Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-12-11
GnIGs an0 ghetrbes.
GREEN-EYED MONSTER.

One February morning about ten years
ago a man, of between thirty and forty, sat
il his lodgings, on the drawing room floor
in Museum street, London, writing. His
table was thckly strewn with OlG books.
and engraviugs, some Of the former lying
! open, others with numerous slips of paper
stickin" out from the leaves to mark certain
! places: for he was writing history of the
drama backwards, taking the nineteenth
century first, and then going to the cigh-
! teenth and as he had accumulated enough
manuscript for two octave volumes without
reaching George the Thirds reign, and
proposed to get as close to the flood as he
could, it threatened to be q volumnOus,
exhaustive and costly work. Fortunately,
however, he never dreamed Of its paving.
lie was bachelor with fair income. rid
ing his HOBBY horse, and it was cheaper
than Il thoroughbred, or even back
Cheaper, but not so conclusive TO health.
perhaps, for he looked pale and nervous
Indeed, his general appearance was deli
cate, his figure small and slight, his hair
and sparse whskers the color of tow, his
eyes weak and prominent, and at any sud
den noise he started. Even so small
matter as the maid servant opening the
door startled him, and il did not seem to
compose bis nerves that she announced
lady.
4 LADY, What lady :? he asked.
She wouldn't give her name replied
the girl.
ASK her, tell her he began, but the
entrance of the visitor in question, closely
yelled, cut his directions short.
He rose and hurried forward to offer
chair, SO disclosing limp.
Directly they were alone she raised her
veil a; the man literally staggered back, and
caught hold of the table for support.
Hush y 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.. Peters Do you know anything
of my husband ?
The poor man sank down in a chair, and
collapsed.
His visitor searched about in 4 rapid yet
selfpOssessed manner, and found glasses
and decanter in cupboard.
Not that, not that he murmured, as I
she offered him the peculiar sherry, which I
was left out for the benefit of n thieyish .
and fumblng for his keys he /
though with shaking hand, to .
unlock il compartment Of his writing table, .
in which bottle of wine, reserved for his .
own drinking, was always kept. Wonder /
ful i9 the instinct Of selt-preservatiOn Il .
man going to be hung at nine has been .
known to refuse port Al eight, because he /
was subject to the gout.
When he had swallowed couple of .
glasses of wine, Mr.. Peters revived little. ,
Then the lady continued
You do know something, or you would
not be so agitated. Oh, pray, relieve me /
from this horrible suspense | cannot .
draw money OF anything until there is
some proof Tell me, is he dead =
Mr.. Peters shuddered.
II don't know. How should know? .
| was not aware, when | saw YOU last, that .
you had n husband What makes you
i will tell you,' interrupted the lady. /
4 am now twenty-five. Seven years ago | .
was married to Il monster. He was old .
and frightful; but my parents were very .
strict, and thought all pleasure wicked, SO
that l was glad Of any excuse to leave .
home, and when they offered him to me | .
took him without hesitation. lie was
rich, he made good settlements but, OH,
his jealousy was fearful lie did not shut .
me up-indeed he rather courted than
Stunned society, for he had horror Of his .
dominant passion being suspected yet
anybody could see it who had eyes, for he
could not conceal it Il bit. 1t was not only
of me he was jealous. He had guarrcled
with all his brothers and sisters. because /
he thought his parents loved them best:
he had favori.e dog poisoned because it
grew to be too fond of servant. There /.
would be no end to enumerating instances /.
of his mania, for 1t ltamOunted to that some
of his extravaganccs were quite incCnsist-
ent with sanity. We never had house of
our own, but wandered about from place
to place, living principally on the Cont
neut; and heing utterly inexperienced in
the ways Of the world, attributed this TO
a love of travel and change of scene, and
did not discover that his restlessness was .
in reality caused by the civility of some ,
casual male acquaintance towards myself
till after his first duel
Duel =
Duel. He was born and bred in Ger