The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-15
The JEALOUS WIFE.

TIE JEALOUS WIFE.
NEARLY three centuries go an extern
siye portion Of that part OF the country
which lies on the Wallachian banks OF
the Danube belonged to Demetri C,
. powerful Boyard, descending from one
of the Greek Princes who had been
driven from Constantnople at the fall of
the Lower Empire. lie was wealthy,
generous and magnificent, the father Of
a 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.
looked upon as the happiest and most
envicd 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
pcned that, amid the countless roses
with which her path in Wife had been
strewn, one sharp thorn hsd lurked and
pierced her TO the heart, rkndering her,
in the intolerable anguish. that it &C
casioned, regardless Of tae many other
blessings which had been showered upon
her.
In a word, she was of a suspicious and
jealous disposition Psssionate-y 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 a
matter Of notoricty
At last her suspicious appeared to find
an object on which to settle Among
her female attendants was young and
pretty Transy lyanian, named Media,
whose superior education had rendered
her favorite with her lady. AL at once
t1e damsel became neglectful Of her du.
ties, absent in mind, and iasttentiYe to
the wishes Of her mistress; when repri-
manded By her she betrayed violence
and hau-eur 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
eyinced 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 50 much as 10 play
the eayes-dropDer and spy over her at
tendant, for some time without any re-
salt. One day, however, when the young
girl had been sent for by her and had
neglected 10 attend the summons, Thyra
tTgacheToUsly crept up back way to her
menia!s chamber, or room, door, and
noiselessly statiOning herself outside Of
It listened to what Was passing within.
\ murmur Of voices in the room CON
viGced 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 me! II 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, Demetri. This evening, so
soon as It's dark, / will contrive to steal
out 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-n
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
creyice of the door at which she was
stationed, but saw nothing. Her heart
overnowing with tumultuOus passions,
she was for moment tempted to burst
open the door and confound the guilty
one who had presumed to rival her in
her husbands love; but listening again
she felt assured chat the room was empty,
and a moments reflection showed her
that. by few hours delay, she might
render her vengeance more signal and
complete. She therefore returned in the
same stealthy manner to her apartments,
shut herself up, and took measures ac-
cordingly. Ta
Her determination was to prevent the
possibility of Media quitting the house.
and then to disguise herself in the dress
OF a serving damsel, and to personate
the periidious attendant at the rendez-
vous at the sycamore grove which she
heard arranged by her. These medita-
lions were interrupted by a. message
from, the Prince, apprising her that he
should be absent from home the re-
mainder of the day, and should probably
not return until late that night; and this
message, additional proof of the cal |
culating treachery which her faithless
husband scrupled not 10 exercise toward
her, was the last drop that overfowed
the cup. The evaporation of her out
ragged feelings knew no bounds; and she
remained in solitude in her apartment,
that no member of the family might no.
tice her agitation.
An hour before sunset Media was sum-
mored to her lady's presence and re-
ceived an order to remain near her and
complete some embroidery, with which
she herself had been occupied.
Not daring to disobey, and hoping to
finish her task before the hour of ap.
pointment with her lover had arrived,
the young girl sat down to her work with
alacrity. The roomin which
they were was an upper chamber, and
formed the last of spacious suite, hav-
ing no entrance but the one which pre-
coded it. Not long after Media was seat |
ed at her embroidery frame the Princess
arose and quilted the room, locked the
door of it, and leaving her attendant