Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-09-05
THE QUARREL.

IL is just TOUR months since we
bad been married-since we had
sworn at the altar to love and cher
ish each other until death-and now
we were quarreling in the most dis
graceful manner.
II must have been insane when /
married you" said my wife, furious
ly.
1T WAS crazy thing to do" an
sented, sarcastically, trash indeed
"For you or for me?" she de-
manded, with flaming cheeks.
"For both of US had l imagined
l would have assisted at such per-
Torrance as this" -andsI waved my
hands contemptuously, as though
words were too feeble to express ny
feelings.
"You began it, she tegsn, breath
lessly lit was all your unreasonable
jealousy"
jealousy p l interrupted, with
increasing sarcasm.
eyes, you know you we're angry
because Stephen sent the flowers"
"Stephen can send you a whole
conservatory if he likes l retorted,
with assumed indifference; never
theless I loathed Stephen, my wife's
cousin, and hated nothing so much
as the lavish attention of this kind
that he persisted in extending to
her. "If you let him know that you
are so fond OF Orchids" went on,
cruelty, "no doubt he will keep you
supplied with Them
81 don't hint for things" she said
scornfully, but recklessly, saying the
thing she knew would really hurt me
the most, ''if l really wanted any
thing badly, there is no man l would
sooner ask than Stephen"
"Stop p I said, furiously, II will
not hear any more. Stephen is, I
know paragon of excellence. Well,
since I am acquainted with the fact.
let it rest. | do net ike Stephen,
do not admire Stephen, l do not
respect Stephen, since we have en-
tirely opposite views about Steph-
en-, we will not discuss him at all.
Understand, l do not wish to hear
his name"
''You are a beartless despotic
fend,' said Elsine, beside herself
with rage.
sit must have been kindred re-
semblance that made me fancy you,"
l replied with a cruelty I did not
know I possessed.
II wish that I had died before |
met you," she exclaimed, looking at
me with her pretty young face ALSO
lutely TRANSPORTED with passion.
mo doubt death would have been
preferable" / returned, but involun-
tarily I put my hand to my mouth,
for l could feel my lips turning
white.
Elaine flung herself upon the
lounge weeping bitterly.
1t was horrible to see her in such
state, and yet, all that she said
was true. 1t was my jealousy
whether unreasoning or not, that
was the cause of our quarrel.
Stephen was twenty years older
than Elaine, he was in fact her guar
dian, as we'll as her cousin. 1t was
Stephen who had been consulted,
when | had proposed for Elaine, and
it was Stephen who had been in
structed by Der mother to make the
necessary arrangements IN regard to
the disposition of Elaine's fortune
previous to our marriage.
1t was, no doubt, this proprietary
interest that Stephen felt for Elaine
that irritated me. | wished to do
everything for her, but it was not in
nay power TO give her the Injuries
that he could SO easily bestow. Then
| had an idea, whether true or not,
that Stephen regarded me as for
tune hunter, and | resented an in
justice | could feel, but which not
beng openly declared, | could not
refute.
We had quaTreled before about
Stephen, and Of course We would