, 1890-07-03
THE POWER %OFJEALOUSY

It was Sunday, and l was walking home
from church with Rose Arthur, and we
were engaged. l had known her only Il
few months, but l think II she had said no
instead Of yes l should nave died OF it. We
had done our duty; we had been to church,
and now l had coaxed her to go with me
into the woods, and we sat down on a hol-
low log beside a great patch OF violets that
were in bloom there, and / told her how /
loved her, over and over again, and how 1
could not understand what there was In II
big, rough fellow like me that a pretty
creature like her could care for, but that /
would do my very best to make her happy
all her life; and she promised to marry me
in autumn.
You see / wasn't n pretty man. l was,
to make the statement short and true, as
ugly as beetling black brows and great
fists like sledge hammers and a thick nose
and a square jaw could make a young fell
low, and girls did not generally care for me.
And yet l was always kind to a woman,
young or old; couldn't bear to see one i'm
posed upon, and would nave lone anything
I could for the ugliest of them. My polite
ness wasn't all for those / admired, but
women don't care much for anything but
looks in a man. They don't care for any
one who isn't like n Christmas doll or
a wax figure in a BARRIERS window. That's
what | used to say to myself, and now this
sweetest, best, loveliest of all of them loved
me. Why, | felt as II, l must be crazy to
believe 1t. Iasked her over and over again,
and was too happy-too happy. Yes. far
too happy.
We were not a fine lady and gentleman.
! made fireworks, and was considered good
at my trade and reliable, and was a fore
man In one OF the departments. Ifelt that
l could take care of a wife when l had one,
n Rose had come to work at the pretty
fancy work they put into the girls hands
some time before.
But she was a lady. II looks and heart
and manners are to be counted. And she
had a good plain education. SO had 1, and
don't believe that any OF your stylish folk
were ever happier or more hopeful; and af-
ter the Sunday in the woods we set 10 work
with n will, looking forward to our little
home more than most folks, perhaps, for
she was an orphan and so was /, and we
had neither kith nor kin on earth. And
so the time sped by and Fourth Of July
came close Mt hand and we were very busy
at the factory, and n nephew OF Mr. Warden
lit was Vnrden's factory we were working
some and the girls all admired him, and
even Annie said to me half u dozen times:
"Ohl Isn't he lovely, Johni"
And somehow l hated to hear her say il.
She wouldn't II she had known what a
jealous fellow / was.
To add to her savings Annie was doing
so she said-some fine embroidery for Miss
Lawrence, u very rich young lady In the
village, and had to go over to BEE her
about 1t OF evenings. In ordinary times 1
could have gone with her, but we were too
httuu mat Nhta N1Vna Hnurarr.r A-. h. 4
had IN errand to do that took me out
about the time she started, and, wrong or
right, | meant to tai a little more time
and go so far with her, and Lwaitsd Dehim
n church wall to see her come up, meaning
u have a little fun over It.
It was poor fun for me as IL turned out,
for | heard steps and voices in a moment,
and peeping out saw Rose, indeed, but
with Richard Warden at her side. They
seemed to be talking very socially, and
they passed me in n great hurry. l was
blind with rage for a moment. Then |
said to myself, after all he may only have
happened to be walking the same way,
and, perhaps, she'll tell me about 1t, and |
went back to my work; but when l saw
Rose, though mentioned Richard Warden,
she did not say anything OF the walk.
And so 1t came into my mind, being of a
wicked, brooding nature, to watch my
Rosebud, rs had called her; and as listen.
ers never hear any good of themselves, SO
spies always discover some evil, or think
they do. 1t was not long afterward that |
saw Mr.. Richard walk up to the lunch bas.
ket Rose carried to the factory and slip
something into It folded in paper; and af.
terward, when Rose opened the basket, !
saw what 1t was-R letter. She laughed
softly to herself, wrapped 1t up again and
slipped it under the silk handkerchief she
wore about her neck. After that had nc
more happiness, no more peace. l was al
ways trying to lead Rose on to betray her
self, but she never seemed to dream l sus
pected anything. She told me a good deaI
about the Lawrences and how they quar
relied, years before, with the Vardens about
n little slip of dump land by the river, and
how bitter Grandfather Lawrence was over
1t, and how foolish the younger peopl,
thought it.
One day / said:
You are we'll informed on these family
affairs of the Vardens, 1t seems to me-"
And she answered.;
"Oh, yes, Miss Lawrence tolls me a greai
deal"
Perhaps it is Richard Warden, 3 1 said.
She only laughed, as II that were a great
Joke. And so the Fourth Of July came
and we had a holiday. That day l Weakened
In a good mood. said to myself: "RosI
can be deceiving me. She's not that sort
I'll throw all my suspicious to the winds
He may be in love with her, but she will
never encourage him. She loves me, ant
II l ask her up and down she'll tell me al
about t." And so l went to her early, ant
asked her to go with me on n pleasant tril
/ knew we could take, and spend day AMI
evening together.
1--WE needn't get home until o." said
"and Wen be very happy"
put my arm about her waist, and shi
laid her cheek against my shoulder.
I'm so sorry, john" she said, but
can't GO"
Cant goi" l cried.
NO" said she; ~ am engaged for al
say-yes, and all the evening, too"
What You don't mean THAR" said l.
Eyes" she said, and it's an engagement
ecannot break"
"Wha are You going TO do' Whom ar
you going With" l asked.
Cant tell you,' she said, laughing
After tomorrow you'll know"
after Tomorrow" l repeated. "Wha
u ! say you must tell me now"
To Milwaukee.
Biennial Conclave Supreme Lodge an
| N. IT-.T- D.