The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-10-05

and jealousy that were so strong in her,
and recovering herself,s she drew her hand
from his, and answered coldly:
"No, am not tired of my bargain,
but know myself well enough to feel
that could not endure the fate of a
neglected and unloved wife,"
At those cruel words his patience de-
serted him.
"And 1, Miss Hall, am sufficiently
acquainted with myself to feel convinced
that L could never live with a jealous
and fault-finding wife,
He stepped in front of her, and look
ing into her face kissed her forehead.
"Good-by, Alice. can't leave you
in anger. The time will come when
you will see how cruelty you have treat
ed mel know it aOiU come, for you
have conscience and kind heart,
although your pride and jealousy are in
the ascendency; but hope you may
never suffer as you have made me to-
night"
He turned and left her without word
more, and she heard his retreating foot
steps die away in the distance. Not
until then did she move, but as the last
echoes ceased, she slowly entered the
house, and found her aunt seated by the
table with book in her hand.
You are late, Alice" said her aunt,
looking up. "Did you enjoy the pic
mic? You had lovely day of it."
"No,-that is, yes. 1t was very pleas
anti
Her aunt looked up at her. There
was bright flush on her pretty face,
but it was not the glow of pleasure, and
the little mouth was drawn down at the
corners, as If it had hard work to keep
back the grief that was rising into the
white throat.
Her aunt took her hand, and drew her
to seat beside her.
What is the matter love? Can't
you tell your tronble to your old
auntie ?'
80 Aunt Margaret" said Alice,
throwing her arms about her aunt's
neck and hiding her head on her
shoulder. &c am very unhappy.
have quarreled with Edward and we are
not engaged any longer, and''-Tears
prevented her from finishing her SEN
tence.
=" 1 know, my dear, all about it. 1
heard it all, as 1 sat at the window.
But, Alice, do you know, think you
were very unjust to poor Edward"
"Aunt Margaret, you don't know all
about it," said Alice, raising her head
and talking very fast. He did very
wrong indeed, to-day, and fiirted all the
time with that hateful Ida Summers.
Such homely, pale, conceited-looking
thing, tool"
If you think her so unattractive,
wonder you should fear her power over
Edward" said her aunt quietly.
6 / do think her very unattractive and
plain, but Edward was not of my
opinion, but told him I would never
consent to be his wife while he retained
such opinions"
"Alice, my dear child, you surprise
me. 1 did not know you possessed such
bad passions. Edward is not a fiirt.
No more honest or truer soul God never
made, and the woman who throws away
such gift as that is not worthy of it.
o Alice, you little know what you are
doingl Jealousy is the meanest vice a
women can possess, and the most dan
gerous one. 1t will be an incubus on
those you love best, and heap misery on
your own head. 1t will make you ex-
acting and unforgiving, suspicious and
revengeful, and, to conquer it, will
bring you premature wrinkles and gray
hairs like mine. Yes, Alice, you may
well start. The jealousy you now feel is
nothing to that which once possessed
me, and the yielding to which cost me
life of sin and misery. shall tell you
my story, Alice. Humiliating as it is
to expose myself to your eyes, must do
it in order to save you from a life of
wretchedness. Go to bed now, dear, and
in the morning you shall read my story,
for ! cannot tell it, shall write it out
before 1 go to bed, for no sleep will
come to me tonight"
The next morning Alice's waking
eyes rested on roll of paper that her
aunt had placed.on her bed while she
slept. With eager eyes she tore 1t open
and read the following:
Atan early age was left an orphan,
with sum sufficient for my support,
but not large enough to gain me the