Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-02-10
JE ALOUSY.

Minnie with the least perceptible
pout on her lip.
''Women's curiosity!" said ], with
shrug Of my shoulders, "and femi-
nine jealousy"
"Nonsen ;, said Minnie, coloring
up. Il SUPP ose men are never curl
Gus, nor jealov, either!"
"Neverl" quoth l, with smile OF
calm superiority.
Then you won't tell me, Clarencep"
81 think, ma chere, your curiosity
and the other emotion-need lit
tie disciplined"
She did not say word, but turned
quietly away, and went up stairs for
the little bouquet of heliotrope and
geranium leaves that she generally
fastened into my button hole before l
went away, and in the very instant
that she closed the door l saw the
downward futter of a little white
slip of paper from her dress.
Instinctively l stopped to pick it
up, and as l stopped 1 could not
avoid reading the characters in
scribed thereon in a clear, masculine
cbirography.
'51l;-At Mason & Dobell's. No disappoint-
ment this time +. NJ"
felt the hot blood mounting to my
temples in q burning current, as
read and re-read the mysterious words,
"E. NJ" Didn't / remember that
Everard Mason was Minnie's second
cousin, and provokingly handsome
fellow at thatP Had l forgotten that
4 til
couple" they would make before I
stepped on the tapisp Not by long
sight, az. NJ" indeed! And l
clenched my fist involuntarily, as l
crumpled the paper in its grasp.
"What are you looking for Min
niep"
She stood with one hand resting
lightly on the door knob, glancing
uneasily round the floor, while there
was guilty flush on her cheek.
"I-that is-have you seen a little
slip OF paper lying aboutP"
.sNo!"
I uttered the lie with deliberate
calmness, even while the tell-tale bill
let lay in my hand. So-she was
anxious about it, ehP She didn't like
the idea that should have an insight
into her little arrangements with "E.
NJ" All! False and fair-all women
were alike!
at must have been something very
important, remarked, maliciously,
as she hurriedly turned over the
books on the center table, still search
ing for the missing treasure.
81 suppose / left it upstairs" she
said, artfully evading direct an
swer. "You are not going Clarencep'
81 am going"
"Good night"
held her hand moment in mine,
but did not kiss her as usual-the
iron had entered far too deeply into
my soul for that.
Not until l was safe in my own
room did open and re-examine the
odious little bit of paper.
"5-11." OF course the whole
thing was as plain as daylight. To-
day was the fourth OF the month";
was simply an appointment for to.
morrow at IL o'clock. 1 ground my
teeth as the truth flashed across my
brain.
"Is Mr.. Dobell IMP"
Yes. Mr.. Dobell was in, and one oi
the clerks respectfully ushered me
into the little private Office where my
honest friend Jack was sitting dock
citing voluminous pile of letters.
Clarence Page! Sit down, old
fellow. What good wind blows you
herep"
He drew out big, leather-covered
easy chair with hospitable welcome,
but declined it,
"Dobell, l want you to do me very
great favor-will youP"
Certainly, If ! can"
/ looked up at the clock-it wanted
Just 10 minutes of 11-and / hurriedly
confided the whole story Of my wrongs
TO Jacks honest breast. He stroket
down his red whiskers refectively.
"My dear fellow, really think 20,
are attaching too much Importance t,
a mere trife."
"a triAe." bit my lips until tn,
blood came. 'It's very plain to Sc
that you're not standing in my pecu
liar position, Dobell."
Oudll oCuu lOE ndSOus AlO 40 ~
the store, have no doubt"
"You will do nothing Of the sort.
swell, then, what is 1t you requir
ofmew
"Listenl She will come here, prob
ably at IL, TOTO see Mason. contour
himr'
ssWellp"
where will he probably receiv
herp"
''In this room, suppose"
''Is there no place where / coul
be an unseen auditor of their CONVEX
sationP"
"Why, there's the wardrobe, but
"Say no more-the very placer
exclaimed, exultingly.
Eyes, but Clarence, wouldn't IL
rather a mean thing to listen to whs
isn't intended for your earsP" faltere
Jack with sfme ern