Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-06-06
THE POWER OF JEALOUSY

L ~ l.
1t was Sunday, and l was walking home
from church with Rose Arthur, and we
were engaged. | had known her only 6
few months, but think if she had said nc
instead OF yes l should have died of it. We
had done our duty; we had been to church
and now I had coaxed her to go with me
into the woods and we sat down on hol
low log beside great patch of violets that
were in bloom there, and | told her how
loved her, over and over again, and how
could not understand what there was in &
big, rough fellow like me that 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 l wasn't a pretty man. l was
to make the statement short and true, as
ugly as beetling black brows and great
fists like sledge hammers and thick nose
and square jaw could make young fell
low, and girls did not generally care for me-
And yet was always kind to woman
young or old; couldn't bear to see one i'm
posed upon, and would have done anything
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 Christmas doll or
Il 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, l felt as if 1 must be crazy to
believe it. asked 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 fore
man in one of the departments Ifelt that
could take care of a wife when had one,
and Rose had come to work at the pretty
fancy work they put into the girls hands
some time before.
But she was a lady, if looks and heart
and manners are to be counted. And she
had good plain education. So had l, 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 to work
with will, looking forward to our little
home more than most folks, perhaps, for
she was an orphan and SO was l, and we
had neither kith nor kin on earth And
so the time sped by and Fourth of July
came close at hand and we were very busy
at the factory, and anephew of Mr. Warden
Git was Varden's factory we were working
at) came down to help. He was very hand
some and the girls all admired him, and
even Annie said to me half dozen times:
sob! isn't he lovely, John?"
And somehow hated to hear her say it.
She wouldn't if 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, very rich young lady in the
village, and had to go over to see her
about it of evenings. In ordinary times ]
could have gone with her, but we were too
busy just this time. However, one day
had an errand to do that took me out
about the time she started, and, wrong or
right, meant to take little more time
and go so far with her, and waited behind
a church wall to see her come up, meaning
to have little fun over it.
1t was poor fun for me as it 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 great hurry. I was
blind with rage for aoment. Then
said to myself, after all he may only have
happened to be walking the same way,
and, perhaps, she'll tell me about it, and
went back to my work; but when 1 saw
Rose, though mentioned Richard Warden,
she did not say anything of the walk.
And SO it came into my mind, being of a
wicked, brooding nature, to watch my
Rosebud, as 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 upto 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 it was-a letter. She laughed
softly to herself, wrapped it up again and
slipped it under the silk handkerchief she
wore about her neck After that had nc
more happiness, no more peace was al
ways trying to lead Rose on to betray her
self, but she never seemed to dream sus-
pected anything She told me a good deal
about the Lawrences and how they quar-
relied, years before, with the Vardens about
a little slip of dump land by the river, and
how bitter Grandfather Lawrence was over
it, and how foolish the younger people
thought it.
One day said:
"You are well informed on these family
affairs of the Vardens, it seems to me-"
And she answered:
ooh, yes, Miss Lawrence tells me great
deal"
perhaps it is Richard Warden" said
She only laughed as if that were a great
joke And so the Fourth of July came
and we had holiday. That day Weakened
In good mood 1 said to myself: "Rose
can't be deceiving me. She's not that sort
plI throw all my suspicious to the winds
He may be in love with her, but she will
never encourage him. She loves me, and
if ask her up and down she'll tell me all
about it.'' And so | went to her early, and
asked her to go with me on a pleasant trip
| knew we could take, and spend day and
evening together.
eve needn't get home until g." l said
land We'll be very happy"
| put my arm about her waist, and she
laid her cheek against my shoulder.
'I'm so sorry, john" she said, "but
can't CO."
Cant go?' l cried.
NO." said she; 81 am engaged for al
day-yes, and all the evening, too"
"Whatl You don't mean that?" said l.
"Yes," she said, "and it'san engagement
rcannot break"
"What are you going to do? Whom art
you going WITH" asked.
Cant tell you," she said, laughing
After tomorrow you'll know"
"After tomorrow" repeated. "What
# say vo'' must tell me now"
II should say l wouldn't" she an
swered.
Every WELL" said I; ''Pll go alone"
turned from her without kiss for thu
first time since our engagement, and
went away and hid myself where I could
watch her Soon l saw curious thing
Some one carried trunk to the door of thu
house she boarded at, and l saw her speal
to the man about it. Then l watched he
window from an upper room of the factory
She was packing the trunk. Then again
saw Mr.. Richard call boy to him and Civ