Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-10-27
Jealous Jennie.

"Just twelve.month, and now I've got |
baby as well as wife. Oh, Jennie, grille, |
Pm the happiest man alive. Come here and |
kiss me before go, and tell me what you |
would like me to give you on the anniver-
sary of our wedding day."
"What's the use john" | said as / re- |
ceived his kiss; "you know we haven't an |
extra shilling to spare"
$50 do; but we'll play at make believe,
as the children do. What would you like to
have, provided you could have it Speak
out, grille"
l laughed, and fell to thinking.
"Let me see. There's so many things
want, John, It's hard to decide; but think
I'll take that pattern of brown silk that we
looked at down at Wilson's the other day"
"All right, aud what for baby 2"
"Oh, christening robe, of course"
My husbands brown eyes danced.
Poor Jennie" he said, " I'm afraid you'll
not get 'em, unless we keep up our game of
make-believe. By-by; take good care Of
Blossom" Aud with another kiss for us
both he was gone.
got baby to sleep and fell to work, clean
ing my kitchen and baking tarts. We
could not afford to keep a servant, Johns
wages being small, and had all the house
work on my hands; but did not mind it
at all. loved my husband, and he loved
me, and happier couple did not live.
In the midst of my busy work, in comes
Miss Dorcas Dent, an old friend of my
mothers. An old maid, too, was Miss
Dorcas, great scoffer at matrimony and at
mankind in general.
$50 you're hard at it, Jennie" she said,
sitting down and throwing back her bonnet
strings. "A drudging yourself to death,
and that child on your hands, too Such
trim, handsome lass as you used to be, and
look at you now A poor, tagged slattern
What a fool We was to marry, Jennie.
Weren't ye now ?"
"No, indeed, Miss Dorcas I'd do the
same thing over again tomorrow"
"Bah Such simpletons as you lasses
are Well, you'll open your eyes to the
truth soon enough. A-working your hands
10 the bone aud spelling your good looks,
as if any man that ever had breath was
worth it. Isay, why don't John keep hired
girl p
He can't afford it, Miss Dorcas."
"Can't he Maybe not Has to squander
too much on his own pleasure, does he 2"
"No, indeed" l answered Indignantly,
John never squanders penny"
sarcastic laughter.
Never squanders penny |" she repeated !;
" and never stops out O. nights, either, and
goes gallivanting round the town with other
women, and ye a-sitting at home a-darning
stockings Don't tell me about 'em, Jennie
these good husbands-I know 'em. |
haven't got these two eyes for nothing.
Didn't l see John only night afore last a
walking down town and another woman be
side him ?"
"John ?" gasped-" my John Oh, you
must be mistaken"
81 never mistake. Twas your John"
Sand who was the woman p
Cant tell. Didn't see her face"
When John came home to supper | de
| termined to ask him but feeling of shame
kept me silent while we were at table, and
| the minute he was done he arose and took
down his hat.
"Why, john" asked, "are you going
out again And it is raining, too."
So it is but must 60 tonight, Jennie. u
"What for, John ?"
His eyes fell, and he turned from me in
evident confusion.
| "Well-you see-don't ask me, Jennie
I've promised to go, that's all but shan't
have to go again, maybe"
| My foolish, Jealous heart rose in my
.nroat, and stood hurt and silent
John kissed me and kissed baby in her
crib. Then he took off his coat and threw
it on chair.
"If you don't feel too tired, little wife,
you might fasten in that sleeve-lining I'll
wear my thick coat tonight"
He was gone, and after clearing away our
small table sat down to think, and soon
made myself miserable enough At last
thought of Johns coat, and picked it up to
mend it. 1t was his best coat, which he had
only taken for common wear a few days be.
fore. Brushing on the coat, heard the
rustic of paper in the breast pocket.
Is there wife loyal enough, unfeminine
enough to refrain from prying into her hus
bands pockets when she has a chance2
drew the rustling paper forth. 1t was a
note--a dainty, three-cornered affair, with q
rosebud on the broken seal. / looked at the
direction, "John Danton," my own hus
bands name, written in fine feminine char
acters. A sharp pang pierced my heart, q
mist dimmed my eyes. What woman was
this who dared to write to my husband?
must know. had right to know l tore
open the tiny sheet
| "MY DEAREST JoHN: Do not fail to come to-
night, am alone, and shall look for you"
| could not read another word A blind
ness like that of death filmed my eyes, a
faint, horrible sickness crept over me. Miss
Dorcas had told me the truth John was
untrue to me, and had loved him so?
crushed the fatal note into my pocket, and
caught up my hat and cloak.
"Come baby" l sobbed, driven out OF
my senses for the minute by my terrible
pain, ave will Co. When he comes he
will find us gone"
gathered up the little one and wrapped
her in a heavy shawl then we left our
cheerful fireside and set forth through the
pelting rain.
"Why, what in the name of wonder has
brought YOU out tonight ?" cried my father
as we entered the sitting room. And you've
brought the child, too What's out p
/ sank down beside my mother, and began
TO sob out my misery, my head upon her
breast.
John untrue 2" repeated my father. Is
that what you're driving atY Oh, bosh
Jennie you're jealous, that's all. | don't
believe a word of it. A truer, better man
than John don't breathe"
drew forth the crumpled note, and held
il toward him.
He's gone every night sobbed "and
and found that in his pocket"
Father pulled his spectacles over his nose
and opened the note. A minute, perhaps
he peered at 1t in curiosity, then he ex
ploded with laughter
"Oh, Jennie, Jennie, what a sell !" he
cried "what a precious little fool you are
Take this note and look 1t over again. Did
you ever see 1t before 2"
took the note and looked at 1t, wonder