Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-04-25
A Jealous Husband; or, On the Brink
OF rDespair-


Geraldine Cieve was a dancer at the
Shakespeare Theatre and about her
throne she had gathered all the rich
young men in town, for she loved ad-
mirarion. Her firtations, if they can
be called such, were perfectly harmless
and her husband, who was very much
in love with her, allowed her To receive
her share OF homage as long as IL was
respectful.
OF the attentions Of Mr.. Duncan
Middleworth, however, Jonas Cleve had
decided objections, and whenever Ge-
raldine accepted flowers from that
young man there was a quarrel. For
some reason or other the husband was
insanely jealous of Middleworth and
took no pains to conceal the fact from
his wife.
One night as the danseuse bowed to
the applause which greeted her efforts
and the flowers fell about her III show
ers of perfume, there lay at her feet
wreath of white roSebuds tied with
snowy ribbon.
y pretty little actress, who stood
leaning against the wing waiting for
her part to begin, ran forward and
placed 1t, like crown, on Geraldine's
hair, and at the moment a second
ONloI vi applduoC lOSC iLOl1 luC SLO"-
ded house.
Ten minutes later, when Jonas came
behind the scenes to escort his wife
home-for Geraldine only danced the
one pas to-night-he glanced earnestly
at the floral trophies that were heaped
in basket, ready to be carried to the
second floor lodging where Mrs. Cleve
frightened her rooms with the fragrant
blossoms.
"Who threw that wreath?'' he asked,
with a sudden impulse of curiosity, as
he saw it lying on the top.
Geraldine did not answer; she was
busy tying on her veil. Jonas picked
1t up and examined the card fastened to
it.
"Duncan Middleworth."
Asquick as lightning the young hus-
band tore the wreath in twain, threw
it on the floor, and set his heel on
it.
'.Jonasr' Geraldine cried, half angry.
half frightened.
~ told you would have no more or
such nonsense" he said in a voice
almost suffocated with rage. IF you
ever accept so much as bud that
comes from his hand again.
"Well, what thenl'' she said de-
family.
But mis- whole voice and manner had
changed.
Are you ready TO go homeP'' he
asked, quietly. because 1t is growing
late"
But Geraldine could not forget the
white heat of anger that had blazed in
his brief glance.
Its too absurd" she thought. 81
Will not give way to his unreasoning
jealousy"
Mr.. Duncan Middleworth sat in a
proscenium box the next evening and
tossed an exquisite basket of japonicas
at Geraldine Cleve's feet when the mo-
ment of ovation -ame.
She stopped herself to pick it up
wiki an arch, gratiied smile and a
box, and as she turned away she met
her husbands stern, reproachfal eye.
Her first impulse was to drop the
basket again, her second to brave ii
out.
"What have 1 done?'' she asked her.
self, half Indignantly; and as she went
off the stage she carried the flower bas-
ket in her hand.
Jonas Cleve, however, did not make
his appearance as usual in her dressing
room when she was ready to depart,
but, instead, an old one-eyed carpenter,
who served about the theatre, stood
waiting.
"Where's Mr.. Cleve, Griffith"
He said I was to see you home,
ma'amr"
He is angry about the flower bas-
ket," she thought. well, let him
sulkI''
But Jonas was not at home when she
a
Geraldine WAS surprised at the sudden
sinking of her own heart
'He will be home soon," she CON-
forted herself by saying.
As she took the basket of japonicas
out of its tissue-paper wrappings some
thing glittered III the gaslight. 1t was
a diamond ring, fastened to the han
de
This Will never do" said Geral-
dine, half glad that her husband was
not there to see the shining gaui. 81
must send it back to. morrow. Jonas
was right after all. L will receive no
more flowers from Duncan Middle
worth"
And then she sat down, all in her
silvery and tissue robes, to wait pa
tiently for her husbands return.
But he did not come, The clock
struck twelye-one-two and still no
familiar footstep sounded on the stairs
And then an awful doubt crept into
her mind. She had set his will and
wishes at defancel Had he left her for
everp
1t was only during an instant that she
harbored the possibility, but that one
second made her heart cold as ice.
And when the next days sun
dawned, lurid and cheerless, and she
sat alone, covering over the shoulder
ing fire, she would have given half a
lifetime to be able to live over the last
evening once more.
"Why did 1 touch the basket" she
asked herself passionately, when he
wished me not2 Oh, surely I have de-
served this anguish, this terrible doubt,
for pandering TO my own base vanity.
If he would only come back again,
butt
She dared not say to herself. IF he
should never come backF'
The day crept by, and she still sat
huddIed up In heap, pallid and sick at
heart, with no energy for anything.
She had sent back the diamond ring
promptly, as an insult which she would
was too late now.
The dawn was again gathering sadly
about her when the door suddenly
opened and a tall figure entered.
"Gerryl Why, what's the matterP"
s'Jonasl''
She sprang into his arms with an hys-
tericaI shrek. The sudden revulsioa
of feeling was too great shock.
81 have torn it all to pieces, Jonas. 1
never want to see 1t again." she cried.
Torn what to pieces? 1 don't under
stand you, child"
The horrid, odious basket Of japoni-
cas?r
"Oh, 1 remember now, my darling"
with q tender pressure of the hand
aHow. shall thank you for your re-
gard for my wishes"
"But, Jonas, why did you leave me
without a wordPr she asked breath
lossly