The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-09-17
Near Sighted jealousy.

in the city, and like many other brokers,
he was possessed of small house aud
garden in one Of the outlying suburban
towns, to which he was wont to retire
when his days work was over. He was,
in short, a plain, everyday merchant,
about thirty years old, and by no means
lacking in manly beauty.
Mr.. Matthias CodGleman certainly
seemed to be very matter-of, fact and
good young man, for he regularly attend
ed to his business, and was, moreover,
the superintendent of Sunday-school in
the town where he lived. LIE was never
theless possessed of romance, and very
substantial romance it was, weighing, I
should think, nearly 200 pounds; for Mr.
Matthias was married.
This is how it came about. Some two
years before the time at which write,
he had taken his summer outing at one
of the popular seaside resorts, and there
had met for the first tine the future Mrs.
Coddleman. Eta Sayles, as she was
then, was plump and pretty maiden,
under the charge of an old aunt, her
father being dead, and her mother and
only sister in Europe.
Ettas aunt had but one failing, and
that was the Patagonian savages. On
learning of tho deeply religious nature of
Mr.. Matthias, this estimable gentle
woman pounced upon him forthwith;
and so much was she interested in dis
cussing with him plans for the conversion
of these heathens, that SIZE never perceived
the conversion of Eta, as effected by
Love and Mr.. Coddeman, till it was too
late. As Mrs. Saylis was great invalid
and had gone to Europe for her health,
it seemed useless to wait for her return.
So after much lettcr-writing and discus
sion, it was decided that the young cou-
pie should be married, and they were the
next spring.
They had now been man and wife for
more than a year, and thus far nothing
had occurred to mar their tranquility.
Indeed, there was no reason why they
should, for Mrs. Matthias believed her
husband to be perfection, and Mr.. Mat
thias returned the compliment. His wife,
indeed, almost merited that belief, for
she had but two failings; one failing of
eyesight, and the other a most inordin-
ately jealous disposition. Of the first of
these failings her husband was aware; of
the second he knew nothing, because he
was such thoroughly good young man
that even his Jealous wife could find
nothing to carp at.
The day OF the 10th of July, 1875, was
noted for two things: the arrival of Mr..
Coddleman's sistcr-in.law from Europe
and the arrival of the green-eyed monster,
jealousy, in his household,
Shortly before the time of which I
write, Mrs. Saylers had died abroad, and
her daughter was now returning to live
with her married sister. The day in
question opened auspiciously enough,
for, though sultry, it was very beautiful.
As NJ, and Mrs. Coddlcman rode into
town that morning, he to his business
and she to meet her sister, no pair of
turtledoves could have been more devot-
ed. Before the train had proceeded far
on its way, however, an accident occurred
to rufie the conposurc of Mrs. Matthias,
and this was the loss of her glasses.
= "Oh, Natl" she cried, when she had
discovered the fact, ~ have left my
glasses behind me at home; what shall I
do9 Why, I should not know my sister
without them unless she was within three
feet of me-"
ia "Well, my love-" replied he, "it
strikes me that you can't find her without
them, and can't 60 back to get them,
the best thing will be for you to wait at
the station and let her hnd YOU"
His wife agreed with him in this, and
30 the matter ended.
All through the heat IF the day Mr..
Coddleman toiled at his desk, stopping
occasionally to wonder how he should
like his sister-ir-law, whom he had
never met, and whether she had yet
]ound his wife. When four o'clock
came. he arose from his work and sought
She railway station with joy.
{. All the trouble Of that unfortunate
afternoon arose from his extravaganza,
for as he knew that the common car
would be both hot and crowded, he
determined to treat himself to the luxury
Of a drawing-room scat.
- Entering the first of the coaches be
found it full, and passing through it,
secured one of the two remaining chairs
in the forward car. He had scarcely
settled himself when, just as the train
started, the porter showed lady, laden
with many bags and bundles to the re-
naming seat. Just then the car gave a
lurch, and before she could seat herself,
her baggage flew in every direction. As
the porter had meanwhile disappeared,
Matthias came to the rescue and collected
her scattered belongings.
Y $50 kind of you," she murmured, as
she sank back in her scat with sigh OF
comfort.
). "Not at ALL" he replied, but yon
should have some one to assist you with
these bund!es-they are too heavy for
you to casfy."
y: 81 was expecting some one to help
me-" she returned, "but was disap,
pointed" After a moment she con,
tinucd, ~ do not know this part of the
country, and if I would not be asking toe
much, I should be 50 much obliged il
you would give me some information
about reaching my destination"
He fastened to assure her that, fal
from troubling him, he should esteem il
great honor to be Of any service to her,
and begged that she would tell hin