Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-04-08
A Wife's Jealousy.

husband ''You looked very much iuteres'ed.
Mr.. Crawford looked at it oddly.
Really, | don't know" he said, "was |
reading anything?"
"I'm sure I'm not inquistive," said Mrs.
Crawford, and sat down to the coffee urn with
little fouuce "only always show you my
letters, William"
"I've only received one letter this morning.
said Mr.. Crawford. Ii you'd like to share
the reading Of it, you can
He tossed her an envelope, within which lay
little folded paper-the butchers monthly
account.
Mrs. Crawford poked the bill back iuto its
envelope. 1t was yellow one. That which
she had seen her husband reading had, sic
felt sure, delicate pink tnge.
In all their married life Mrs. Crawford had
never felt suspicion Of her husband before,
but there was no chat over tue breakias, table
that morning. The children were neglected
aud grew fretful the mother scolded them.
The father gave no good-hy kiss to h's
wife; aud when. her early morning du-
ties were over and the children of to
school. Mts. Crawford ascendcd TO the little
sitting room, she carried as wretched a heart
thitier as could well beat in any woman's
breast.
" But it was pale pink note, aud lady 5
hand" said Mrs. Crawford TO herself; "and
be hid i. rom me-" The horrors she felt at
opening his desk secretly, aud as burglar
might, quietly passed way. She wiped her
eyes with her handkerchief, and plunged into
a certain box. which was a receptacle for eddS
and ends. From thence she brought forth
jugling chain, with keys strung upon 1t, little
aud big, iron aud brass, new aud rusty keys OF
closets, and drawers, and trunks, and boxes
KEYS her grandmother had for her storeroom
KEYS that belonged to her own dolls bureau.
Gathering them mp in her hands, she sat down
before the desk, and began trying one after
another in the lock At last she found one
that fitted. She lifted the lij, aud her eyes,
red with tears, saw the interior Of the desk -
There was book, one her husband had been
reading lhe night before, from the edge Of
which protruGel something pink. Mrs. Craw-
ford pouuced upou it with low cry. 1t was
little envelope; from it she tore note
This was what she read
M Den HHidm I've longed 10 see you,
all day. Be sure that you come Tonight
With kiss, yours, always"
Mrs. Crawford gave little scream, bat she
thought Of the setysn;s and restrained herself.
White as death she put the note back in the
book, locked the desk, aud dropped the great
chain Of keys into its box. Then she sat in
her rocking chair, and swayed herself back
ward and forward, aud asked herself what she
should do. What, indeed Fifteen years she
had been married and all that while she had
been SO happy. And now t'oublc worse than
death bad come. There was no explaining
this away. Her husband had no sisters, no
no mother. no female friend or relative who
could write such thing.
No, there was no explanation but this dread
ful one-he had been making love to some
one. Perhaps be had even two wives. When
men begin TO be mad 70 one could tell where
they would stop.
When her husband came homc he hal no
suspicion Of the discovery she had made. He
looked at her much ms usual, and lie spoke
FIRST
What's the matter, EN- The children
are not threatened with the smallpox"
"If they were dead with it, William, and
!, too, should be glad, said the wife. 81
had rather be dead than feel as feel tonight" "
" Ny dear, never saw you in this way be-
fore" he said. Are you ~? I'm afraid you
are"
lie came to her side aud bent over her
She repulsed him. Then he. astonished and
angry, stood looking at her.
What am to understand from this q he
said
You knor, William she answered
Look into your heart aud ask yourself. Ah !
William. have been true wife to you, and
a good mother to your children lor fifteen
years and now you turn from the 10 some
younger aud prettier woman. You see know
all, William. That note excited my suspicion
this morning. know wom,n don't reason
things out like men they know the truth by
instinct | opened your desk and read the
note you had hidden inside the book Of po-
ems, and don t know who she is, aud don't
care; but you love another woman"
Still the husband stood looking at his vile
the straneest look lie did not approach her,
nor did he answer her by sny word. After
awhile be said softly, aud quite to himself.
"The little pink note in the book We'll !
to be sure yes, yes, and she is jealous"
jealous !" cried poor Mrs. Crawford.-
That's light word to me, aud you use it
lightly. It's nothing tia: you have been SO
false to me that YOU"
Emma, You make your accusations veFy
cooly Why do you declare that have been
false to you?"
A little ray of hope shot into the wifs's
heart.
at least you mus, have made love to
woman before she could write so to you"
lie shook his head softly.
~ r.. ,io, - - e.;J