The Van Buren press., 1874-03-03


whom | should like to call my wiie
friends
" An wife % He spoke as if he already
claimed the authority Of a husband
"Rcst assured, sir, that your future
wife will exercise the right of choosing
her own friends | had no suspicion that
YOU we're capable of uttering ungentle-
manly insinuations against any win
whom Iehoose to hold companionship-
"By Jovew He was getting hot
Don't swear, " she said, reaching for
a chocolate, with provoking GOODNESS.
"If you heard what the men say OF
her! You and she drove past the Club,
and Jack rdcasllc--sneoring beast =
and asked nae why allowed you to drive
with actresses. "
Miss D Esslin is not an actress, but
| tell YOU there are actresses whom
should esteem it an honor to know.
mo doubt-no doubt, he proceeded,
hurriedly. But Hardcastlc wondered
if she acknowledged Laurie Rich's bow
Rich was passing Now everybody
knows that he's gambler.
Miss d Esslin is not Philadelphan +,
remember, and she has not the facilities
for knowing gamblers that you appear to
have. She moves in our best society,
"You must not ride with with her
again, Ethel, that's all. y
q | must not?' She stood erect, her
eyes frightening.
"No, -" he returned, in foolish anger.
"Tll not have you spoken OF in connec
ton with
"To hear is to obey" She made a
mock obeisance. "ln some eases, but
not in this You have warned me III
time Your Bluebeurd airs have fright
encd me. have always been accus'
toned to Judge Tor myself in all matters
concerning myself | am unwilling to
surrender that right. Good evening,
sir, "
She laid sparkling ring on the table,
and, with IA stately mien. left the room.
He pushed the ring into his pocket,
and went out. lie was astonished, angry,
set uncertain whether he had been in
fault or not. Her self pride was wound
ell. She could not understand how he
or anybody else dared question or criti'
else her conduct.
Talk about woman gosSlps, she
cogtated, "men gossips are Infinitely
worse. with their clubs and nonsense,
And then her irritation dissolved in tears.
And so the engagement between Ethel
Lynn and Laurence Esmond was broken
off Parents, uncles, amts and cousins.
all united in the opinion that Laurence
was a brute, and with one voice con
graduated her on her narrow escape.
She was driven nearly wild by the
food of remark and coincidence which
poured in upon her from the "dear five
hundred u friends who called to hear
"the rights of the story "
Gus Mendendall--old Gus, whose
lemon colored kids. immaculate shirt
bosom and faultless getup, had been
known every afternoon on Chestnut
street for years-announced himself as
candidate for the hand Of Ethel,
1t was rumored that Mr. Lynn was
wealthy, and when it was rumored that
Gus Mendenhall had proposed to Ethel
and been accepted, society's estimate OF
Mr.. Lynn's money value increased amaz
insly, for everybody was aware that the
old beau would not throw himself away
for nothing, even though his wife should
be young and pretty.
Mendenhall had watched his oppor-
tunity, and had thrown himselfat Ethers
feet while she was still smartinp under
the irritation occasioncd by Laurence
Esmond's well meant interference And
she madly listened 10 the suave speeches
of the ancient exquisite, and from mix
ture Of motives, defiance and wounded
pride being prominent, she promised to
be his wife.
The instant the consenting words were
spoken she regretted them A week OF
unavailing regret and sef.torture fol
lowed but her promise had been given,
and sue was too proud to entreat Men
denhall to release her.
She was paler and more silent than
usual; but her admiring relatives pre-
pared to welcome the new bridegroom,
unconscious Of her anguish
During this saddest week in Ethcls
life, Laurence Esmond never called 1t
was as well, perhaps, that he did not, for
at this time her pride was stronger than
her sorrow.
When they did meet il was later, when
time and absence had taught her the
worth Of him whom she had cast away
The wedding day had been named
the fifteenth of september. The date
was now the middle OF August old Men
donhaII aaI tic Gyms were soJoUrD'ng
at small town on the coast OF New
JERSEY.
On that morning Mcndenhall left his
hotel, to take his usual stroll to the small
cottage which tho Lynns rented He
had Just crossed the lawn in front of the
hotel when small boy intercepted him
MAYOR Mendenhall, sir," asked the
small boy.
(Gus Mendenhall had been major at
some distant period Of his exis,cnce-in
1912, malicious people hintcd.)
:" am Major Mendenhall. And he
stretched out his hand to receive a yel-
low envelope, and then gracefully waved
the small boy away. The boy went,
whistlng, " Folks that put on Airs. "
The yellow envelope contained tele'
gram which Mcndenhall read, with sew
eral unedilying eXclamations.
Cuisine a. Co., foilcd Curse my
luck I'm in for it now J"