Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-06-02
Selset Story.
What Came Of my Jealousy.

~ A~"o - es--~o ~ A11 oOlVAO IAS, s
Tt was misty, yet sweet, September;
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 food
ing all the world with golden splendor.
remember how the crimson roses hung
above the door way. heavy with their own
sweetness; and what suggestive doors
foated up from the flower beds 10 the dim
old garden. can even remember the
dress | wore. pure white. because that
was the dress in which my husband loved
me best. Did be love me at all ? Or
was it my yellow gold that won him
Immediately after our marriage we
went to Europe. where we r&mbled about
for year OF two, wintering at Rome, aud
spending our. summers amid the Alps
Then We returned home. But the noma-
die spirit was still upon Us. and we took
what our own country affored in the way
Of gypsy lie. In the midst of this wen
dering, in little country town amid the
lakes, my first trouble came On the Sec
ond day Of orr sojouru at this place, to
which we had come in accordance with
my husbands wish, I missed him He
Was fishing for trout, one of our party
suggested; and in the afternoon we stroll
led down towards the stream Passing 4
small cottage, we heard voices, and some
thing familiar made NE glance that way
There they stood, side by side, my hus-
band and woman-a young woman.
with glossy, raven hair! 1 passed Oh in
silence but that night when my husband
returned aud sought me, was reserved
and cold. refused to dance ana woald
not sing for him He followed me from
place to place, his eyes fall of grave sole
itude. The instant we were in our room,
he caught my hand in his.
My darling he said, what troubles
you? 2
For ny life I could not tell him. I
was afraid to let him know that doubted
his integrity
Horace I questioned timidly do you
love me 2
Ills fine eyes opened wide with aston
ishment. But lie answered passionately,
'Love you? Ay, better than you will
ever know, Violet
Did you-haye you ever loved any one
else :? | faltered.
Never, Violet, on my honor
| was happy, yet not entirely satisfied.
/ was a woman. Eve ate the forbidden
fruit with Paradise all around her.
Then who was it, faltered, that wo-
mani saw you with-this afternoon 2
lie started, and flushed very red for a
moment, then he laughed.
'Oh' lie said. jealous, are you 2 Then
I am sure you love me. But, seriously.
dear ought to have apologjsed for my
long absence. That woman was friend,
an old friend Of mne-she's in distress.
and | had to help her. Are you satisfied ?
nodded my head ia assent, yet my
heart was not quite at rest. After that
we went down to our little sea-home.
and settled iufo sober, married life and
for months our bliss was perfect and then
that dreadful night came
Horace had been gone all day. He did
not come home to dinner, as was his Gus
tom so, after having ordered tea, dress
ed myself, and set down on the rose shaded
porch to await him. Sunset, dusk, eve
ing the mo soaring up above the sea !!
Sill he did not come. Dinner and sup
per had both spoiled the flowers in my
hair were fading, and | was sick and
weary with waiting and suspense. Hor
ace had never remained away so long
since our marriage. What could have de-
tanned him SO ? Very slowly the night went
By. Twelve o'clock came, the moon drop
ped out of sight, leaving me 10 darkness.
An owl hooted from the top Of the old
willow, and the surf beat with weary,
sobbing sound.
worked myself up into a perfect tre-
NOR Of alarm and nervous excitement, and
by degrees the old doubt, or fear or what
ever it was, stole back to nay mind. My
husband was cruel to keep me in such
suspense He did not love me ! Ituever
occurred to me that he might be detained
against his will When, at length. the
clock was on the stroke Of three. | caught
the quick tramp of his horae's feet. But
1t did not greatly relieve me. FELT ang
ry, and instead Of running down to meet
him, as woman's nature prompted me,
yielded to my petted, way ward will, and
kept my seat. He did not stop to take
down the bars, but cleared them with
leap. When be reached the porch. he
sprung down. flushed and eager.
Violet, be cried, the moment he
caught sight Of me, are you up yet? |
am so sorry.
lie approached, both hands extended.
But | turned from him, and walked to the
other end Of the porch
He stood for moment in silent aston
sment, then followed. and took my hand.
though | kept my face persistently aver
ted.
Violet he said, what is it Are