The daily gazette., 1880-02-27
A Wife's Jealousy.

full and elegant Partisan, though only
welded two years, was conscious of q
slight inattention ON the part of her
handsome husband, which caused her
many sighs and tears.
While the husband visited his club
as he said, the wife, who was formerly
never absent from his side, remained
alone in her large hotel.
"Will you not attend the mask ball
at the opera next Thursday, dear
Franzs" said she one day at the table
to the Count.
"Next Thursday My dear child,
the ball clashes with my club, which |
am compelled to attend, as belong to
tho committee"
"Do you not love me sufficiently to
give it up for my sake"
The Count gave such urgent reasons
for his presence, that his wife, who
was of yielding disposition, ceased to
urge him any further. Formerly she
had sacrificed her own wishes to ac-
company him to the fashionable balls
of Paris, and now he refuses to crafty
her in so small a matter. The poor
lady was convinced that he intended to
visit the ball without her, for never be-
fore had he been willing to miss one
under any circumstances. What little
was need to confirm her Jealous sus-
picious, Hermine Won Gum, her most
intimate friend, supplied.
81 will wager" said Hermine, "that
you husband will not fail to attend the
| ball. The clubs never meet on such
occasions, for every one wishes to go
to the ball."
"That would be dreadful" answer.
ed the poor young wife, sadly. "Oh, if
l could only know the truth of it.n
"That can be easily found out, nv
poor Charlotte"
"But how?"
"You know you husband s carriage !;
his whole bearing, in fact, and how he
will probably dress. / win provide
two tickets, and we can attend as SIM
pie dominoes. An hour is sufficient
time to search the salon through. If
you do not find him you can feel salts
fed that he has told you the TRUTH
| 'Provide costumes and ticketsr'
The fatal Thursday arrived. After a
five O'Clock dinner the Count kissed his
wife and went to his club. Charlotte g
dried her tears when she found herself
alone In her boudoir. The dread of
finding her husband at the ball wrung
her heart. At ten o'clock Hermine ar
rived. At eleven, both ladies, provided
with half masks and dominoes, left the
hotel. A hack conveyed them to the
opera. The ball rooms we're unusually
full. Elegant masks fitted hither and
thither through the brilliantly lighted
saloon. Charlotte hung with beating
heart on the arm Of her friend In every
mask she imagined she saw her unfaith-
full husband. Two female figures pro-
menading in the salon soon attracted at
tention. A pasha, in flowing costume,
soon followed them,
"Hermine," whispered the Countess,
"tbat Turk who follow us so persistent
ly is, l really believe, my husband! Look
it is just his figure and bearingl Per-
haps he has recognized u.s."
"Well, If IL is so, it Is just as it should
be; for he now sees that you have four
out his dupliclty. He goes to the ball
without you, therefore you have right
TO 20 Without him. Hushl See He
approaches group. of females--he
speaks to the obelisk-we will go nearer,
and listen to what he is saying"
The pasha seized the hand of the obe-
lisk, n beautiful, so uptuous figure, and
drew her into the dance. They disap-
peared in the mazouIka, which was Just
beginning. Charlotte would have sworn
that the pasha was her husband, and
that he had donned this dress in donor
to bis companion Her sufierings were
intense. The more she watched him,
the more fully convinced she became
that 1t was indeed he. 1t was precisely
his manner of dancing ; it was his brown
hair curling on the neck !. 1t was his
beautiful beard showing beneath the
mask; it was, in word, his elegant
tournure, which always distinguished
him In any crowd. And how tenderly
his arm embraced the slight, elastic form
of the obelisk, who foated light as a
sylph, through the dance. Suddenly
both dancers disappeared.
"Come, come," whispered Hermine,
as she drew her friend alter her.
"Where ?"
Unto that alcoye into which the
pasha went" Charlotte allowed her
self to be drawn forward without re-
sistance; before the two ladies could
reach the alcove situated in corner of
the large room, they were surrounded
by party of punches and harlequins,
who were fully availing themselves of
the unrestrained liberty of the scene.
They struck at cash other with their
Gathering sticks, they groaned, yelled
and bantered each other with the
coarsest jests. Another crowd of comic
masks soon Joined them, and, in a few
moments, the friends were separated.
Poor Charlotte found herself alone in
q crowd of harlequins, who, wi h Jokes
and grimaces, danced around her.
Peals of laughter from the spectators
greeted their maneuvres, which natur-
ally induced them to double their in
suits.
Charlotte was ready to faint she
feared some one would, or had already,
perhaps recognized her. To her plead
ing gestures they answered with
laughter. The tumult grew worse just
as new mask stepped into the salon.
The harlequins must have been intox-
icated. A mans tall form parted the
melee. He wore an elegant black
domino, fine half mask and a black
cap with white plume flowing over
the shoulder.
"Back p cried he, in loud voice,
and his eyes flashed with anger /; "ohis
lady is under my protection.
At the same time he pushed the har-