The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-10-12
rHE MISTAKE OF A LIFE
TIME.

lover quarrel! A few hasty words
= formal parting between two hearts
bat neither time nor distance could ever
5isupite-then, a lifetime of misery.
Edith May stood before me n her
bridal dress. The whole world was to be
made believe she was happy and heart
whole. knew better. knew that no
woman who had once loved Gilbert
Ainslie could ever forget him-least of
.ar such a heart as Edith's.
She was pale as a snow wreath, and
bent her head gracefully as a water lily
in recognition of her numerous friends
and admirers.
"what a sacrifice - the latter muir
INJURED.
"What a sacrifice" my heart echoed.
Mr.. Jefferson Jones was an Ossifed
old bachelor. He had but one idea in
his head, and that was to make money.
There was only one thing he understood
equally well-and that was to keep it.
He was angular, prime, Geld and precise !;
mean, groveling, contemplate and cum
ming,
And Edith-our peerless Edith whose
lovers we're "Iegion"-Edith, with her
passionate heart, her beauty, grace, taste
and refnment-Edith to VOW Glove and
honor" to such a soulless block
1t made me shudder to think of it. l
felt as though his very gaze were profa-
nation.
Well, the wedding was over, and she
was duly installed mistress of Jefferson
House.
She had fine dresses, fine furniture, a
fine equipage, and the most stupid in
cumbrauce in the shape of an old hus-
band.
But Mr. Jefferson Jones was very
proud of his bride, firstly, because she
added to his Importance; secondly, be-
cause he plumed himself not little in
bearing off so dainty a prize. 1t gave
him a malicious pleasure to meet her old
admirers, with the graceful Edith on his
arm. Of course she preferred him to
them all-else why did she marry him
Then how deferential she was in her
manner since their marriage how very
polite, and how careful to perform hel
duty to the letter! Mr.. Jones decided,
with his usual acumen, that there was
no room to doubt on that point.
He noticed, indeed, that her girlish
gayety was gone but that was decided
improvement, according to his view
She was Mrs. Jones now, and meant tc
keep all whiskered popinjays at re
speCtful distance.
He liked it!
And so, though those interminable
evenings, Edith sat, playing long games
Of chess with him, or listening to his
gains or losses in the way of trade; OF
reading political articles of which the
words conveyed no idea to her absent
mind.
She walked through the busy streets
leaning on his arm, with an unseen form
ever at her side; and slept next his
heart, when hers was far away!
But when she was alOne-nO human
eye to read her sad secret, her small
hands clasped in agony, and her fair head
bent to the very dust-was he not
avenged.
h
1t was a driving storm. Mr.. Jone:
resolved to dine at tavern instead Of
returning home. He had just seated
himself, and given his order to the OBJ
sequeous waiter, when his attention was
attracted by the conversation of two
gentlemen near him.
Have you seen the beautiful Edith
since her marriage, Harry "
No, feel too much vexed with her
Such a splendid woman to marry such
an idiot All for foolish quarrel with
Ainslie, You never saw such a wreck
as it has made ofhim. However, she is
we'll punished for, with all of her con-
Summate tact and effort to keep up aP-