The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-11-05
THEGREEy.EYED MONSTER LOOSE.

THE EGREEN-EYED MONSTER LOOSE.
One February morning, about ten years
ago. a man Ofbetween thirty and forty sat
i'm his lodgings on the drawing-room floor
in Museum street, London. writing. His
table was thickly strewn with old books
and engravings, some of the former lying
open. others with numerous slips of pa
per sticking out from between the leaves
TO mark certain places for he was writing
a history Of the drama backwards, taking
the nineteenth century first. and then 90.
ing to the eighteenth ard as he had ac-
cumulated enough manuscript for two oc
tavO volumes without reaching George
the Thirds re,gn, and proposed to get as
close to the Flood as he could, it threatened
to be a volumin0us, exhaustive and costly
work. Fortunately, however, he never
dreamed of its paving. He was bache-
lor with fair income, riding his hobby
horse. and it was cheaper than thorough
bred, or even a hack. Cheaper, but not
so conducive TO health, perhaps, for he
looked pale and nervous. indeed, his
general appearance was delicate, his figure
small and slight, his hair and sparse
whiskers the color of tow, his eyes weak
and prominent, and at any sudden noise
he started. Even so small a matter as the
maid-servant opening the door startled
him. and il did not seem TO compose his
nerves that she announced lady. ..
"A lady , What lady," he asked.
"She wouldn't give her name" replied
the girl.
ASK her, tell her" he began; but
the enterance of the visitor in question,
closely veiled. cut his directions short.
He rose. and hurried forward to offer a
chair, so disclosing limp.
Directly they were alone she raised her
veil; the man literally staggered back,
and caught hold of the table for support.
" Hush!'' said the lady, placing her
finger on her lip as she went back TO the
door, which she opened. Satisfied that
the girl had gone down stairs, she returned,
and exclaimed
"Oh, Mr. Petersl Do you not know
ANYTHING ofmy husbands"
The poor man sank down in a chair,
and collapsed.
His visitor searched about in a rapid yet
self-posSeSsed manner, and found glasses
and a decanter in a cupboard.
Not that. not that ~ he murmured. as
she offered him the peculiar sherry which
was left out for the benefit of a thievish
landlady; fumbling for his keys. he man.
aged, though with shaking hand, to un-
lock a compartment of his writing-table in
which a bottle of the wine reserved for
his own drinking was always kept. Won
derful is the in>tinc, of self-preservation ;
man going TO be hung at nine has been
known to refuse port at eight because he
was subject TO the gOut.
When he had swallowed a couple OF
glasses of wine. Mr.. Peters revived lit
tie. Then the lady continued
s'You do know something, or you would
not be so agitated. Oh. pray, relieve me
from this horrible suspense. L cannot
draw money, or anything, until there is
some proof. Tell me, is he dead"
Mr.. Peters shuddered.
"I-I don't know. How should know:
Twas not aware, when | saw you last, that
Won had a husband. What makes you
think"
al will tell you" interrupted the lady
II am now twenty-five. Seven years age
| was married to a monster. He was ole
and frightful; but my parents were very
strict. and thought all pleasure wicked, Sc
that | was clad of any excuse TO leave
home: and, when they offered him to me
| took him without hesitation. He wa!
rich: he made good settlements; but, oh
his jealousy was fearful! He did not shu
me up-indeed, he rather eourted than
Stunned society, for he had horror o
his dominant passion being suspected; ye
ANYBODY could see it who had eyes, for IN
could not conceal it bit. 1t was not only
of me he was Jealous. He had quarrreleC
with all his brothers and sisters, becaus'
he thought his parents loved them best
he had a favOrite dog poisoned, because
grew too fond of a servant. There wOul'
be no end to eDumerating instances of hi
mania. for it amounted to that. Some o
l.,
with sanity. We never had house of on
own. but wandered about from place T.
place, living principally on the Continent
and, being utterly inexperienced in tn
ways of the world, | attributed this to
love of travel and change of scene, and di,
not discover that his restlessness was il
reality caused by the civility of some casu
al made acquaintance towards myself, I'll
after his first duel"
"Duel!'
s'Duel. He was born and bred in Gel
many, and his ideas about many thing
were not at all English. | believe he cor
sidered killing any one not only pleasant
but something to be proud Of"
Mr.. Peters groaned.
''Was it not shocking?" continued tn
lady. "Well, though his hair was gray
he was very strong and active, and dar
gerous antagonist, too, | believe. wit
either small-sword, saber, or pistol
"Ah!''
alt was at Dieppe. and about six month
after our marriage. that L was first mad
an excuse for bloodshed. A polite yOun
Frenchman, who had sat next me fe'
times at the table dhote, and danced wit
me at the assembly rooms, was so civil q
TO offer me a bouquet, and my mOnste
wounded him in the arm for il. Aftt
4 -Ta 70 Of fav 10,
hv some careless word, or even look,
should bring about calamity, and Il
some time | succeeded i'm avoiding any e.
cuse for quarrel but year afterward
at Heidelberg. German professor wro
a Sanscrit ode upon me; my husband CT
his nose off with weapon they call
schlOger. He never ill-uSed me, or eve
upbraided me-indeed, | gave him 4
cause; but he watched me as a cat does
mouse, so that life was a perfect nigh
mare. asked him one day, when he W;
in soft humor, if there was anything
my manners, or dress, or way of Speakin
which excited his unworthy mistrust.
NO said he, with grim calmne
which made me shudder: if there h
been. [ should have shot u.s.
"sUs?' exclaimed.
Eyes he said; You first and mvst
afterwards
HE hated England, because he cou
not fight duels here, but he was oblig
TO paw periodical visits to this country
business and as this conversation to
place during one of them, went straig
to my family lawyer, and ne took me
fore magistrate, and | swore the pes
against nay husband, under whose roo
never again stepped, and in due time s
a legal separation from him, my succ'
being principally due to his own violen
in the witness-boX, where he gave vent
the most atrocious sentiments.
though we were separated. lhed did not e
up watching me. AT the most unexpec'
times and places he would turn up, Q.
orally disguised; and if any-nan- h:
pened to be in company with meon s
eral occasions running, and 30 speak
me rather more often than to the Others
was sure to receive laconie note warni
me 10 shun that new acquaintance al
since L burst neither disobey nor disel,
the tyrannieal order, fear that acouil
reputation for fickleness and prudes