Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-05-19

her scheme of revenge, and she did not
doubt that it would prove effectual TIC
learn that she had, after all, married the
rival he had endeavored to supplant, could
not fail to be most CALLING to his lordship's
self f-esteem, not to mention his own blight.
ed hopes. It must be confessed that more
humiliating way of refusing an offer of
marriage could hardly have been conceived.
Jack knew nothing of all this, his wife
being content to chuckle over her triumph
in secret. Beyond making him promise to
keep secret their projected marriage, she
had given no clew to her real motives, and
finding that he had no suspicion that Lord
barley had proposed to her, she generously
forebore to enlighten him. Having achieved
her object, Mrs. Jack Benson did not suffer
her mind to dwell with bitterness upon
Lord Darley's behavior, and under the
soothing influence of the honeymoon her
resentment began to evaporate. This mag
nanimity was chiefly owing to her nus
oand's sturdy championship of his friend,
for Jack scoffed at the idea of Lord Darley
having deliberately sought to injure him,
and declared him to be one of the best fel,
lows that ever breathed. Mrs. Jack lis
tened in silence to these eulogiums, know
ing that his lordship had meanly sought to
take advantage of his own wrong.
On the day of their return to London,
Jack received permission to stroll down to
the club for an hour or two, and when he
came back his wife could not restrain her.
self from asking if he had met Lord Darley.
"Oh! yes. | met Darley," answered
Jack, with rather queer smile
"Was se-did he seem at all depressed
You know he used to be almost as fond of
me as you were," added his wife ingenu-
ously.
''He was just the same as ever. AS for
being depressed-well, you see, he won a
lot OF money over your marriage, said Jack.
"What 70 exclaimed his wife, opening
her eyes to the widest extent.
"He is queer feliew, barley is. 1t ap-
pears that, when he heard our engagement
was broken off he took odds ali over the
place that it would come right They say
he won e5,000," said Jack, laughing a lit
tie awkwardly.
''What ! oh, Jack !! He is a heartless,
wicked, bad man!' cried Mrs. Jack, with
sudden energy. "Do you know that after
you and l had quarreled, he actually want
ed me to marry him ?''
''The deuce he did Then was that why
you agreed to marry me of. a sudden ?"
cried Jack, with start.
es, DuI-ouC, OF course, always loved
you, Jack. You mustn't think only mar
ried you out of pique," said his wife. evil
IDENTIFY repenting of her precipitation. GAS
for Lord Darldy, he is wretch. forbid
you to associate with him, Jack. He is not
worthy of YOU
'On the contrary, my dear, barley is
the best fellow in the world, as I've often
tried to convince you,' cried Jack excited
ly. 'sNow l understand everything. He
was awfully cut up at having been the
cause of our quarrel, and declared he would
set things straight. He never told me he
had proposed to you, but see now that he
did so perceiving what would probably
happen. barley is one of the shrewdest
fellows | know. Good gracious Don't
cry, my love-"
'tOh, Jack! If 1 had only guessed 70
exclaimed his wife, with a paroxysm of
weeping.
"Hang it, Ethel 1t would not have
made any difference, hope" cried Jack,
as his countenance fell
'Kiss me, Jack Yes, it would. We
should have had are-re-regular wedding,
with bridesmaids and all the rest of it,"
murmured the bride, spasmodically.