The Wilmingtonian., 1886-07-31
Her jealousy. j

gu may hot DC jealous, Out am sure
should be-
This was Clementina's climax to the story
she had been telling pretty Marion Noble
about her betrvthed lover, and Marion had
hard work to keep her face composed aud her
voice steady as she replied
II should be sorry to be jealous of Frank
Tina, unless had very strong proof of his
want of faith.
'P. oof!' Tina cried, her voice shrill with
amazcmcnt. Il should think there was
proof enough, | tell you saw the flowers
and fruit myself, and he calls nearly every
day."
Just little troubled look in Marian's eyes
gave Tina stimulus to go on. She had put
forth her own powers of attraction in full
force TO try to win the affection of Frank
Bradshaw, Marian's bctrothed, and as con-
genial task to try to SOW discord between the
lovers if She could
"ACter all )" she said, mi. Bradshaw is a
stranger in Keyport. Nobody here ever saw
him until after his uncle died, and he came
to take possession of his house and fortune
And now this mysterious woman appears
and is installed in one of the houses that
form a part OF old Mr.. Bradshaw's estate
You know the house, the cottage at the foot
Of Myrtle Hill, where the Sheltons lived so
long. The servant is old and deaf as post
or should have found out more for you"
"Please don't say for me, - said Marian. Il
am not trying to find out anything" Tina
looked angry, changed her mind and smiled
saying pleasantly
You Will thank me one day, if you don't
now. have done my duty in telling you
what know. Good-by now | will call in
| again tomorrow,
"Good-by.'
Marian controlled her voice and face till her
visitor was gone, and then ran to her own
room for good cry. But the room was not
the refuge she had expected to find it, for
Hester was there
They Were orphan Sit tcrS Marion and
! Hester, and the Pretty brOwn-cyed girl who
had won Frank Bradshaw s love was fifteen
years the younger Hester was widow
when her mother and father died, leaving
Marian child of uine years. and since that
time had been both mother and sister to the
girl So after little struggle to keep back
the tears, Marian let them have their way
with llester's arm around her and Hester's
face bending over her
The elder sister, gentle and loving did not
try to check the weeping she saw was the
relief of an overbuldcncd heart, but when
Marian had sobhed herself quiet she said
softly:
''What is the matter, Marian? saw Tina
belmont goirg Out'-has she made mis-
chief -
1T is about Frank, Hester. would not
let her see that cared, but her story troubles
me. don't mean that am Jealous, but it
hurts me to feel he has any secret from me. z
"What did Tina tell you?'
''lou remember the cottage at the foot of
Myrtle Hill, where the SLet0ms lived so
long? 1t is part of old Mr.. Bradshaw's pro
perty. Tina say that nearly two weeks aro
furniture was taken there, carpets put down,
and the house made ready for tenants, who
came in the night, nobody knows from
where. There is IL old SCI want very deaf,
WHO does all the marketing and outdoor
errandS, and Il very beautiful girl, who has
been seen sometimes at the window. Three
people went from the carriage to the house
but only these two have ever been seen. But
Heste", Tina says that every day Franks
gardener carries a basket Of the choicest
fruit from lis place, and a bouquet or his |
lovclicSt flowers to the cottage, aud She has
seen him going several times"
"Why not ask Frank n
Because it looks as if suspected him, OF |
was prying into his private affairs. | am
not jealous, Hester. believe Frank loves
me as dearly as love him but it does look |
odd doesn't it?''
Hester did not reply, 1t certainly did |
look odd, and yet She was unwilling to give
Nation pain or to think evil of Frank, whose
handsome face, cordial mauucr and straight
foIword wnoing had won her warm sisterly
affection. She had been glad - see her sis
tcr's future promise 50 much happiness, as
she would have in Frank Bradshaw's care ;
and any cloud that threatened Mariam's sun |
shine was ii shadow on Testers life rs well. |
On the Other hand, Why, if his love was
not given to Marion, had Frank sought her
for his wtie? He was lch his own master, |
a iavoiite IN society," and a man of great per-
soual attractions There was scarcely "A pin |
in keyport WHO would not have been proud |
Of Frank Bradshaw 5 love- Aud he had
chosen Marian, True, Marian was yery pref.
~ graceful and accomplished, but the sis
terS were joint heilesSts Of very small cot
taSe, and au income that required close econ |
Omy to feed and cinthe them without debt.
Marian mad never Owned, even for ''yery
best" such dresses aN Tina Dclmont wole
for every day walks. Tnts father lived in
Il pretrntimS house, kept Il carriage, had a
conservatory, aud vas lavish in expenditures
t. crafty his only chHd, and yet Frank
bradshaw had passed by Tma's great black
eyes, her lustling srlkS aui glutering Jewels
to suck Martan'a lave.
lie had come to Kcypnt from New York,
where he had lived from boyhood, and he
WAS not accustomed t. tue curiosity and pry
ing Of small towns. Totally unaware that
his movements wetc exciting comment or
speculation be buSild himself III arranging
his uncle'S estate to suit his own conyen-
iencr, wing his leisure time to Marian and
the mysterious occupants Of the cottage.
Il