A WOMAN'S JEALOUSY.
Mrs. Tilton's house was ablaze with light, for it was the evening of
the great party. Ambitious of social distinction, she took care to
do things on a handsome scale, though she was not averse to saving
money where it would not attract attention.
Among the young ladies present were two with whom we are especially
concerned. One of them was Arethusa Jayne, who was dressed with more
splendor than taste. She made a profuse display of jewelry, some of
which, we may confidentially inform the reader, was borrowed from a
well-known jeweler, who was handsomely paid for the favor. Of course
no one suspected this, and the society young men were misled into
thinking that the owner of so many diamonds must be very rich. This
was precisely what Arethusa desired, for she was in the market, and
had been for more years than she liked to remember.
Another young lady, still better known to us, was Rose Beaufort. She
was the most plainly dressed young lady in the handsome parlors, yet
she attracted an unusual share of attention.
"Who is that pretty young lady?" asked a middle-aged lady of
Arethusa.
"That?" answered Miss Jayne, with a sneer. "Oh, that is Miss
Beaufort, the music-teacher."
"She is very sweet-looking."
"Do you think so? I don't at all agree with you. To me she looks
very artful, and I have reason to think that beneath her innocent
exterior there is something quite different."
"That is a pity."
"It is not surprising. Still water runs deep, you know."
Rose kept in the background. She had no wish to make herself
conspicuous at Mrs. Tilton's gay party. She would rather not have
been there, but did not wish to disappoint her employer.
"Ah, here you are, Miss Beaufort," said a glad voice.
Rose looked up, and her face flushed with pleasure as she recognized
Clinton Randall.
"I did not think you would find me," she said.
"I was sure to do it. I have been looking for you everywhere. Can't
you spare a seat for me?"
Rose moved, and Clinton sat down beside her on the sofa. He had
scarcely been there two minutes, however, when Arethusa discovered
them. She went straightway to her aunt.
"Aunt Lucy," she said, in a low voice, "look at the sofa opposite."
"Well?" said Mrs. Tilton, who was rather short-sighted.
"There is your precious music-teacher monopolizing Clinton Randall.
Didn't I tell you?"
"I am really shocked at her brazen ways. You were right, Arethusa."
"For goodness' sake, separate them before the whole room notices
them."
"How can I do it?"
"Send her to the piano."
"Miss Beaufort," said Mrs. Tilton, coldly, "oblige me by sitting
down to the piano. You may play a waltz."
"Certainly, Mrs. Tilton," said Rose.
"That woman speaks as if she owned Miss Beaufort," thought young
Randall.
He was about to follow her to the piano when Arethusa came up, and
with an insinuating smile, said:
"Don't look so mournful, Mr. Randall. Let me fill Miss Beaufort's
place."
"Certainly," answered the young man, moving, but not with alacrity.
"I wasn't aware that you knew Miss Beaufort," said the young lady.
"I believe you saw me walking with her the other day."
"Yes, to be sure; it had escaped my mind."
Rose began to play. Her touch was fine, and her performance could
hardly fail to attract attention.
"Miss Beaufort plays remarkably well," said Clinton Randall.
"Oh, it's her business," answered Arethusa, with careless hauteur.
"She gives lessons to my aunt's children, you know."
"Your aunt is fortunate to secure such an accomplished pianist."
"Oh, she is very well," said Arethusa, carelessly. "Do you feel like
dancing?"
"I beg your pardon. I should have suggested it."
The two moved out upon the floor and took their places among the
dancers. Arethusa danced passably, her partner remarkably well. At
length he led her to her seat, and, with a bow, left her, much to
her chagrin.
Later in the evening some one relieved Rose at the piano. Clinton
took the earliest opportunity to seek her out and ask her for a
dance.
Rose hesitated.
"I have not danced for a long time," she said. "Circumstances have
kept me out of society. I am afraid you won't find me a satisfactory
partner."
"I will take the risk, Miss Beaufort. You won't refuse?"
She rose and took her place on the floor. Arethusa Jayne, who was
dancing with one of the walking gentlemen of society, a young man
who was merely invited to swell the number of guests, was not long
in discovering Miss Beaufort's good luck, and her face showed her
displeasure. It would have pleased her had Rose been awkward, but
she was unusually graceful, in spite of her want of practice. Miss
Jayne was hot with jealousy.
"You shall repent this," she said to herself, and looked so stern
that her partner asked, with alarm:
"Are you not well, Miss Jayne?"
"Certainly"--you fool! she would liked to have added. "Why do you
ask?"
"I thought you looked disturbed," he stammered.
"I was only a little thoughtful," she said, with a constrained
smile. "But I am fatigued. Suppose we sit down."
He led her to her seat, nothing loth, and she had the satisfaction
of following with her glance Clinton Randall and her rival five
minutes more.
"Did you have a good time, Rose?" asked her sister Adeline, next
morning, at the breakfast-table.
"Better than I dared to hope," answered Rose, with a smile.
"Did you dance?"
"Two or three times."
She had danced with two partners besides Clinton Randall, and with
him a second time.
"It seemed quite like the old times," she said, after a pause, "when
we were in society. Though I only appeared in the character of a
governess, I enjoyed it."
"Don't you feel tired?"
"A little; but I don't go out to give lessons till afternoon."
At two o'clock Rose went to Mrs. Tilton's to give her regular
lessons.
"Mrs. Tilton would like to see you," said the servant.
A little surprised, Rose remained in the parlor till that lady
appeared.
"I wish to speak to you, Miss Beaufort," said Mrs. Tilton, coldly,
"about your conduct last evening."
"My conduct last evening!" repeated Rose, in utter surprise. "To
what do you refer?"
"To your indelicate conduct with Mr. Clinton Randall and other
gentlemen."
"What do you mean? I demand an explanation!" exclaimed Rose,
indignantly.
"You seem to forget your position, Miss Beaufort. As the
instructress of my children, I feel I must be exacting. I do not
approve of your bold flirtation with gentlemen above yourself in
social position, and I beg to say that I must provide myself with
another music-teacher for my girls."
"After your insulting remarks," said Rose, hotly, "nothing would
induce me to remain in charge of them. Nothing in my conduct has
called for such cruel charges."
"Doubtless you think so. I disagree with you," said Mrs. Tilton,
coldly.
"Good-afternoon, madam!" said Rose, rising abruptly.
"Good-afternoon, Miss Beaufort."
It was like a thunderbolt to Rose, and mystified as well as made
her indignant. She could recall nothing that had passed which would
justify Mrs. Tilton in her strange treatment.
It was the first blow, but not the last. Arethusa Jayne, with
unappeased malice, went the rounds of the families in which Rose was
employed, and within a week she received notes from all the parents,
expressing regret that they could no longer avail themselves of her
services.
It began to look serious for poor Rose.