The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-07-20

isev .aysaI.sssss.n I v..s ,.stA s.hs,
nkto EuroDAs ~ \. s-Ny M
Ma forsiep ~ ssvay rsss non ~ ysAss.
anA aopreadbeA ~ visitor. ioekln6 q be-
froa hssd b sost - ~ AiA -. - II - saai-
isnss ~ trufA q hsr ssaaarkahas aaassnce-
msnt She rested her hands on Georsina's
shoulders moment gazing into her bloomins
face and then she drew her slsser aad kisssd
her. In this WAY the girl Wa conducted back
to the sofa. where. In . conversation OF sxtreme
intimacy. she opened Mrs.. Portico's eyes wider
than they had ever been opened before. She
was Raymond Benyon's wife; thsy had been
married Q year. but no one knew anything
about It. She had kept Il from svery one. and
she meant to 70 on keeping It. Tho ceremony
had taken place Ia little Episcopal church ct
Harlem. one Sunday aftsrnooo. sfterthe service.
There was no one In that dusty suburb VINO
knew them the clergyman. vexed at bNing Do.
tainsd. and wanting TO 20 homo 70 tsa had
made no trouble; he tied the knot before they
could turn round. II was ridiculous how easy
II had been. Raymond had told him frankly
that II must oil 30 underline rose. - the young
iady's family disspproved Of what she wAs
doing. But she was Of legal go. and
perfectly free; he could So that TOR him
self The parson had given gfunt -
he looked ct her over his spsotaclss. 1t was
not vsry comShnssatary; Il seemed 10 say
thst she WAS indeed no chicksn. OF course
she looked old for siri: but she was mot girl
now. was shst Raymond had certified hts own
identity ~ an oficer In the United States navy
The bad papers. besides his uniform. which he
wors,. and introduced the clergyman TO
friend no had brought with him. who was also
In the navy. venerable paymastsr. II wAs he
who gave 0eorgina away. - It were: hs was
an old. old man. Q regular grandmother. and
psrfectly safa He had bean married three
times himself After the ceremony she went
back to her fathers: but she saw Mr.. benyon
the next day. After that. she saw him-for .
little while-pretty often. Ho was always beg
gtng her to come to him altogether; she must
do him that justice. But she vouldn't-she
wouldn't now-perhaps che wouldn't ever she
had her reasons. which seemed to her very
good. but were very dlfneult to explain. sho
would toll Mrs. Portico In plenty Of time what
thsy we're. But that was not the question nov.
whether they woro good or bad; tho question
was for her to got away from the country for
several months-fax away from any one who
had ever known her. She woald like to
70 to some little place In Spain or
Italy. whore she should b out Of
tho world until everything WAS over.
Mrs. Portieo's heart gave jump % this
serene. handsome familiar girl. sttting there
with hand In hers. and pouring forth this
extraordinary tale. spoke Of everything being
over. There was q glossy coldness In 1t.
an unnatural lightness. which suggested-poor
Mrs. Portico scarcely knew what. II 0eorgina
was to become mother. It was to be supposed
she wns to remain . mother. Bhe said there
was beautiful place In Italy-Genoa- which
Raymond had often spoken and where he had
boon more than once-he admired 1t 30 much;
couldn't they 60 there and be quiet for little
while2 She Was asking great favor-that abe
knew very we'll; but II Mrs. Portico wouldn't
take her she would ond some ono who would.
They had talked Of such journey SO often;
and. certainly. II Mrs. Portico had been willing
before. she ought to he much moro willing
now. The girl declared that she would do
something-go somewhere-kesp. in ono way
or another. her situation impoverished.
There was NO use talking to her about telling
she would rather die than toll. No doubt 1t
seemed strange. but she knew what she was
about. No one had guessed anything yet-she
had succeeded perfectly in doing what she
wished-and her father and mother believed.
as Mrs, Portico had believed-hadnt she p
that any time the last year. Raymond Benyon
was loss to her than he had been before. Well.
20 no WAS: yes. he was. He had gone away
no was OF. heaven knew wherein the Pacific:
she Was alone. and now she would remain
6fOn0s lu0 IuWuy U0lIoV0u ~ W00 III wv"
with his going back to his ship. and other
thines, and they we're right: for It tcas over
or It would 30 soon.
Mrs. Portico. by this time. had grown almost
afraid OF her young friend: she had SO little
fear she had even. as 1t were. so little shame.
II the good lady had been accustomed to an
aiyzinR things little more. she would have
said she had so little conscience. She looked
at Georgina with dilated eyes-her visitor was
so much the calmer OF the two-and exclaimed.
and murmured. and sunk back. and sprang
forward. and wiped her forehead with her
pocket handkerchief. There were things she
didn't understand; that they should all have
been 90 deceived. that they should have
thought Georgina was giving her lover up
they hattered themselves she was discour-
aged. or had grown tired OF himl. whom she
was really only making II impossible she
should belong to any one else. And with this.
her inconseQuence. her capriciousness. her ab-
sence Of motive the way she contradicted her
self. her apparent belief that she could hush MP
such situation foreverl There was nothing
shameful In having married poor Mr.. Benyon.
evon in q little church at Harlem. and being
given away by . paymsster. It was much
more shameful to be in such a state without
being prepared to make the proper explAna-
tons And she must have seen vary little Of
her husband; she must have given him
up-so far - meeting him went-Almost
- soon a. she had taken him. Had
not Mrs. Gressie herself told Mrs. Portico. Ia
the preceding October. It must have been. that
there now would be no need Of sending Geor-
gina sway. inasmueh a. the affair with the
little navy mana project In every way %
unsuitabls-had quite blown ovsr7
After our marriage I saw him less-I saw
him great deal less" Georgins explained |:
but her explanation only appeared to make
the mystery more dense.
Il don't see. In that case. what on earth you
married him fori'