West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-03-16
THE JEALOUS WIFE.

Mrs. Noble sat in what she called her
morning-roOm, sewing, and her three
companions were her three children.
Harry, Lilly and Freddy-not that she
wanted any other companions, fer she
had an idea that these three were the
principal inhabitants of the globe. She
used to be good deal in love with her
husband some years before. and though
not even her enemies could accuse her
OF being anything less than an af-
tectionate and devoted wife, il is to be
feared that her ideas of the head of the
family had resolved themselves into the
one all-important fact, that he was sim
ply the children's papa"
Now George Noble himself was a SIM
pie hearted, loving, easy-going husband :;
and if the thought sometime obtruded
itself with provoking persistence into
his mind that he played second fiddle TO
a mortifying extentaia. his own house
ever since the arrival of the babies. he
was much too good father TO give the
idea room in his heart.
He wished that Flora could give him
little more personal attention at times
he would like to take her to the theater
or the concert sometimes<--tO both of
which he liked to go himself-now and
then; or, failing that species of enter
tainment, he would even have been
grateful If she could have found time TO
read to him an hour or two in the even
ing as she used to door listen while he
read.
But Flora was too busy or preoccu.
pied, or Lilly's dress had to be finished.
Harry wanted embroidered collars, or
Freddy had new tooth coming, and
was cross, poor darling
George, who was in a profitable bust
ness, and had plenty of money, sug-
gested nurses and seamstresses; but
Flora tossed her head, and informed
him, with some indignation, that only
a mother could properly tend and sew
for her own children.
George accepted the rebuke meeklv.
and acknowledged that il would be un-
reasonable to find fault with mother
for too great devotion TO her duties.
In this way George got into the habit
of taking his amusements alone; and
although invitations still came ad-
dressed as a matter of form to Mr.. and
Mrs. Noble, it was quite understood that
Flora's home duties prevented her from
going into society, and George soon
ceased TO press the matter.
When invitations came that he wished
10 accept, he dressed and went out. and
Flora seldom cared enough 20 ask how
he had spent his evening.
Matters we're like this and had been
for several years, when Flora was first
introduced to your notice.
AS she sat at work in the morning
room-though why IL was called morn
ing-rOom would have been hard TO ex-
plain, for its owner might have been
found in IL morning, noon and evening.
and, sometimes, even at midnight-she
and her children made a nice domestic
picture.
Ellen came to the door and an.
nOunced-
Mrs. Williamson, who begged Mrs.
Noble wouldn't stand on ceremony with
her."
Mrs Noble wished, in an undertoDe.
. that people would stay at home, and
leave her in peace to attend 10 her
household"
Then turning to Ellen, she told her 10
show the lady into the morning-room.
Mrs Williamson came in, rustlinq in
q charming toilet
She was young and pretty, too. and
for some reason Mrs. Noble felt pro-
vOked when she saw her
II would have been difficult 10 say
why, for she was much prettier herself.
had she cared 10 take any trouble 70
evince the fact; and IL could scarcely
have been because Of her pretty dress
for Mrs. Noble professed to despise dress
Mrs. Williamson talked Of every sub
iect under the sun, except babies.
OF them she did not speak because
she had none, and was absolutely ipnor-
ant Of the subject.
If she had had a single word 70 say
about H., she would certainly have
said IL.
Just az she rose 20 60, she said, with
unexpected uddenness-
You know we have q great belle this
sseason-even you must have heard Of
her, although You never 90 out, because
Mr. Noble is her most devoted admirer" /"
Mrs. Mobiles heart gave q bound as
though an eclectric machine were some
iwhere near, and had charged right
nto IL.
The color famed up in her checks.
and she answered.