Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-11-05
CHAPTER XII.
The Injustice of Jealousy.
By CHARLEs GARvIok

she could only reach her room and be
alone with the new, strange joy which
suffused her whole being!
To be alone and yet not alone-for
would not his face. his voice, be al
ways with her, night and day, from
hencefOrth, and from henceforth to be
welcomed by her, and Rugged and
cherished as something belonging to
her-to her, Joan, the happiest of
heavens mortals?
She longed to reach her flowers,
and whisper her love to them; she
/ longed to be at the open window, that
she might look down at the spot wher !
they had stood and the strange, sweet,
almost painful JOY had first come to
her.
But evil chance had willed other
wise AS she reached the parlor door,
the voices of the two girls were raised
in unlovely shrillness over some dis
pute; the sound smote upon Joan s
ears-flled with the music of her
! lovers voice-and made her shudder
and hurry past but the door was ajar,
and Julia caught sight of her dress,
and called to her in strident tones:
rs that you, Joan? Come here"
She turned and slowly, reluctantly,
pushed open the door and entered.
The two girls were seated at the
round. rickety table, and the garish
light of the ugly. cracked lamp fell
upon miscellaneous litter, con-
spicuous among which were a pair of
wool slippers and a hideous smoking
cap.
Look here Joan said Emmellne,
holding the hideous cap in protesting
kind of way. Julia and | have been
/ Quarreling, as usual 1t occurred TO
me the other day that, as Lord VilliaIs
had been so extremely kind and-and
attentive"
''He has spoken about twenty words
to her" interpolated Julia, with a dis
agreeable sneer.
That I ought to make some return.
| SO | walked down to the village and
| got pattern of a smohing-cap in
1 canvas. | don't suppose he particu-
/ larly wants a cap; but all the same. |
thought 1t would look as if were not
insensible to his kindness. Well
set to work and filled it in and made
1t up. but instead of keeping the thing
to myself I mentioned 1t, like an idiot,
to Jue. and | need scarcely tell you,
who know her so we'll. that she in
stantly went and copied my idea.
/ Bought pair of slippers. If you
please! As If he hadn't enough slip
] pers And she must needs try and
I steal a march on me-"
II should be sorry to steal anything
Of yours. my dear EN-" remarked
/ Julia, parenthetically
There was something so grotesque,
! so comical in the scene that Joan,
looking from the cap to the slippers,
and from those objects of art to The in
| famed faces of the girls. felt the spirit
of mirth rising within her, and sud
denly broke into a peal of laughter.
Like unfamiliar music the laugh ran
through the room, and the girls, after
staring at her in amazed silence.
turned pale with anger and COM
menced to pour out the walls of their
wrath upon her devoted head.
"Oh, you laugh do your" exclaimed
Julia. starting up and clutching the
slippers; that is all the sympathy we
get from you."
1--WE are laughed at In our own
house." said Emmelne; land by
Joan. We have sunk low indeed. |
suppose you will say that it doesn't
matter whether Lord Villiars gets our
presents or not?"
Joan might truthfully have an
swered in the Affirmative but stood
silent
And | suppose you will say that he
has not shown us any attention?n said
Julia: "and considering the shameless
way in which You ran after him. 1t is
wonderful that he has had the courage
to speak to us at all"
Joau's color rose and fell
Il wonder you haven't thought fit 20
make him present. said Emmelinc
with n sheer.
> TO- said Joan.
Yes, have no doubt that YOUR
Selt-conceit is equal to the occasion.
The grav-green eyes scrutinized Joan's
face az she spoke. Where have YOU
been tonight joan"
"on the cliffs" said Joan. and her
eyes dropped under the bold, cruel
scrutiny.
Have YOU been alone touight?" lie
manded Emmeline. sharply.
No have not been alone" said
Joan, quietly. her eyes fixed on the
lamp,
n "Oh, indeed" sneered Julia: "and
who accompanied YOU. please9"
\ Il have been with Lord ViTiars.
she said.
The two girls turned green with
jealous envy, and then pale with fury.
and fixed her with the stare of couple
/ of basilisks.
Emmeliue. as usual. was the first 10