The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-22
Reward Of jealousy,

iuNO tOllNIuuCo w hulOs iOl WV S'AhNNN''A
of whoever may chance to read it, my ex-
perience in love. As you must know, l,
like all others, was once young, and like
wise had my love-dreams, and also my
share of trials and tribulations relative to
that distressing evil, jealousy.
Well, shortly after my return from col
lege, I met and formed an attachment for
Ethel Graves, a charming little brunette
with large brown eyes fringed all around
with jet lashes, the daughter of one of our
neighbors, a wealthy Southern planter.
Being neighbors, and our families being on
good terms, we were constantly thrown to-
gether, and in due season my affections
were made known, and, | am happy to an
nounce, were fully appreciated; so we
were betrothed after the usual fashion.
One evening, having called on my lady
love, there arose question of which she
had been teasing me to tell her, and having
it in my power to tantalize her, made use
of the opportunity,
"Woman's curiosity" said |, with a
shrug of my shoulders, "ahd feminine
jealousy"
"Nonsense ~ retorted Ethel, coloring.
81 suppose men are never curious Or jeal-
Gus either?"
"Never," quoth I, with smile of calm
superiority.
"Then you must tell me, IIerbert?'
j 81 think, my dear, that your curiosity
and the other emotion need little dici-
pline."
Now why on earth | wanted to be so
provoking, can't tell; the natural per-
versity of man, most probably; for there
was no other reason; wanted to tease
Ethel, so | withdrew into a veil of unpene-
trable mystery.
She did not say one word more, but
: turned quietly and left the room, and as she
disappeared through the entrance saw the
downward flutter of a little slip of white
paper from her dress; now whether it was
dropped unintentionally or on purpose we
will leave for the readers to guess. In
G stinctively stopped to pick it up, and, as
stopped, could not avoid reading the
: characters inscribed thereon in a clear,
masculine chirography,-
o al ,3-Clark and Newton. No disap-
Il pointment this time. R. CO.
4 felt the crimson flush mounting to my
temples as read and re-read the mysteri-
T. GUS words, "R c." Didn't l remember
- that Robert Clark was Ethel's second cousin
and a provokingly handsome fellow at that ?
!, Had | forgotten that people used to think
# what Handsome couple they would
t make, before stepped into the ring? r.
Il c., indeed And I clenched my fist in.
Voluntarily as l crumpled the paper inside
:, its grasp.
g "What are you looking for, Ethel?"
She stood with one hand resting lightly
= on the door-knob, glancing uneasily round
i the room, while there was a guilty flush OF
c her cheek.
e "I--that s--have you seen a little slr
of paper lying about"'
;s "No."
e 81 uttered the falsehood with deliberate
n calmness, even while the tell-tale billet la,
e in my hands. So she was anxious abou
{ it. She didn't like the idea that
;, should have an insight into her little ar
d rangements with R. c. All false anc
1t fair-all women are alike.
n n at must have been something very i'm
n portant," | remarked, as she hurriedly
turned over the books on the table, still
1t searching for the missing treasure
n 81 suppose l have left it up stairs" sh,
s. said artfully evading direct answer
,e "You are not going, Herbert?'
l. 81 am going. "Geod-night."
4 Not until | was in my own room did
open and re-examine the odious little bit o
II IL paper. 1l,3-of course the whole thin!
t. was as plain as daylight. To-day was tn
1t tenth of the month; it was simply an ap
= pointment for the morrow at three O'Clock
" | ground my teeth as the truth fashe
!e across my brain. ''No disappointment
~ =, this time" | would have liked to chal
IS lenge Robert Clark to mortal combat on til
instant, were it not that dues were entire
le ly out of fashion. What business had he t
=, ~ lay down law to my Ethel? But there wa
n no consolation--W lille Newton was my oil
IT friend; he would not see me wronged, if h
ID could help it, and promptly resolved
,e appeal to Willie for aid and justice.
x glanced at my watch; nine o'clock; to
d late to seek out Mr.. Newton, who probabl
,e was at his country seat long before thi
y So lighted the gas, and sat down to che
A. the cud of my own bitter meditationl
The more meditated on my injuries. I'll