Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-04-22
THE JEALOUS WIFE.

NEARLY three centuries ago an extern
siye portion of that part of the country
which lies on the Wallachian banks of
the Danube belonged to Demetri c.,
powerful BOVard, descending from one
of the Greek Princes who had been
driven from Constantinople at the fall of
the Lower Empire. He was wealthy,
generous and magnificent, the father of
promising son-who, at the period this
history relates, was eighteen years old
and the husband of the most beautiful
woman in the country. Thyra c. was
looked upon as the happiest and most
envied of her sex; and she might have
justified the general belief, for nature
had endowed her with mental powers no
less remarkable than her personal per-
fections, had it not unfortunately hap
pened that, amid the countless roses
with which her path in life had been
stIewn, one sharp thorn had lurked and
pierced her to the heart, rendering her,
in the intolerable anguish that it oc-
casioned, regardless of the many other
blessings which had been showered upon
her.
In word, she was Of a suspicious and
jealous disposition. Passionate1y at
tached to her husband, and, to all ap-
pearance devoted to her children, she,
nevertheless, lived in constant distrust of
him, which his character and manner
were too well calculated to justify, for
his general admiration of beauty was
matter Of notoriety.
At last her suspicious appeared to find
an object on which to settle Among
her female attendants was young and
pretty Transylvanian, named Media,
whose superior education had rendered
her favorite with her lady. All at once
the damsel became neglectful of her du-
ties, absent in mind, and inattentive to
the wishes OF her mistress; when repri-
manded by her she betrayed violence
and hauteur. Thyra threatened to dis
miss her from her service. The Prince
opposed such a measure; and in proper
ton as the displeasure Of his wife was
evinced toward the delinquent the voice
and manner of her husband softened in
her favor.
This was more than sufficient to fire
the suspicious of the Princess. Eager to
ascertain the reality of that which she
dreaded, and resolved to rush upon
knowledge that would break her heart,
she forgot her dignity so much as to play
the eaves-dropper and spy over her at
tendant, for some time without any re-
suit. One day, however, when the young
girl had been sent for by her and had
neglected to attend the summons, Thyra
treacherouAy crept up back way to her
meniaPs chamber, or room, door, and
nolselessly stationing herself outside of
1t listened to what was passing within.
A murmur of voices in the room con-
WINGED her that Media was not alone. and
almost Immediately that of the suspected
damsel broke upon her ear in accents
the purport of which could not be mis-
taken.
Leave me-" she said, "for Heavens
sake, leave mel If my mistress were to
know of you being here should be lost
forever. Already she suspects and
watches me, and I live in daily terror
of her discovering love which would
draw upon me her eternal enmity. Go,
Prince-go, Demetril This evening, so
soon as It's dark, will contrive to steal
oct to the fountain in the sycamore
grove-meet me there at eight-your pre-
text of absenting yourself from home
will prevent the Princess from suspecting
that we"
Here the voice became fainter, as the
person speaking moved toward an oppo-
site door; the footsteps of man were
plainly to be distinguished moving in
the same direction. Thyra could hear
no more-she strained her eyes to the