Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-11
The Green Eyed Monster.
copyright 1895, By the Author !
BIZ FLOEENCE MiKRYAT.


best kept and most artistically dccorat-
ed house in the town. Michael Denza
was justly proud of his beautiful wife
and dainty little children and well APP
pointed home. Yet the spectral shadow
of cloud seemed to hang over the
Denza household-undefnabl and yet
to be felt. The "prunes and prism" Ia
dies OF Sydenham held aloof somehow
from pretty Mrs. Derza, and her cat
homes and strawberry parties were
but thinly patronized. Michael Denza
was a wire merchant, in partnership
with his elder brother. Joseph, and had
large connection in the city. The
brothers DenZa were good looking men-
Michael especially SO. They had
Italian blood in their veins and
something of the italian warmth of feel
ing in their natures. They were well
off, too, without being wealthy. They
could afford to ride backward and for
ward to their office in q first class car
Riage, smoking first class cigars on the
way, and they worG regarded in the city
as a reliable and thriving firm. And yet
and yet-will that provoking phrase
'and get" ever cease to interfere with
consummation Of this world happiness?
Michael Denza was leaning back in his
Office chair enc afternoon in November
picking his teeth with a guill-a look
OF perplexi.y upon his handsome fea-
lures. Notwithstanding the time of
year, g yellow rosebud bloomed il his
buttonhole, and his dress was that of
man Of fashion.
81 can't imagine" he said, as he re-
garded newly received telegram On the
table before him, "where the money
goes to- Ella is so very simple in her
tastes. She scarcely ever seems to spend
any money Oh herself, and yet this is
the second demand she has made for GEO
within fortnight. I don't grudge it
her, Joseph, mind that, but l can't
think what she does with it.
why don't you ask her?' observed
the practical elder brother. Joseph Den
IN might have been as good looking as
Michael had he not been so fat, but he
was ten years older-a Ian now verg-
ing on 40, and ne was of harder and
more suspicious nature than his younger
brother. He had no love for women
either. He had been cruelty deceived by
one Of the sex i'll the days Of his youth,
and had fallen into the common error
OF suppOsing they were all formed after
the same pattern, which made him al
ways ready to believe the worst of them.
why don't you ask herr" he said.
"She won't tell you the truth, of course,
but it may prevent such exorbitant de-
mands for the future"
ELLA never told me lie yet" cried
Michael, firing up; Il am sure Of it. She
Is as clear and open as the day.
Clear and open!" sneered Joseph
my dear Michael, you are fool! A
divorced woman clean and openr'
"She is not a divorced woman" re-
turned the other hotly. "You know
that perfectly we'll. She divorced her
first husband on account Of his cruelty
and infidelity to her,
"There is not much difference" said
Joseph; sin these cases, there arc al
ways faults on both Sides
Il don't believe it, and it is cruel Of
you to say SO" replied Michael. "You
know that it was only after long
course of patient forbearance and weak
condonation-not, indeed, until her life
was in danger from his violence-that
Ella consented to take refuge in the
freedom which the law assigned her.
"You know how hate even an allu-
sion to the subject. Joseph. and you
might have spared me the pain of refut-
ing your statement.
Let us change it, then, and return to
your first speculation. Where can the
money go tor
"Oh. l don't care" cried Michael
impatiently as he pushed the paper
away from him. II wish 1 had never
raised the question. / am not going to
suspect my wife of using it for an un.
lawful purpose. She can do as she likes
with it. 1t is all the same to me-"
But that is rather dangerous wav
of tampering with fortune If Mrs. Mi
chael does not spend it, she must give
it away"
''But to whom could she give it? She
has 10 relations dependent on herr
"Ah, that is the puzzle which I
should not be satisfied without finding
out! Perhaps she owes it to her MILL
ner."
II am sure she does not. 1 paid her
milliner's yearly account last month"
Can any one have hold upon her,
Michael?" demanded joseph suspi-
ciously.
what do you mean:'
Can Ella have been so imprudent as
to encourage some young fellow far
enough am only alluding to fiirta-
ton, you know-to embolden him to ap-
ply to her for money ON pain of disclo-
sure? We have heard Of such things
with married ladies before, you know,
you and l."
Michael Denza's face flushed with
passion as he started from his chair
with q clinched hand.
II you were not my brother, Jo-
seph'- he began, but broke off with a
harsh laugh. "What folly am talking
and You. too" he continued. ELLA.
sir? Why. she is the quietest little
woman in the world l often wish she
would assert her position better and go
out in society more