Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-08-02
A JEALOUS WIFE.
Why She Never Doubts Her Hus-
bands Love.
II wouldn't marry her, II l were

~ wouldn't marry her, II I were
you"
That was the gist of his friends
counsel, spoken or implied. They all
admitted her graces of person, heart
and mind. But the undeniable fact of
her jealousy remained.
"a jealous woman" his aunt assured
him. "can make any man miserable"
IA jealous wife, declared his near
est friend, will make you wish you had
taken my advice, which is that the
immortal Weller gave to his son.
Don't marry avidder, he said. Go
hang yourself first, an you'll be glad
on 1t arterward" am presumptuous
enough to paraphrase that; Go hang
yourself before you marry jealous
woman, and you'll be glad on it AFTER
wardv"
But Harold Groves had only laughed.
When was q man or woman in love
ever apt to listen to anything so disa-
greeable as common sense? And he
was in love, honestly, sincerely and
passionately. So he married Norine
Hale, and was most ridiculously hap
Ply for two years. Their life together
ives simply ideal. His few faults he
corrected II faults she had, they re.
NAMED undiscovered by him. One day
he summoned courage to tell her the
remarks that had been made concern
ing her jealous disposition.
She looked up at him with grave,
shining eyes.
Il do love loyalty" she replied, sim
ply.
And it may be he would never have
discovered at all that Norine was ical-
Gus If it were not for the burglary.
Harold Groves was a lawyer lie
transacted much Of his business at
home and had in his study a large
desk, in which he kept papers of i'm
portance deeds and memoranda re-
latinS to the affairs of his clients The
desk looked sally untly and, in the
opinion of Norinc. was decided blot
IN the exquis.tely neat little room,
where some of their plcasantest hours
were spent.
Harold" she said to him one even
ing, as She leaned over his chair, and
smoothed back his dark locks caress-
ingly with her pretty white fingers,
II really shall tidy up that desk one of
these days. The littcrof dusty papers,
books and pipes is positively disgrace
full"
lie gave her glance of alarm
Don tor mercy's sake, dcarestl
know now where to put my hand on
everything | want-don't!M
But the fear that she might do SO in
dnced him to lock his desk, and keep
it locked thereafter. Norine noticed
it and laughed.
AT least you have shut the disorder
out of sight she avowed, gayly. "My
threat was eflicacious to that extent
Indeed, dear, how you can ever tell
one OF those tiresome documents OF
yours from another is a mystery to
me-"
A certain blue, starlit March night
they went upstairs, leaving the coy
apartment In dainty order. During
the night Norine was awakened by
what sounded like click. She sat
bolt upright IN bed.
"llark.' she breathed. "Listen,
Harold"
Both listened intently.
ut is a very cold night he said, at
length. "You merely heard the frost
cracking on the window pane. TO to
sleep, love-
Treasured, she did as hidden, but, on
being aroused early by the servants
cry of dismay, she FASTENED down to
find the lower rooms in a state of ex-
IRENE confusion. Drawers had been
pulled out, the desk of the master
forced open, and papers were scat
tered broadcast in an evident search
for valuables.
"My ruby ringr' cried Mrs. Groves
II left 1t on the mantel last night. And
my watch was in the Chinese cabinet
where put my pocketbook. Send
for the police Harold They have all
been stolenl"
II shall CO." cried Groves.
And he started off on a run.
For several minutes Norine stood
staring around in bewilderment. Then,
mechanically, she began to arrange
the disordered apartment She picked
up the pieces Of a shattered vase, threw
them In the CRATE, Strengthened a
twisted drapery, lifted some scattered
sheets Of paper laid them on the leaf
OF her husbands forced desk, and sud
denly retreated step, turning very
white. Open before her having evil
IDENTIFY been wrenched wide, in the
hope OF finding money, was square
morocco box. In the box was bundle
of letters, and photograph, The let
tiers were In woman's hand, and the
smiling, pictured face, was that of
Norine's dearest friend.
She held tight to chair-bacls, to
keep from falling. Her temples
throbbed. A hot flush drove the pal
lor from her cheeks The buzz in her
ears was deafening. She put out her
hand, took up one Of the letters, read
1t through. 1t was just such love-