Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
Led by Jealousy.


comfortable mansion of Shrubands, cosy
modern building, warm and roomy, with
glass houses clustered about it, and its con-
venient offices at the rear lies on the slope
above. In front of him stretches pleasant
lawn, and he looks over upon sweet river
valley, bounded by purple hills, reaches of
water showing in silver streaks here and
there.
Ernest thought that it was very good to
be here as he smoked his pipe on his garden
seat. But everything comes to end, and by
the time he had finished his pipe and
knocked out the ashes a cloud had come
over the sun, the air was chilled and the
beauty of the morn tarnished. 1t was time,
he found to start for his train. He went
into the house to say "good-bye" to his
wife, for he heard the carriage wheels
grinding on the gravel as it came round
from the stables TO the door.
He seemed to be happy fellow, too, in
his wife, who was fair, pleasantfaced
woman, Of charming figure and full spirit.
al didn't know you were going away"
she said, a slight shade of vexation coming
over her face.
"Didn't tell you ?" said Ernest. al in
tended to. | shall be home to dinner. I'm
only going to town to see the old masters.
Ihey close this week..
"Ah if you had told me in time would
have gone with you"
To say the truth, Ernest did not much
care for company when he was going to look
at pictures.
"Pity, eh ?" he said, carelessly putting
his hand under her chin -and giving her a
kiss. "Well, another day, perhaps, Tottie y
her name was Theresa, but her pet name
was Tottie-" and then, perhaps, can go
shopping with you"
"But | particularly wanted to see those
pictures"
"Why didn't you think of it before ?"
"You should have told me you were
going"
"Yes, it was stupid of me however
there's no help for it; have only just time
to catch the train. Goodbye
And away he went.
Theresa sat down once more TO her book
of household expenses, but the totals ran
into each other, aud the same row OF figures
wouldn't come to the same amount twice
running 1t wasn't like Ernest, she thought
not to ask her to go with him. He had never
gone off anywhere before without asking her
to accompany him if it were practicable
His manner, too, was so cold. What could
be the reason of it
She took up the newspaper to distract her
mind. She rarely looked at the daily papers
but this morning she felt uneasy, aud could
not settle to anything Suddenly she sprang
to her feet with cry of distress.
She had taken up the outside sheet of the
paper, and thereon she had read an adver
| tisemeDt.
constance to Ernest. To-day at victo
ria, twelve noon"
That was the reason, then, that Ernest
had gone off to town so suddenly. Yes, she
knew it she had been wronged and de
ceived could it be possible that such
treachery, such betrayal of all the ties oi
friendship and affection could be permitted
to exist
Theresa was, perhaps, of somewhat
jealous disposition. Certainly Ernest had
given her no cause for jealousy hitherto, as
far as she knew, but she had always i'm
agined it possible that at some time oil
other he would and now it seemed to hel
as though her forebodings had been justified
Constance Brown had been her earnest
friend, her schoolfellow, her one day com
panion, for whom her affection could never
be dimmed. And this friendship had con
tinued unabated for whole two years aftel
her marriage to Ernest, during which it hac
been her chief delight to entertain Con
stance at her new home. Now Ernest wasn't
at the beginning at any rate at all fond oi
Constance, and used to think her visits
rather bore. Anything was better, how
ever than having his wife in the doefuls
and on such occasions he would suggest
"Ask Constance to come and spend few
days"
As time went on, however, little disagree
ments interposed between the two friends
Constance was of an adaptive nature, ant
fonder of masculine than feminine society
She professed great interest in Ernest's pur
suits, which were rather of miscellaneou
character. Altogether she grew in grac,
and favor with the husband, and declined
in equal measure in the wife's esteem. Sh,
was too keen-witted herself not to perceiv
this, but the ineradicable love of coquetr,
and mischief that turks in every femal
bosom forbade her to change her tactics.
The end of it was desperate quarrel be
tween Constance and Theresa, and Con
stances hasty departure from Shrubland
in great rage. On her part, There's
vowed that she would never have that de
ceitful girl in her house again.
"All right" Ernest had said h; I" if yo
don't care about it, don't"
But Theresa's jealousy, once aroused, wa
not to be quieted by any such pretences a
these. 1t was all very well for Ernest
say so, but his saying SO did not deceiv
her. Having once thrown her influence
over Ernest, Constance she knew would nc
be satisfied to resign her power 80 easil,
She didn't doubt but that Constance woul
in some way or other contrive some way
see him, and this mornings paper had give
: her cew to the means she adopted.
Very well, Theresa, too, would be at Viz
toria at twelve noon.
The carriage had Just returned from tai
ing Ernest to the station it should ais
convey her to the next train for LondoI
She would have sufficient time to reach tn
/, trysting place by noon.
Victoria Station, however, is rather
wide, open place, not adapted for concea
ment. How should she so disguise herse
that she might witness the meeting unol
; served Then she remembered that ht
, Aunt Blake, who had been a widow for
: couple of years, had left behind her
widows cap, bonnet and veil, having take
' the opportunity of visit to her niece
: resume the ordinary costume of womankin
Bonnets are not formidable things now
: days, and Theresa put her aunt's weed
with black Grape shawl, into travelling
|
: > shawl over it, and her usual travelling bo
! net, that she might not give rise to surmis
at her sudden assumption of mourning. al
then started off.
The clock showed five minutes 10 twely
when she arrived at Victoria. She hurris
off to the ladies' waitingroom, donned h
bonnet, cap, shawl and veil, and came OF
= upon the platform demure widow.
i Sure enough, Ernest was there, waikiki
|. up and down. She gave kind of gull
+ start as he passed her, and he looked rath
d hard at the young widow with the nice tri
o figure.
y $50" she thought, " this is the way yc
y look at young women when ] am not by
II The next turn that she took she starts
o as she saw approaching her from the oppc
IS ite side of the platform the very double
% herself Black dress, black Grape shaw
10 widows cap, bonnet and everything 81
n thought at the first moment that there W
k a mirror opposite her, and that she saw b
own reflected image. But 1t was not {
The lady threw up her veil and revealed d
K features OF Constance Brown. 1t was on
% for moment, and then she drew her W
" closely over her face, and making slig
II gesture, as It seemed of caution, she ma
2 her way to the booking Office, went up 10
x porter, and asked In clear, loud voice VIII
Il the train started for Brighton.
k. Theresa glided into the office by the @
ID posite door. The pretended widow "
at waiting her turn at the ticket-hatch. Wi