Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-03-09
JEALousY.

IL. l am writing ct the table, and of
course, cannot see anything that is |
going On around me. Yet this thing I |
am sure Of, that Harry and Minnie
have been quarreling; that Minnie has
tapped her little feet on tho hearthrug,
examined the cosy 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 tune that one of Harry's rivals
is exceedingly fond of. Harry yawns.
Minnie keeps on humming the air
without looking up, and now goes for
her writing desk, opens it, and takes
out huge white envelope, superscribed
in . bold, beautiful hand, bushes q lit
tie, and takes pains that Harry $685.
Every nerve in his body is awake. He
looks as though he would devour her.
Minnie takes just the daintiest sheet
Of paper out Of her desk and COM
mencss writing-O, 50 neat and picely.
She never took so much pains q write
to Harry, not she, she hopes Harry
will understand it. He bites his lips,
strokes his moustache, and sets his
teeth together. Now he bitches about
in his chair /; puts his feet on an otto
man now kicks the ottoman over, and
gets up out Of his chair altogether.
Minnie smiles. Harry goes to the
window. Why don't he set down and
not make Ounce of himself P? Why
don't he take it coolly, set before the
fire and read his newspaper, instead of
pleasing the little coaustte Of Minnie,
by his unsasiness What fools men
are! If live, he is half looking over
her shoulder this minute Sit down
you ape, and not make 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
wreathes into his chair again.
Minnie writes faster than ever, and
Harry watches her. Now she has fin
ished, and is funbling about in her desk
after something. Yes, a pair of scis-
sors +! What can she want of them ?
Clip, and off goes one of her curls
Harry starts upon his feet, smothers
into a growl the angry words upon his
tongue, sits down agsA;sand kicks over
the ottoman.
"Would you like to read my letter,
"Thank you"
I read it.
"What a nice letter it u.s." I ex-
claimed, giving it back to her.
81 wish I could say something to
comfort Harry. I might if-if-1
wasn't women, just like Minnie"
"He understands French, then," /
said to Minnie.
"Oh, yes, he is a fine French schol.
ar" she answered, placing her brown
curl within the folds of the letter.
Harry hops up again and sits down
as quickly. Minnie commences putting
her desk in order, wipes her pen, shuts
down the cover Of her inkstand, re-
aaces her scissors, paper and envel-
opes. Harry signs; gracious what a
sigh! for all the world like the puff Of
q steam engine!
Minnie takes up her writing desk
and lamp, bends down her red lips for
kiss, and says:
Goodnight, Maggie
Now she is gone. Harry signs long,
loud and deep, and glances at me. l
hope I don't smile, thong h it would be
just like me. Now he is out Of his
chair again, and coming towards me.
'Maggie, tell me, in the name Of
misery, tell me, who Minnie wrote that
letter to-
"What are you thinking about? l be-
tray Minnie's confidence! You are
insane!!"
'But, Maggie, tell me, if you have
any regard for me, was it Frank Var.
rem 20 ri '' "
"No."s 81. -
"Charles Stetson?" -.
emo" gla IL
"David Webstcr?''
emo"
"That miserable French teacher ?"
"No, no. -. +
"Who was it, then % g
81 have a great mind to tell you
no, no, I mustn't"
eyes, yes, do let me know. Minnie
she'll never hear Of it,"
"Well it was-put your ear close to
my mouth-it was-'
"Who? Nv.
cit was-don't hurry met was-''
"Who ?" he groans.
cit was-yes, it was"
"Who % he thunders.
cit washer brother -
"The deuce it was ~
cha ha ha no no no -
I am alone. My ears are ringing with
something like sound boxing. Harry
has just slammed the outside door
fercely enough to jar the whole house,
and jumped out en- the sidewalk with
force enough to dislocate his ankle
bones. st-.. esE - 5'a st4 +a----
Whew what fools men are!
H1NTs.-The whitewashing Of cattle
and horse stalls, as well as the inside
of hog cotes and henneries, not only
renders them more healthy, but prevents
the animals and fowls from being in