The Portland daily press., 1895-10-28
hlY RIVAL.

an intermittent SORT OF way, ever since VIC
were married three years before. But aft
or the noblg fashion of men, having got
possession Gf the desired object and being
sure that the heart Of that object belonged
entirely and wholly to him, he had ceased
to make much effort to show his affection
or even keez, it up to normal heat Occa-
sionally these was a relapse to the old low
erlike devotion, little anxiety on his part
to give me como of his society, little rec
reation, Bit OF fun in the shape of an old
time haunt shat used, alssi to be SO many
and now were so rare.
But, on tie whole, things moved Oh In
Jog trot way, varied once in awhile by a
burst of tears and sobs from me that at first
ne tried to auothe and from which at last
he rushed away Some of my older friends
told me tkaS my experience was the usual
one.
''Men, n-e DEAR said my cousin Thee,
a pretty mas9Un ten years nay senior, linen
are not pus mp as We are unfortunately, no.
In prop 7rti::n as a woman grows fond they
grow cold. Never were words more truly
written than Byron's Love is Of mans
life a thing apar7' etc. | had to get used
TO it myself, and 7 shed buckets of tears
the first yesF Tom and I wera married.
The first niEht he staid at the club till !
and smeIlpd 2rightfully of wine when he
got home nearly had fit, I cried and
vowed SHOULD go back to dear mamma.
But didn's, and now Wa get on comfort
ably. The bills are my greatest sorrow,
and nothing short of the sight of Tom &C.
tually kissing the cook or clipping with an
opera singer would arouse my indiSna-
tom
thought Theo heartless The future
she pictured seemed a dreary one, but ]
gradually fell into that very state Of mind.
/ grew to be servilely grateful for the
crumbs of old time tenderness that fell to
my lot and even sometimes congratulated
myself that jack refrained from actually
being unkind Such is the humility of
women and dogs.
But there came a change. / thought
was hardened to almost as much as cous-
in Theo, but found that things had not
been so bad that they could not be worse.
Jack grew more and more distrait. When
he had read the paper, instead of his usual
polite inquiries after my health, oecupa
lions, ETC., he relapsed into deep fits of
reverie> Something was certainly trou-
bling him. was sorry for him, even ven
tured to put caressing hand on his soft
brown hair and ask if business were going
wrong He would rouse himself, answer
hastily, and getting his hat go off hurried
" There were many little sermons
preached Oh economy about this time; the
duty of q woman to saviour income was
a very moderate one. When 1 spoke OF
trip to the country, the proposition met
with ominous silence at first Then
could GO alone this year" Didn't
think it was about as pleasant at home as
anywhere. Now, in our little country trips
Jack had seemed more like the dear old
fellow who had wooed and won me in the
sweet past. [ was loath to give it up. But
my heart had taken in these oft repeated
lessons as 50 woman's duty. Visions of
selfish wives Haunting gayly at seashore
and mountain resorts while their dear lords
at home were submerged by waves of care,
loaded down by bulk Of work, rose before
me- No. would not be selfish, said
brayely. would stay at home and was
rewarded By an old time kiss.
But the atmosphere did not clear. Jack
tossed restlessly in his sleep. He groaned
and muttered almost unintelligible words.
Leaning ovyr him with visions of delirium
in my mind, 1 was sure caught an occa-
sional word. even aphrase "She is beau
ty.'' Oh, an SIRE he said that, and
then, "Ariel is a sumner" I woke him
bat he denied having said a word, growl-
ed at being walked and WAC distinctly
cross.
But life lost even its calm content for
me. Yes to be sure had got accustomed
to dull, gray days, to weeks of monotony,
but was not prepared for this keen pain,
this frightfIsl jealousy that took possession
of me. Jack was in love. There was no
manner Of doubt of it, Did he not have
ali the signs-abstracted, silent, troubled
with dreams Of the beloved, unattainable
object, whoever she was. He was very
busy in the Office l knew, but there were
the evenings, the cool, scented summer
nights that had once been so sweet. Jack
would bolt his dinner, kiss me perfuncto-
rily and rush off. He had to meet man
at the club or he was going to fathers.
Father lived at the other end of town,
but one evening found my way out there
I was ashamed of myself. 1 hated the idea
that I could not trust my husband. I
would not watch him. Still in spite of it
Ill my feet turned in that direction. Me-
chemically took the car that led to the
door Of Jacks parental abode walked
up to the veranda, on which sat merry
group of young people. They greeted me
cordially.
"Where's Jack?"
''Isn't he here?" asked with that sick
ening feeling at my heart that all jealous
women know.
s'No. He hasn't been here for weeks"
For weeksi And twice in the last week
he had gone to fathers.
Icontrollcdmyself bravely, laughed with
the rest, and brother viii took me home.
All, cruel mockery to call that abode of
tears and sorrow hone Tt was home no
longer. With gay good night 1 let my
self into the silent house and threw 1nJ
self on my bed in q fit Of hysterical sob
ping. Why, why did men make women
love them only to neglect them, betray
them? Why had Jack-my handsome,
darling Jack-come into my happy life
and taken me away only to forsake Inc so?
Suddenly heard the well known step
upon t!.o pavement below. l sprang to lily
feet and put out the light, chen speedily
disrobed and got into bed before he had
locked the doors and made all secure down
stairs. He was very slow, [ thought. His
step seemed to have LOSS its elasticity. My
heart contracted painfully as thought of