Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-09-08
THAT DECEPTIVE TELEGRAM.
BY CHAS. c. HAHN.

The Rev. Alfred Brown, Rector OF
st. Marks, Quincy, was a most exem-
plary man and husband. He did his
duties as priest and loved his wife.
This did not hinder Mrs. Brown from
being insanely jealous. She w:s one
of these uncomfortable women who are
always trying to find trouble for them
selves and others. As an article OF the
Athanasian creed she added what was
not generally recited-a belief in the
absolute depravity of mankind in gen
eral and of husbands in particular. The
fact that Mrs. Brown never caught her
husband SHINING was only the more of
an incentive for watching him close
". Because he was always good and
open and loving, she put him down as
artful, and, behind that, she had a
shrewd, tricky man to deal with. And
this, not SO much because she was
spiteful OF unhappy, but because she
was jealous of him and of his reputa-
ton.
One reason for this jealousy may
have been that she was eleven years
older than her husband and of plain
complexion.
She would never allow any one else
to doubt or speak i'll of him, and she
herself would not do the latter to his
face. But she held it as her divine
right to do the former and keep watch
over him on the quiet.
Only once had she ever been able to
secure even suspicion of her husband.
He had once, several years before,
shown great interest in girl of his
parish who had gone to the bad. No
one else ever thought of the Rev. Al
fred Brown in connection with her dis
appearance, but his wife decided that
he needed watching.
There were certain seasons of the
year when Mrs. Browns jealousy be-
came abnormally active. They were
in the spring and fall, when the Bishop
of Chicago summoned his clergy to
meet him at st. Paul's Cathedral in
solemn semi-annual conclave, and to
these convocations the Rev. Alfred
Brown was wont to go, although not a
member of the Chicago diocese. 1t
was his one recreation, and they al
ways asked him to address the meeting.
. As general thing Mr.. Brown took
his wife with him on these occasions
and the couple stopped with friend
on Cass street, near ST. James. But in
the spring of 1888 this friend was
obliged to take trip to California,
and Mr.. Brown was obliged to seek
quarters elsewhere. A bachelor friend
hearing of his difficulty wrote asking
him to put up at the North Side Club
house during his sojourn in Chicago.
Mrs. Brown did not like to trust her
husband among a lot of ungodly club
men, but the spirit of economy was al
most as strong in her breast as was the
spirit of jealously, and she at last
allowed him to accept the invita-
ton. Mr.. Brown accepted her
decision with a species of chast-
ened, holy Joy which filled the
good lady's soul with fears. Hewas up
to something, she knew. An incident
which occurred only few days before
he was to leave, heightened her sus-
picions. Her husband came in one
morning with a long face and solemn
tone of voice, and said:
My dear, 1 have just heard of dis
tressing affair. Mary Candee has run
away and it is feared that she has gone
to marry that scapegrace John Smith,
who is connected with saloon in Chi
cago. I feel very sorry for her and I
hope that may run across her while
attending the spring convocation. If
30, I may be of assistance to her or her
husband"
Alfred" replied Mrs. Brown, with q
most austere look, eff you speak to the
abandoned creature you Will degrade
yourself, and forbid it.
"Why, my DEAR" the good rector re-
piled, "you must be beside yourself. It
IS my duty as q priest of the church to
help even the lowest. Of course shall
do all that I can to find the poor girl
and help her in her trouble"
"Convocation, indeed" Mrs. Brown
said to herself, when therefor had de-
parted to his study. "a pretty convo-
cation it will be. Why couldn't he take
me with him instead of going to dis
reputable bachelor clubhouse? He
meant to meet that girl all the time.
and haven't doubt but that he wrote
to that old curmudgeon and asked for
. room with him so that could not 60
along"
On Monday of the next week the rec
tor of st. Marks departed for Chicago,
sent on his way with the kindly wishes
of the whole parish, and accompanied
by his Senior Warden and a church
man of wealth and piety, who also
wished to attend the ecclesiastical meet
ing.
No sooner was he gone than Mrs.
Brown received the means of verifying
her suspicious. Monday afternoon the
carrier brought her letter from an old
school friend asking her to pass q week
or so at her home in Chicago. The in
yitation was for herself and husband,