The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-03-17
MAMIE

JEALOUS Mamie
"Just reach me my coat, Mamie. de.
clare, you're the incest little wife in the
world!'
Hugh Matchlcy looked down with d
! sort of fond, admiring tenderness at the
! bright-eyed, damask-cheeked little WON.
an who was industriously brushing his
coat. As she gave it shake to com.
| plete the process letter fell from one OF
the side pockets--a letter addressed to
III. Matchley, Esq.," in dainty. femin.
Inc handwriting. Instantly he stopped
and caught it up, but not before her
quick eye had deciphered the direction.
"A letter from ladyl' she cried out,
the merry sparkles Of mischief coming
into her eyes. "Oh, Hugh, who is she?''
THAT is my secret, Mrs. Matchley, 'he
returned, with assumed dignity.
rs it on business2"
.w gsGtanly ,x it is on % ines ,a he al"
darling, And now goodby until 4
o'clock"
For at that hour the young husba nd
had promised to come and take his wife
and child for what he called "a good,
old-fashioned drive into the country"
Mamie Matchley had been farmers
daughter, and, III Though she had lived
in the city since, her marriage with the
thriving young lawyer, her heart still
longed for the scent OF apple blossoms
and new-mown hay with an ihdcscriba-
BILE. yearning. A cluster of buttercups
and red clover would bring the sunshine
into her face as If it were spell. A
robins note among the trees in the park
would make her start and smile.
The country she unused to herself;
''Oh, l wonder if our dream of little
ows, where Allie can pluck dandelions
and roll on the grass, will ever he real
lied! Hugh used to talk Of it often.
or late he scarcely ever spea ks Of 1t. |
wonder It he has forgotten how dear it
is to my hearth
As she glided around the room, intent
on her var io9s household duties, d knock
sounded ut the door.
Its that tedious, gossiping old Mrs:
Bonheau," said Mamie to herself. "Now
l ain In for an hour of 1ieighborhood
news. Good mUrniig, Mrs. Bonneau.
Are you we'll today?"
Mrs. Benjamin BOnneau was a phan-
tom-iike old female, dressed i'll garments
Of n1nsty Grape and bomhazine, and she
wore blue goggles and talked sepulchral-
~ through her nose.
II am tolerably WE'LL" she answered
gloomily, las we'll as one can be in this
vale Of tears
why, what's the matter now?'' Nam
ME asked, depressing a SMILE
DO you mean, Mrs. Matchley, that
you have never suspected the presence
of the canker worm that is gnawing
at the bud of your domestic happiness!'
| asked the old dame.
Mamie dropped her fur buster and
stared at Mrs. Bonneau in amazement,
What in the name of common sense
do you mean? she demanded
Mrs. Bonneau shifted behind her pocket
handkerchief.
''Ah! these wives-these innocent, de-
luded, unsuspecting wivesw she groaned.
IF you had disguised yourself this morn
ing and followed yonr wretched hus-
band to what he caiis business
'Well?' gasped Mamie.
You would have seen sights that
would have curdled the very blood in
What sights?' gasped poor Mamie,
| lnvoluntarily remembering the mysteri-
GUS. letter and feeling herself grow red
and pale under the answering goggles
of her torturer. Mrs Bonneau, insist
on an explanation of these vague Words
We'll, if you really insist, : said Mrs
Bonneau, evidently enjoying the moment,
Il must tell you l was at the Andes ho-
tel not fifteen minutes since-dear, to
think that l should have to tell the tale!
and he came there all smiles and sweet
looks, to see the boldfaced widow, not
dressed in decent mourning" with a
downward glance at her own funeral
Indictments, but all streamers and jet
clasps and necklaces. l sat in the corner
with my veil down, so that he could not
| recognize me.
1.-The carriage is ready, Mrs. Arnott,'
said he. Pray, let us lose no time-my
wife suspects nothing as yet
II am ready she said, giving her
LOUNGES nee toss, as pert as you please.
The sooner the better
And, if you'll believe me, away they
went in carriage"
Il do not believe it," broke from Mrs,
Matchley's pale lips.
Il don't wonder, poor thing" said Mrs.
BOnneau with ostentatiot1s pity in her
looks and accents.
'But asked the waiter afterward.
Lor, ma'am,' says he, that's the
gent as has been coming to zee Mrs. Ar
mott every day for a week
Il don't wish to alarm you, my dear,
but if they have eloped you won't have
the least difficulty in obtaining a divorce.
ia go around and BEE my relatives about
it if were you. Goodby, my dear, I'll
with the dressmaker at H.
And away rustled Mrs. Buntleau, leay-
ing musty smell IF crepe and dye he
hind her, while Mamie stood looking
tlankly out of the window, as if the sun
ny sky of her young life were turned to
darkness already.
Hugh false! Hugh the partner of an
other woman's fight! Hugh forgetful of
her and little Allie! Then what was left
to exist for?
Her first idea was to hasten to Mr..
N! Matchiey,s office and confront him with
the tale Of his own guilt. but a second
reflection convinced her of the folly Of
this proceeding. No; she could not wait
wait in wretched suspense and agoniz-
ing doubt for fate to unroll the pages of
her predestined chronicle.
''He will come back to me if he cares
for me-" she kept repeating to herself.
He said he would be here at 4, and if
he comes not l shall know that he has
ceased to love me-"
How slowly the hours dragged along
how spiritless it all seemed to poor Nam
ME. And when the hour of drew near
an awful dread came over her lest she
had looked her last look upon Hugh's
face.
''Oh, Hugh, Hugh! am so glad!' she
cried incoherently, as the open barouche
drove up to the door, and she saw Hugh's
dark eyes shining cheerily from beneath
the shadow of his broad-brimmed Pana-
MA hat.
care you ready. little wife?" he cried
gayly. "What, hysterical! Nay, you
have been overworking yourself. But
breath of fresh country air will set you
all right again. Jump in quick, or we
shall lose the pleasantest part of the
afternoon.
Mechanically Mamie obeyed. But the
green lanes. the blossoming fields, had
lost their wondrous charms for her to-
day. The black garments of an imag-
mary widow came between her and all