The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-04
A TALE OF JEALOUSY.

AD4Eo 10 A6U lllC lC5tfs WHICH ne Ait4A
gotten, for a half hour ago he hGd started
to town to sell the 40 acre pasture to a city
gentleman who was willing to pay for it
twice what it was worth. Only when he
had reached Bainbridge's Mill had he hap
pened to feel in his pocket and discover
that he had come away without this neoea-
sary document.
Perhaps his absentmi ndedness was exc
cusable. The thoughts that had been oo-
oupying him were more absorbing than
pleasant. His young wife seemed much
depressed that morning He was old, and
he was well to do, and he had succeeded in
marrying Jane Pike, the belle of the COM
munity, carrying her OF in the teeth Of
many rivals more gifted with personal
charms than himself chief Of which young
gentry was Waiter McShsne, to whom 10
was the common report that Jane had been
engaged, but from whom she had parted
in a lovers quarrel. 1t had not failed to
reach Enos ears that his wife had accepted
him out of spite to the other. For few
weeks their welded life had been happy,
and MeShane, it was said. had left tha
country. Runners now had it that the re-
jeccsd sutton had returned, s7herea6 Jane
appeared TO grow gloomy and Enos dis
turbed
If his meditations were unpleasant as be
drove away down the dusty road they
were decidedly more SO when, as ne reach-
ed the kitchen window, he heard the voice
of his wife and the hated accents Of Walter
McShane. He gasped for breath, and the
blood rushed from his face and seemed to
food his agitated heart, so that be olutched
at his breast. Parting the leaves a little,
he looked through the window and saw
the two standing, Walter in the doorway
leaning against the ja1nb, looking at her
with eyes whose meaning could not be
mistaken, and Jane fumbling her dust
.IoNl, fr,h fracrn
her face crimson. This was what he heards
You know 1 loved you and by George
love you yetr'
ooh, Walter, don't talk sol It's wick
ed. ?
s'Why did you marry that old skinhintf
You married him for money, that's why. =
Il Thought you didn't love me any
more
''Would it have made any difference Il
you had thought I did love your
'I-I don know. "
Gust tell me one thing and III not
cross your path or bother you any more,
Do you love me now? I amt going ia
marry anybody, but want to knows
that. y
No answer Increased confusion. and
still redder bushes. ''Just tell me now
do you, June?'
She looked up to him as If with q des.
perate resolution and said. Yes, I do
and never did and never viii love anys
body else. "
He advanced a step toward her, but aha
put up her hand to ward him of.
Go away, now, Walter. Don't do what
win make US more miserable than we al.
ways must be anyhow all our lives -
He groaned.
s'We may have to be unhappy" she
continued 'sbub we don't have to do
wrong.
With lovers insistence he piled her
again. Jane, if you was free, would you
marry me nowfi'
She replied promptly, "If was free,
I'd marry you in a minute"
She stopped to oaress the dog that came
up to them.
Enos Brown reeled like a drunken man
Rage, chagrin and the horror of an awful
secret to be borne through life well nigh
stihad him. He slipped softly to the wood
shed and took down his rifle. He was in
that state Of unreasoning anger where
mon cannot see or weigh oonseq uenoes or
admit e1tenuations Back he crept to the
window. He saw her still bending over
the dog, patting his head Walter stood
over her. devouring her shapely form with
his eager eyes. The fame Of madness in
Enos' bosom burst into a veritabIe confa-
grafton. He pointed the rife barrel at his
rival His hand trembled, but he covered
his mark as best he could and pulled tie
trigger
After the explosion there was a moment
of silence. Enos listened, having drawn
back once more under cover of the foliage.
Then came a confused cutlery, a mans
curse, a dogs yelping and woman
scream Then the voice of Jane:
ooh, be is killed. be is killed. oh, my
poor darlingi He is killedr
Enos Brown hastily threw the gun away
and dashed at breakneok speed through
the back yard leaped the fence climbed
into his wagon and dashed his horse into q
gallon. Curses Of hate shared his heart
with tremors Of fear Arriving in the vile
lage he tied his team and ran over to the
depot The train luckily was just wits
Ting for the station He boarded it and
went away.
Six years later trem bling old man,
broken with alcoholic debauch, came into
the town with q company of haEveste
His face was disguised by a long growt-
of whiskers, and his bent form looked but
little like the straight and military ape
pearance that the Enos Brown Of other
days had presented. Getting into the place
about evening, the harvesters decided to re-
main over night at the village inn. Bright
and early next morning they would push
to the farm where their work lay
After supper the decreplt old man sided
up to the landlord, and after much round
about converaation ohserved
I used to know a teller in the war that
said he was from these parts. Les see, bis
name was Smith or Jones' or-what was
it now2 Some plain name or mother
''Oh ye mean Brown-Enoa Browng''
eyes; I guess that was it is he Twin
here yeti"
'sNo; he left student about six years
ago. He come to town one day and took
the train, and wa a . never heard OF asnce. -
q Did he leave any fambly?''
Nobody but wife. A couple a year
ago she got divorce and married Teller
by the name Of McShane.
"ShoF' said Enos