his might, looking out
from under his long brown lashes, to see
how his indifference affected Minnie.
Now Minnie takes book and turns
over the leaves carelessly, stopping to hum
a tune that one of Harrys rivals is ex-
ceedingly fond of. Harry yawns. Min
ME keeps on humming the air without
looking up, and now goes for her writing
desk. Opens it, and takes out huge
white envelope, superseded in a bold
beautiful hand-blushes little and takes
pains that Harry sees. Every nerve in
his body is awake; he glares his great
brown eyes at Minnie; he looks as though
he would devour her.
Minnie takes just the daintiest sheet of
paper ont of her desk, and commences
writing-O, so neatly and so nicely. She
never took so much pains when she wrote
to Harry-never, not she; and she hopes
Harry will understand it. He does un-
derstand it, bites his lips, strokes his
moustache, and sets his teeth together
Now he bitches about in his chair; puts
his feet on an ottoman now kicks the Of
toman over and gets up out of his chair
altogether.
Minnie smiles; Harry goes to the win
dow. Why don't he sit down. and not
make Ounce of himself? Why don't he
take it coolly, set before the fire and read
his newspaper, instead of pleasing the
little coquette Of Minnie by his uneasi-
ness =? What fools men are? If live,
he is half-looking over her shoulder this
minute Sit down, you ape, and not
make a whirlwind of yourself.
Minnie draws herself up like little
queen, as Harry glances at her writing
arches her neck, and curls her red lips as
though he had insulted her, and he
writhes into his chair again.
Minnie writes faster than ever, and
Harry Watches her. Now she had fin
ished, and is fumbling about in her desk
after something. Yes, pair of scissors
what can she want of them Clip,
and off goes one Of her brown curls.-
Harry starts upon his feet; smothers into
agrowl the angry words upon his tongue;
sits down again, and again kicks over the
ottoman. Id
"Would you like to read my letter,
Maggie?
read it.
"What nice letter it is" l exclaimed,
giving it back to her.
| wish l could say something to COM
fort Harry. might, tiff wasn't a
woman, just like Minnie.
"He understands French, then2" I
said to Minnie.
40, yes, he is fine French scholar"
she answers, placing her brown curl with
in the folds of the letter.
Harry hops up again, and sits down as
quickly.
,.s Minnie commences putting her desk in
order. Wipes her pen, shuts down the
cover of her inkstand, replaces her scis-
sors, paper and envelopes. Harry signs;
gracious, what sigh! for all the world
like the puff of a steam engine.
Minnie takes up her writing desk and
lamp bends down her red lips for a kiss
and says
Good night, Maggie"
Now she is gone. Harry signs, long,
loud. and deep, and glances at me. I
hope don't smile, though it would be
just me to. Now he is out of his chair
again. and coming towards me.
Maggie, tell me, in the name ofmisery,
tell me who Minnie wrote the letter tor
What are you thinking about? l
betray Minnie's confidence? Yon are in
sane?"
But, Maggie, tell me, if you have any
regard for mel Was it Frank Warren?"
No"