The National tribune., 1892-01-28
JEALOUS WOMAN,
And Her Weary Vigil In Front OF the Masonic
Temple.

Temple.
There is very estimabIe lady in Washing
ton who is afflicted sorsly by that awful demon
Of jealousy who had an experience several
years ago that was quietly laughed at in the
Departments and the clubs 1t ought to
cure her fOreyermore, but / doubt i5, for
think jealousy is a decided form OF insanity,
and in many cases is by 10 means mild.
Mrs Blank is not an elderly woman, although
she has been married fully % years, is still
very attractive in person, accomplished as a
musician, and is a most charming hostess.
Mr.. Blank, who was Captain Blank during
the war, is a responsible official in one OF the
Executive Departments. lie is just IN the If
ties in age and is q general favorite with bis
fellow officials and among men generally, bat
is one Of the most domestic men IN his tastes
and habits that you would Fun across in months
Of seeking. His idea Of true enjoyment in life
is to have at least one friend to Join Mrs. Blank
and himself over a good dinner, and after that
TO have a couple more drop in with their wives
TO spend the evening; whist or cribbage and
something hot and we'll spiced for the men
while they enjoy the music Mrs. Blank gives
them. / suppose that the evenings that he
spends away from home in year, unaccompa-
MED by his wife, could be counted on the fin
gers of one hand.
One would think that q woman with hus-
band like that would be free from parOxysms
of jealousy. but, notwithstanding, she manages
TO let the demon make her life wretched for q
good part of the time She has been very quiet
lately but the odds are that she will forget her
severe lesson and break out again in a new
place.
Mr.. Blank ia a man Of very high degree in
the Masonic Order and has held many Of the
honors in the Lodge, the Chapter and EHcamp-
ment. and so it came to pass that when the
Washington knights Templar set about pre-
Il IL L -
| in the great Triennial COnclaye Of 1889, he wa5
made Chairman of one very important COM
mittee, and member of several others.
One evening, not long before the meeting Of
| the ConclaVe Blank, on going home from his
office to dinner told Mrs. b. that he was obliged
| to attend q committee meeting that night at
| the Masonic Temple TO meet certain exalted
| dignitaries of the Order from distant points
| who had come to perfect arrangements for the
| visit. he didn't know how late he would be
| out; not later than ii or II o'clock, anyhow !;
| and notwithstanding it looked like a storm, he
must 20, for he had made positive engage
ment to do SO, and he must go.
Mrs Blank said little about the matter, bnt
| she Immediately began TO picture in her own
mind a deep-laid scheme to get away and
| .lalIy" with some particularly dashing widow
/ or some Villainy Of that sort; and the dinner
was eaton in profound silence. But while she
| said nothing of her secret belief, this poor
woman resolved on q line of action that would
detect and expose any trickery that might be
contemplated.
In due time Blank dOnned his OvercOat, and
after kissing his wife gOOd-by. lit a fresh cigar
and started to walk slowly TO the place of meet
! ing. He had hardly reached the next corner,
| when his spouse slipped out OF the basement
door shrouded in a huge waterproof with the
| hood pulled over her head to conceal her iden-
/ tity. and FASTENED after him. Speedily over
/ taking the uncOnsciOusly -suspccted husband,
| she crossed to the other fOOtwalk and followed
/ him through various streets until he disap-
/ peared through the broad, well-hghted entrance
| of the Masonic Temple just little after 8
| o'clock. Then she took her station by lamp
post on the opposite side Of the street and began
| her watch.
| The theory she had framed in her own mind
| was 10 the effect that Blank and some chum had
/ effected an arrangement with q brace of gay
widows to enjoy an oyster and wine supper, and
| theu-she didn't dare even think of what she
| believed might happen after that. The story
about q committee meeting was, OF course, a
mere blind, but she was too keen to be fooled
| by q story Of such delicate texture as that. To
| DO sure. Blank bad really come straight to the
| Masonic Temple; but, then, he was a very smart