Smyrna times., 1878-11-06

After her marriage, on one occasion,
Cousin Rob had excited Jacks Jealous
anger, by making himself over-attentive
to Phyllis, and some pretty sharp words
had passed between them.
"Never do it again, Rob, as you value
my regard" Phyllis said. But Rob would
not promise.
He took the tingertips she offered, held
them an instant, and then carried them to
his lips.
How dare you" cried Phyllis, snatch
ing her hand away, and flushing with hot
anger.
Rob laughed audaciously.
Don't blaze off like rocket, Phyllis; |
there's no occasion. We are cousins, you |
know, and | haven't seen you in an age. |
Does that Bluebeard Of husband keep |
you under lock and key?'
With a toss of her pretty head Phyllis
picked up the rake, and went on with her
wedding.
Rob stood and watched her, with admi-
ration and regret in his eyes. Why could
not she have been his wife, instead of Jack
Redfern's?'
"Let me do that for you, Phyllis" he
said, after Il minute. If you were my
wife you shouldn't drudge like a slave.'
Phyllis gave him q blazing glance.
But | am not your wife, and glad
enough | am of it, she replied. "Go
away Rob; | don't want you here when
Jack is absent"
Rob laughed an ugly, provoking sort of
laugh.
Z" suppose not, Phyllis. You're afraid
he'll come and find me here, the jealous
brute. But I'm not going"
Then I'll go myself said the young
| wife, with dignity, and left the garden.
Rob stood irresolute a minute, half re-
gretting what he had done, half inclined
to follow his cousin and beg her pardon.
Something glittering in the mold at his
feet CHANGED to catch his eye. He stopped
and picked up the old opal ring, which had
always been a little large for his cousins
! finger. His first impulse was to return it
to Phyllis at once his second was to keep
it, and pay her off for treating him so
scornlully.
lie slipped it in his vest pocket and
took his way to the village tavern. This
place possessed great charm for Rob. He
ordered a bottle of champagne, and then
brandy and seltzer and by sunset he was
not himself. Lounging on the tavern porch,
he saw Jack Redtern coming down the
road, and a wicked thought flashed through
his over,excted brain.
He's coming in. Now, boys" he cried,
"look out for fun"
Jack came in to leave a message with
the bar keeper, and, having delivered it,
was going out again, when loud voice
caught his ear.
"Heres to pretty Phyllis Redfern, f" it said
He wheeled around like lightning. Rob
was just in the act of draining his glass.
" How dare you trife with my wife's
name?' demanded Jack.
Rob laughed sneeringy.
"When a woman shows fellow favor
he dares everything" he answered, anC
; held up his right hand.
, On the little finger cleaned the opa
ring Jack saw it, and his dark face flush
ed crimson. He cleared the distance be
tween himself and the speaker at one
J bound and before the breathless bystand
ers could interfere, he had felled Rol
| where he stood.
: "Stand back, neighbors," he painted, as h
5 tore the ring from the PROSTATE man
7 finger. "pll have his life for it,"
But the bystanders interfercd, and Rol
e was got out of the way.
S Jack went home, with all the brightnes
4 of his life dashed out. His young wife me
. him at the door, in the silver shine of tn
J. twilight. He caught her and held her a
s arms length.
f.; Phyllis" he said, angrily, "where i
l your wedding ring?"
e She looked down at her finger, with
/ start, her heart failing her at his tone.
e "Why, jack flushing, and speakin
with embarrassment, sit was on my finger
n hope have not lost it."
7 Her husband threw her from him with
muttered exclamation, and strobe out {
d the house without word.
" All through the spring night, from tn
|. rising to the setting of the stars, PhYll
h waited, but Jack did not return. Sh
fancied he was angry because her weddin
is ring was missing, and wept herself i'll owe
D. his cruelty.
$ Morning came at last, and Mrs. Redferl
y Jacks mother, appeared. She had tn
opal ring on her finger, and letter froI
le Jack in her hand.
a Your husband has returned the opal b
10 me-" she said, in severe voice. II
1t letter will explain the rest"
&c Phyllis read the letter, and then, wit
the pathetic cry, ooh, Jack come bac
is to me-" fell at Mrs. Redferns feet in
r, swoon.
The tulips had bloomed, and were wit
lie erine on their stalks in the garden, whe
a she awoke from that awful trance of deaf
It, On her white, thin finger glimmered IL
n, old opal. Hearing of her illness, and b
er terly remorseful for the evil he hI
wrought, Rob had told the truth about Il
wv ring. But it was too late. Jack had gon
NJ. "I'll find him and bring him back
~ her, if it costs me my life" said Rob, in
air morse, and with last look at her deaf
ng like face he departed
Months came and went, and the cry of
re little new born babe was heard in the c.
in tage.
lat Jacks little baby" said Phyllis, as
of lay on her breast; che may never see il
ed And now, in the early autumn, she S
by the old stile waiting for the postmai
ce. arrival. She had waited so many, ma
times; but surely the letter would cot
ke- to-day; the letter from Jack, assuring b
that he loved her still.
he The shifting sunlight fell about her &
cry head; a golden leaf auttered here a
there across the green turf at her feet; t
birds chppered, and the crickets chirp
ne, in the old stone fence. Wife and motf
in one, her bosom thrilled with tenc
,ou longing Phyllis looked at her weddi
of ring, and waited.
A quick, resolute tread on the VIII
lip country road below. Could that be t
ks; postman's nag?
Phyllis looked up, with her heart il
n a wild Hutter. 1t was not the postman, bu
ace tall, bronzed man.
nut "Oh, Jack oh, Jack ~
one Her CRY of raptllre startled the birds il