Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-08-09
WHAT GAME OF MY JEALOUSY.

5 II was misty, yet sweet, CeptemDer night.
can see the sky as it hung over our cottage
home, starry blue, with here and there patch
| of white, floating gossamer; and the harvest
moon coming up and flooding all the world with
golden spIencor. remember how the crimson
roses hung above the door way, heavy with their
own sweetness I; and what suggestive odurs float
ed up from the hoWer-beds in the dim, old gar
den. can ever remember the dress | wore,
pure white, because that was the dress in which
my husband loved me best. Did he love me
at all! Or was it my yellow gold that won
him? w.
Immediately after our marriage we went to
Europe, where we rambed about for year or
two, wintering in Rome, and spending our sum-
mers amid the Alps Then we returned home
But the nouadIc spirit was still upon US, and
We took what our own country afforded In the
way OF glpsy life. ln the midst Of this wander
lug, In a little country town amid the lakes, my
first trouble came. On the second day of our
sojourn at this place, to which we had come in
| accordance with my husbands wish, missed
him. he was h7hlng for trout, one of our party
suggested and in the afternoon we strolled
down toward the stream Passing small cot
tage, We heard voices, and something familiar
made me glance that way. There they stood,
side by side, ny husband aud 4 woman-a young
woman, with glossy, raven +! Il passed on
In silence; but that night zen my husband
returned and sought me, 5 reserved and
cold. | refused to dance, anQ would not sing
for him, He followed me from place to place.
his eyes full OF grave soci ude The instant We
were IN our own room, he caught my hand in
his.
my darling" he said, what troubles your"
For my life | could not tell him. was afraid
| to let him know that doubted his integrity.
Horace, | questioned, tinidiy, do you
love me. y
His fine eyes opened wide with amazement
But he answered passionately. sas..
Love you? Ay, better than you will ever
know, Violet.
Did you have you ever loved apy one else?f
| faitered
2 Never, Violet, on my honor"
was happy, yet not entirely satisfied. I was
woman Eve ate the forbidden fruit with
Paradise all around her.
Then who was it, taltered, that woman
| -lfsaw you with-this afternoon?
He started, and flushed very red for a mo-
ment, then he laughed -
'a'Oh! he said, Jealous, are you? Then |
am sure you love me But, seriously, dear, |
ought to have apoligized for my long absence
That woman was friend, an old friend of mine
-she $ in distress, aud l had to help her. Are
you satisfied p
I nodded my head in assent, yet my heart
was not quite at rest After that We went down
to our little sea home, and settled into sober,
married life; aud for months our bliss was per-
| feet and then that dreadful night came!
I Horace had been gone all day. He did not
| come home to dinner, as was his custom; so,
after having ordered tea. l dressed myself, and
sat down on the rose-sha led porch to await him.
Sunset, dusk, evening: the moon soaring ny a.
| beye the sea Still he did not come Dinner
| and supper had both spoiled the flowers 10 my
| hair we're fading, and was sick aud weary with
| waiting and suspense. Horace had never re-
mained away so long since our marriage. What
could detain him SO? Very slowly the night
| went by. Twelve o'clock came, the moon drop
ped out of sight, leaving me in darkness An
| owl hooted from the top OF the old willow, and
| the surf beat with a weary, sobbing sound. r
worked myself up into perfect tremor of
alarm and nervous excitement, and by degrees
| the old doubt, or fear or whatever it was, stole
| back to my mind. My husband was cruel to
| keep me ia such suspense. He did not love
| me! 1t never occurred to me that he might be
detained against his will When, at last, the
clock was on the stroke of three, | caught the
quick tramp of his horses feet But it did not
greatly relieve me. felt angry, and instead of
running down to meet him, as my woman's ma
ture prompted me, yielded to my petted. way
ward will, and kept my seat. He did not stop
| TO take down the OARS, Dut Cicaicu tuom Will d
leap. When he reached the porch, he sprung
down, flushed and eager.
"Violet" he cried, the moment he caught
| sight of me, '.are you up yet? [ am so sorry y
| He approached, both hands extended. But
| turned from him, and walked to the other end
of the porch.
| He stood for a moment in silent astonishment,
| then followed, and took my hand, though kept
my face persistently averted.
| sVioet,''' he said, what is it 4? Are you i'll,
tired ? was so sorry to keep you waiting, but
circumstances" sag I 1
| Never mind the circumstances now!'' / Iex-
claimed pettishly. Il am very tired, and now
that know YOU are safe, / will 60 to bed.
| He looseued his hold on my hand, but looked
after me as left him, with glance shall new
er forget. can see him now, as he stood in the
moonlight, SO handsome and noble: and loved
him so we'll | wonder why turned from him
that night God knows how 1t panied me. But
the spoiled, willful temper that has been my
| Did YOU ever speak harsh word to one you
love, and feel something within you prompting
you to speak another? Then you understand
how it was that l left my husband standing
there, weary and supper!ess 4aat
.'Violet, DEAR" be said, softly, as paused
invountariy at the head OF the stairs. ''come
back and let me explain you know have not
| kept you waiting willingly.
| But went on without a word, not to our
chamber, but to little dressing-room exclusive
i iy nv own. and cl,,sed aud locked the door,
4 am sure the Evil one must have had control OF
me that night In little while he came up
stairs. aud tried the lock of my door then he