The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-06-19


So the wonderful cup and saucer were
brought, and they caused a diversion so
complete that Mr.. Smith and his eccen-
trio move were not named again during
the visit. Nor, indeed, much after it.
"What is the use of discussing a hope
lessly disagreeable ubjectp" said Eleanor
to Alice's first offer of sympathy. To
tell the truth, the mere mention of the
subject made her cross, for young women
of the finest fortunes do not necessarily
possess the finest tempers.
Carols next visit was looked for with
good deal ofinterest. Naturally it was
thought that he would know all about
his friends singular conduct. But he
professed to be as much puzzled as
Alice. He supposed it was something
about Mrs. Bethune; he had always
told Smith not to take a pretty, rich
woman like her into his calculations.
For his part, if he had been desirous of
marrying az heiress, and felt that he
had gift that way, he should have
looked out rich German girl; they had
less nonsense about them, ETC."
That was how the affair ended rs far
as Eleanor was concerned. or course
she suffered, but she was not of that
generation of women who parade their
suffering. Beautiful and selfrespectipg,
she was, above all, endowed with physi-
cal self-control Even Alice was spared
tile hysterical sobbings and Paintings and
other signs of pathological distress COM
mon to weak women.
Perhaps she was more silent and more
irritable than usual, but Eleanor Be-
thune's heartache for love never led her
to the smallest social impropriety. What
ever she suffered, she did not refuse the
| " of in, l,at
neglect her tithe of the mint, anise and
cummin due to her position.
Eleanor's reticence, however, had this
good effect-it compelled Alice to talk
Smiths singular behavior over with
Carol; and somehow, in discussing
Smith, they got to understand each
other; so that. after all, it was Alice's
and not Eleanor's bridal shopping that
was to do. And there is something very
assuaging to grief in this occupation.
Before it was completed, Eleanor had
quite recovered her placid, sunshiny
temper.
Consolation, thy name is satin and
lace!" said Alice, thankfully, to herself,
as she saw Eleanor so tired and happy
about the wedding finery.
At first Alice had been quite sure that
she would go to Paris, and nowhere else /:
but Eleanor noticed that in less than a
week Carols influence was paramount.
1--WE have got n better idea, Eleanor
quite n novel one," she said. one morn
ing. 1--WE are going to make our bridal
trip in Carols yachtm
"Whose idea is that?"
"Carrol's, and mine too, of course.
Carol says it is the jolliest life! You
leave all your cares and your bills on
shore behind you. You issue your own
sailing orders, and sail away into space
with an easy conscience"
"But l thought you were bent on a
European trip"
"The yacht will be ever so much
nicer. Think of the nuisance of ticket
offices, and waiting-rooms, and second
class hotels, and troublesome letters
waiting for you at your bankers. and
disagreeable paragraphs IN the news
papers. 1 think Carols idea is
splendid"
So the marriage took place at the end
of the season, and Alice and Carol
sailed happily away into the unknown
Eleanor was ut a loss what to do with
herself. She wanted to go to Europe
but Mr.. Smith had gone there, and she
felt sure that some unlucky accident
would throw them together. 1t was not
her nature to court embarrassments; so
Europe was out of the question.
While she was hesitating she called
one day on Celeste Reid-a beautiful
girl who had been a great belle, but was
now confirmed invalid. 81 am going
to try the air of Colorado, Mrs. Bethune," ="
she said. Papa has heard wonderful
stories, about it. Come with our party.
We shall have a special car, and the
trip will at least have the charm of
novelty
And | love the mountains, Celeste.
| will join you with pleasure. l was
dreading the old routine in the old
places; but this will be delightful"
Thus it happened that one evening in
the following August Mrs. Bethune
found herself slowly strolling down the
principal street in Denver. 1t was a
splendid sunset, and in its glory the
Rocky mountains rose like Titanic
palaces built ofamethyst, gold and silver.
Suddenly the look of intense pleasure on
her face was changed for one of wonder
and annoyance. Ithad become her duty
in a moment to do very disagreeable
thing; but duty was a kind of religion
to Eleanor Bethune; she never thought
of Sinking it.
So she Immediately inquired her way
to the telegraph office. and even quick
| IL
ever permitted herself. The message
she had to send was peculiar and not
a pleasant one. At first she thought it
would hardly be possible for her to
frame it in such words as she would
care to dictate to strangers; but she
finally settled on.the following form:
"MesSrS. Locke & Lord:
"Tell brother Edward that Rloom is
in Denver. No delay. The matter is
of the greatest importance"
When she had directed the message,
the clerk said, 1.-TWO dollars. madam. :"
But greatly to Eleanor's annoyance, her
purse was not in her pocket, and she
could not remember whether she had
put it there OF not. The man stood
looking at her in an expectant way
she felt that any delay about the message
might be fatal to its worth perplexity
ruled her absolutely. She was about to
explain her dilemma, and return to her
hotel for money, when a gentleman, who
had heard and watched the whole pro-
ceeding, said:
Madam, l perceive that time is of
great importance to you, and that you
have lost your purse; allow me to pay
for your message. You can return the
money if you wish. My name is Will
liam Smith: am staying at the
American"
"Thank you, sir. The message is of
the gravest importance to my brother.
gratefully accept your offer"
Further knowledge proved Mr.. William
Smith to be New York capitalist who
was slightly known to three OF the