Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-10-10
A FAMILY
AFFAIR
Bv CLl\E EDNA MAY

devoted, for his wife, Why he pre-
ferred the latter did not appear Pos
Sibly he might have thought that she
would on the whole make him a better
wife Those who knew him believed
that he would rather have married
Clementiue Brooks. but that there
were certain objections In the way Of
his doing So Miss Rraut was mer-
ny. devil-may care creature, without
any prcdiSpoSition TO economy. and
would not have made Il good manager
There were other reasons why Jones
might have decided against her. hut
whether they influenced him or not
nobody but himself knows
Jones insisted ON retaining his init
macy with his old tame. His wife
objected. hut Jones would not give Ut
Miss Brant. though he simply retain.
cd her as friend And there was no
suspicion on the part OF those who
knew him best that he acted toward
her as anything more than friend
But naturally his wife was not salts
fed. She consented to receive Miss
Brant at her home, but never display,
ed any cordiality toward her
One day Jones came home from bust
ness much earlier than usual and found
a gentleman making an afternoon call
on his wife Jones bowed to the visit
tor Coolly and passed on upstairs Aft
err the man had gone Jones asked who
he was Mrs Jones Informed him that
her visitors name was Stcadman and
was Il very old and very dear friend
of hers. Then Jones remembered that
some one had in his presence twitfcd
his wife about n man named Stead
man. and he grew very Jealous.
What do you mean by receiving
this old lover of yours during my ah-
Sence?" he asked
What do you mean by keeping up
your intimacy with Julia Rrant after
our marriager
"Julia Brnnt and 7 are old friends"
"Henry Steadman and | are older
friends than YOU and Julia"
Jones saw the point, Il presume you
intend" he said ito use this man
Steadman TO separate me from my
friend Jealousy absurd iealousy-has
separated more couples than any other
cause"
Then don't be jealous of me-"
Jones went away grumhling, but he
had sense enough to see that his wife
had as much right to keep up her init
macy with Steadman as he had to keG
up his intimacy with Miss Brant But
he did not intend to be forced away
from his friend in this way He ar
gued that lie was conducting himself
with pcrfec: propriety toward her-in
deed, that he had no desire to conduct
himself toward her in any other way
His wife should take his word for this
and not try to break up friendship
of long standing on account of her sus
picion. to which Mrs Jones replied
that there was no more reason for her
breaking off her relations with Stead
man than for Jones to break with
Julia
Finally Jones. who was perfectly sat
isfied with his wife and really had only
n friendly interest in Miss Brant, as
surcd the former that the only reason
he had for not breaking with her was
that he didn't like to do so without
giving the true reason, which was that
his wife was Jealous of her. to which
Mrs Jones replied that there was no
necessity of his giving reason. Al
he had to do was to drop Miss Brant
He asked his wife if in that event She
intended to drop Stcadman. and she re
piled that since she considered that
wife should receive no man her hus
band objected TO she certainly wonld
in that event give Mr. Steadman notice
to discontinue his calls
Jones couldn't make up his mind to
break with Miss Brant NOT that her
friendship was necessary to his com
fort. but because he did not like to
treat woman friend harshly Ana
how could he discontinue his visits to
her and cease to invite her to his home
without indicating that It meant
break between thcm1 Nevertheless
Mrs. Jones insisted on accepting the ~
tentions OF Stcadman rs long as Jones
continued on friendly terms with Miss
Brant, and if ne was ever TO be relicv
ed Of the occasional presence Of man
he hated he must give in. He did SO
The next time Miss Rrant came 10 the
house he remained in his room. and ne
never called on her again
Mr.. Steadman did not again appear
Mt the Jones home. aud both bones ~
contention We're removed Children
were horn 10 tn" Joncses, and a united
family was the result
Mrs Jones died after the children
were all grown and most Of them bad
been married. At last Mr. Jones was
left alone lie had only the memory
OF his life companion and the more
he thought over her many good traits
the more he revered her, One day be
set about destroying the letters she
had received and Kept. thinking II best
that they should not be perused by 9th
ers Among them he found small
package marked Concerning julia