The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-10-05
JEALOUS OF CLARA.
The Story Of a Young Wife Who
Opened Her Husbands Letter.
(BY MARY KYLE DALLAs.)

your husbands letters until he hands
them to you, and 1t Is much the best not
to examine his pockets, except for holes,
then set aside whatever you find there
without examination.
1 believe little Mrs. Elliott would give
any young wife that advice today; but
there was a time-we are all fallible,
being mortal-when she had been mar
ried about two years, that she made
herself IN amateur detective, as far as
her Frank went, and had found holes
that she could not explain-one that
had something in it about Clara partic-
ularly. 1t was only half a letter, but it
was suspicious.
Naturally jealous, she was too proud
to betray the fact Intentionally; but there
is no keeping a secret Of that sort from
the servants. They knew it; other peo-
pie guessed at it.
Her fancies about Clara-oh, who was
Clara?-made her heart ache; but rum
maging and prying did not help her.
When her husband was away-as he
often was-she suffered tortures. He
might, for all she knew, be leading a
double life, and so she steamed all his
letters open before she forwarded then,
and now and then found something that
might mean more than it said, and so
we come to an afternoon when she-Mrs.
ElIiot-came down stairs dressed for
dinner, for which she always made a
careful toilet, and met the waitress as
cending to the upper floor. The girls
place at that moment was in the DIM
room, and Mrs. Elliot knew that moth
ing was needed or forgotten that per-
tanned to the dinner; moreover, the girl
had an air of secrecy about her, and
seemed to be hiding something under
her apron.
"What's that you have there, Rosa2'
Mrs. Elliot asked, a little sharply.
The girl stopped, looked down, and
answered;
"Only a letter, ma'am."
"For yourself?' asked Mrs. Elliot.
mo, ma'am, for master, said the girl.
"Well, give 1t to me-" said Mrs, Elliot.
The girl hesitated.
Indeed, ma'am, the lady said to give
it to himself" said Rosa.
ga lady? A beggar with a petition, I
suppose" said Mrs. Elliot.
"A lady, mann, and she's gone" said
the girl. 'sShe wore a blue veil; but l
never saw her before, I'm sure"
sob, very well" replied her mistress.
"Giye me the note. Mr.. Elliot is shaw
ing, and would not wish to be disturbed"
The girl gave a little impertinent toss
to her head as she obeyed, and founced
down stairs in a way that made her mis-
tress resolve to give her warning.
The trouble was that the lady in the
blue veil had given Rosa some money
had whispered, "Mr. Elliot, and no one
else" and had hurried away in a sus-
picious manner.
Mrs. Elliot meanwhile stood turning
the envelope over. The address was
merely her husbands name-Mr. Frank
Elliot-and the edge of the flap was still
damp, as if sealed at the door. 1t would
open at a touch-she could read it and
know its contents if she chose.
'I do choose" she said the next mo-
ment, and the edgeof the envelope rolled
back and a slip of paper fell out. On it
were written these words:
DEAR FRANK-Meet me at the usual
place if you can dodge your wife.
CLARA.
A moment more and the letter was re-
sealed, and Mrs. Elliot, trembling with
| anger, stood leaning against the window
frame. She felt that the dread that had
been upon her had taken shape at last.
However, she would not be hasty.
She would wait until she was sure that
he desired to receive the letter. If he
did not obey the m it would
prove to her that he was true to her.
Then she would tell him what she knew
and ask his confidence.
She carried the letter down stairs with
her, and placed it at his plate, and as he
opened it she watched him closely.
1t certainly did not seem to please him.
He frowned, changed color and thrust 1t
into his pocket; but he went on with his
dinner without any remark.
Mrs. Elliot, however, could not re-
main silent.
"You look as though you had received
a plumbers bill" she said.
He laughed,
sit is not a BILL" he said, sit is a note,
and it vexes me because l shall have to
change my plans for tonight. I intend
ed to take you to the theatre, now / can
not do it. I shall have to leave you
and, what is more, / shall not be back
until tomorrow night. I'll send a mes
senger to Uncle James. He will escort
you to the theatre, and"-
81 will not go with your uncle James"
said Mrs. Elliot, sharply. "You must
take mel will not be used in this way
you must go with me-"
my dear, I cannot tell you how it
vexes mt to have to leave you" said Mr..
Elliot.
Frank" she answered, 81 have al
ways said that there are tome things
which a wife should not endure"
"Lizzie, my dear, listen: I will take
you to the theatre tomorrow night
or the night after; we will enjoy our
selves quite as well. 1 think it viii rain
tonight anyhow"
10 you Dappose | am q baby to fret
about not seeing a play2' said Mrs. FL
hot. "No, Frank, only you must tell me
why you break the engagement and
where you are going"
Business, my dear, business" said
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