St. Paul daily globe., 1888-05-22
WHAT JANET SAW.
A Short Story of Jealousy Which
Has a Hidden Moral,

Janet was passing stationery store
on st. Valentines day, when she no
ticed funny caricature of a lawyer dis
played among the comic pictures in the
window. In a spirit of mischief she
went in and bought it, with the inten-
tion of sending it to her lover, who was
rising young barrister.
She directed the envelope to Edward
Wickham. Esq.," in a feigned hand. and
waited In the neighborhoOd of his office
until he started for the court house and
then slipped up stairs.
She laid the valentine on his desk
where he would be sure to see it, and
was Fastening away, when her eye fell
upon an unfinished letter peeplng out
from under a paper-welght.
1t was not her principles to read other
peoples letters, but on this occasion she
could not refrain from glancing over
the note, which was penned in Edgar's
well-known handwriting. 1t ran thus:
Dearest Helen: DonOt be disturbed
at any rumors you may have heard of
my flirtationS with another, for, rest as
Sured, they were nothing more. 1t is
you only l love: and if our engagement,
which | look upon as sacred, be not
faithfully carried out, the fault shall
not be mine. My own darling''-
The writer had doubtless been inter-
rupted by some sudden call of business.
Janet felt the hot blood rise to her
face. Was she then the deceived dupe
of the man whose affection she had ac-
counted all her own. and who had here
the heartleSSness to characterize as mere
''tiirtation' the lovemaking in which
she had believed with all the faith of her
truStful nature?
Taking up the valentine she hurried
out, and never stopped till she reached
her own chamber. First she gave way
to a flood of tears. Then her pride
came to her relief; and taking up her
pen, in few brief lines she informed
Mr.. Wickham that on a closer
examination of the state of her
feelings, she found they were not such
as to render the further continuance of
the relations between herself and him
advisable. 1t would be best to look upon
them in the light of a simple Irritation
she could not help underscoring the
word-which had gone quite far enough.
Edgar, on receiving this information,
fastened to seek an interview with
Janet, but was denied admittance; and,
being as proud as herself, he did not 60
again.
One day, not long after, an exciting
case came Oh for trial. A great crowd
went to hear it, including a number of
ladies, among whom were Janet and
her friend, Lilly Archer, who had per-
Suaded Janet to bear her company. 1t
was breach of promise case, in which
a tickle bachelor had Tilted handsome
young widow, without money, Tor an
ugly old maid with plenty of it.
Janet and her friend secured good
places, but when the fair plaintiff en-
tered, deeply yelled, and leaning on the
arm of her counsel, and when Janet saw
the counsel was no other than Edgar
Wickham, she wished she was thOus-
and miles away. If she had only known
that he was in the case, Lilly could
never have argued her into coming. But
there she was, and no help for it. To
get up and leave would only attract
notice. There was nothing to do but
force back her bushes and remain.
Wickham opened his case with clear
statement and no fiouriShes, and pro-
ceeded to put in his evidence, one of
the first items of which was letter the
defendant had written to the plaintiff.
Janet almost started from her seat on
hearing the first sentence. They were
word for word identical with those she
had read that day in Edgar'S Office! She
could hardly repreSS cry of Joy, for
though it was all mystery to her yet,
she felt that her lovers faith was vindi-
Gated and that she had cruelty mis-
judged him.
In his closing speech Edgar so mingled
wit, humor and pathOs that he kept the
jury and the audience now in tears and
now cOnvulsed with laughter. Janet
blushed as she thought of the valentine
nd HOY N In1v 10, l,1n
to leave it as she had intended.
The jury gave heavy verdict for the
plaintiff, and when Edgar turned to lead
his client off in triumph Janet saw that
his face was worn and haggard. Poor
fellow! Had he, too, been suffering
like herself?
1t chanced that their eyes met. There
was something in hers that led Edgar
to approach and ask:
MAY call and see you this evening,
Miss Dodd?"
"Oh! yes, come," said Janet, with the
old frank manner; II shall be very glad
to see you.''
And he did come, you may be sure.
Let me speak first" she said, eX-
tending her hand cordially; and then
his office and her discovery there.
Edgar laughed heartily, as he pressed
the little hand held in his.
''Well, of course you understand it
now, little iealousy?' he added.
Oh, yes! know it was the letter that
wicked man wrote to the pretty widow;
but, then, it was in your hand; and, be-
sides, it was unfinished when 1 saw it;
so it's quite puzzle to me yet"
"All plain enough, though" Edgar
answered; lit was a copy l had COM
menced for the other side, who had de-
manded it, and in making which l had
been interrupted"
what a Ounce I've made of myself"
said Janet.
$50 we shan't look upon the past as a
simple Irritation after all; shall we,
dearest?'
Janet's lips took on a pretty pout,
which Edgar kissed away.