Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-14
a JEALOUS BRIDEGROOM.

/ am, if you will allow me to intro
duce myself, your humble servant,
Mr. Pelham Palmer. am perhaps of
a jealous disposition by nature, but
who can help his natureP l deeply
sympathize with Othello whenever l
read the play of that name which
Shakespeare has given to the world.
say | am jealous by nature, but |
have conquered myself, [ deeply SYM
pathize, as / said, with Othello, but |
am quite sure that if that most unhappy
colored gentleman had partially smoth-
cred Desdemona, and she had been
brought to and had been able to ex-
plain about the suspicious circumstance
es connected with her pocket-handker-
chief, everything might have been well,
and Othello very happy.
However, this is growing into quite a
preface; let me continue my story.
was forty when | made up my
mind to marry. / had never thought
myself handsome, but having amassed
a fortune, and having decided to settle
down as a married man, was lucky
enough to win the affection of the fair
est of her sex, Miss Phoebe Pearl, and
having offered myself to her, was ac-
cepted.
| had previously interviewed her
father, who approved of our union, and
| had gone through the counting phase
and was really married.
The carriages were rolling up one by
one to Mr.. PEARLS door, while the
crowd of little girls, boys, nursery
maids and beggars collected on the
pavement, uttered loud Obs! and Abs!
whenever a more than usually gorgeous
train swept the dust from the striped
carpet spread upon the front doorstep
and vanished under the fringe of the
awning.
! was uncomfortable, as bridegrooms
always are when making part of their
wedding show; but | expected to be
very happy when | got my wife to my
self; and after the lunch, or dinner. or
breakfast really don't know what
my respected mother-in-law called the
feast-we were going off to spend a
month at Paris and get acquainted.
Even in that Halcyon hour l was
aware that we were not well acquaint-
ed yet However, [ knew was a good
sort of fellow and had the greatest con-
fidence in Phoebe. In fact, [ had just
repeated this to myself, when post
man knock sounded on the door, and
| saw PhGbe's own maid exchange a
glance with my wife as she slipped a
pink envelope into her pocket.
1t was very foolish idea, [ knew,
but | took it into my head that the let
ter had something in it that my newly
welded Phoebe wished to keep from
me. tlatter myself that am q good
reader of the expression of the human
countenance, and that is what | thought
[ saw in the chances those girls ex-
changed. However, l really wanted
to kick myself for harboring the
thought.
But afterwards, when the congratu-
lations were over and we were going
down to dinner, | saw Jane, under pre-
tense of adjusting her mistress dress,
slip this pink envelope into the white
satin lace trimmed pocket that was
to her belt. And | saw Phoebe dart a
warning look at me. This time [ was
sure, and memory of certain beauX
who had caused me pain in their time
did creep into my mind.
To be sure, Phoebe was mine, but
she should not have any secrets from
me. | was older than she was, not
handsome, and very well off, and
well, | felt that some of those other
men had been young, and fascinating,
and poor-and girls had married for
money before now
And so in a few moments, to drive
all my doubts away, said, in an airy
manner, that seemed to me just the
thing:
Got letter, my dear?"
She blushed scarlet.
No; only little note" she answer
''Who from?" l asked.
''Oh, I'm not a clairvoyant, Pei
ham, she replied. Il can't read
through sealed envelopes"
open it, then, said |.
Il couldn't; it would be bad man
ners," said she.
''Whom do you think it is from?"
said I.
''Some belated bridesmaid, perhaps, "
said She
Miss Smith, Miss Brown, and Miss
Robinson are all here"
''Oh, well, it's from my grand-aunt
Pendleton, to say she can't come, but
wishes me joy, and sends soup-ladle.
She always sends a soup-ladle to brides
in the family" said Phoebe.
''Then l think you ought to read il
at once out of respect to the old lady,
said [.
''What a tease you are!' she cried
and pulled her handkerchief from hel
pocket.
The letter came with it and fell t.
the floor. [ stopped to catch it up Sc
did she. Our heads crashed furiously
together. / got the letter.
''Hope I've not hurt you, my dear, ,
said /.
''You have, horribly" said she, anC
snatched the letter, but not before
had glanced at it.
''Your aunt writes very fine mas
culine hand" said I. ''Is she strong
minded lady?n