The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-02-11

that u contained bad news, and had
eagerly watched her tear il open, the
expression If her face when she read II
added to the charm Of the situation.
Mrs. Forester turned first red, and
then white. Then she declared that
she must ~ home Immediately.
us Mr.. Forester ills" inquired her
comforter.
mot very WE'LL" replied Eva, rs
calmly rs she could. He cant do
without me, u he has sore finger or
a toothache."
Charles Clare scowled. To be sure,
Eva's Irritation with him had consisted
in the most outrageous praises Of her
husband and description If the happi-
mes of their lives; but then he wanted
20 drive her to town, aud make her
husband a little jealous. il possible.
lie had to resign himself, however,
and lead her to Mrs. Clarkes carriage,
and see her dive away into the starry
night
The contents Of the note to Eva
were thee few lines -
"If Mrs. Forester knew withwhom
her husband spends his time while she
is gone, she would not stay away long,
certainly not over night"
There was no name signed. on
course that note would have taken Eva
Forester home over red-hot plough
shares.
Mrs. Clarke found her very dull
companion, and could get no satisiac'
ton from her concerning her hus'
hands sudden illness.
Leave me at the side door," said
Eva, when they drew near the hotel
where Mr.. aud Mrs. Forester were
staying.
why, my dear. your rooms are on
the other side" said Mrs. Clarke.
"But l will stop here" said the
young woman, decidedly.
If Mr.. Forester was at home, he
should not hear carriage drive up,
and look OFT and see that it was she.
II was ten O'Clock. for the drive had
taken them some time. The young
wife's heart burned with a fierce, a
deadly jealousy as she glided noiseless.
ly through the long, light entries. She
did not know who to b. jealous of, for
her husband had, after all, done moth
ing to point out any person. Her yex
ations had been vague, and as moth
ing, but now a terrible reality stood
before her. She had realized, think
ing the matter over on The way home
that, in truth, she had been the happi
EFT of women until that night, and
; that, though she had pretended to b.
jealous, it was all a pretence
Never until now had she known
that agonized contraction Of the hear,
which comes wheI. proof Of misery Il
at hand. Her head was in whirl
: though she was outwardly cool. Sh'
. was now fit for most anything. Wba
|. she would do to her husband she hac
not Us yet determined; but Us tor the
woman who dared to lure him away
/ from her, she should die.
Mrs. Forester passed swiftly thro
the hall. went into side passage, and
down to the street at the back of the
hotel. An apothccary's shop was al
! the ca.ner. She AIS known there,
and had no difficulty in procuring
what she wanted. After a minute she
went back To the hotel with bottle
in her hand.
A light shone under the door of her
room. Her husband was at home.
Mrs. Forester stopped fora minute to
take breath, then she softly tried the
lock. OF course il was fastenened,
she thought. But no, it yielded to
her touch, and she entered without a
sound.
The entry and drawing-room lights
were very dim, but from the open
door Of the sleeping room, came flood
of light. She crossed the room, and
stood on the threshold. Horror Of
horrors! A woman lay on her bed,
asleep, with her face turned away; a
white hand dropped over the side of
the bed, and food of fair hair
streamed over the pillow.
Eva Forrester's nerves seemed
changed to wires Of steel. She only
glanced around, to make sure that No
one else was in the rom; then she
softly approached the bed, the bottle
clasped tightly in her hand. A table
was drawn up to the bedside, and On
it was placed vase Of flowers and II
smelling bottle.
With her hand resting on the table
Eve bent forward To see the face of
her rival. II was sweet aud lovely
face, scarcely the one that might be
looked for in n woman who would be
found in such situation.
Wretch she muttered to herself,
taking step nearer the bed; but, at
the same time, she heard her husband