The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-07-24
A BRIDES ELOPEMENT.

can look Wnen u Tries lts Dest, ana consider
| ing that she, so to speak, stepped out of the
school-room into the church, carried herself
with commendable self possession. As for
the bridegroom, he went through the ordeal
like soldier and a man, and looked accord
| ing to the doctors daughter, heavenly"
Not the least satisfied member of the we'd
ding party was the brides brother joey.
"The girls must look slippy after husbands
| in these hard times" had been that young
mans remark year before Spurred on
by parental murmurings at empty farms
and no rents, Joey had suggested reduc-
ton in the home establishment instead of
his substantial but inadequate allowance.
The establishment did not quite see it, But
Joey was firm The girls must marry, and
| one of them, as all could not, must marry
Godfrey Hutchinson. He was in every way
eligible; young, good-looking, well-off, in a
| snug berth at the war Office and heir to
several rich and sedate relations unlikely
to commit the indiscretions, matrimonial
and otherwise, of modern old age.
So Capt FitzJohnson was asked
| down to Mumblethorpe passed over five
| charming aspirants to his hand and heart,
and threw the handkerchief to the shock
beaded young person who sent a pc: of
musk within an inch of his devoted head,
| craning out of the SCHOOL, Dom window, on
the evening of his arrival to catch a glimpse
Of "Joey's chum' 1t was rather blow to
Joey, his ''chum' walking off with his
favorite sister, but he bore it philosophically.
He had always intended to exercise par
ticular care over Florence's interests when
she came out and he was not prepared for
the Young lady going oil so prematurely.
However, the FitSJobnsons would live in
London, and as Joey was at the foreign
Office aud III rooms in Bury street he could
still keep an eye on his sister and see that
she held her own IN the smart set of which
hei husband was 80 popular II member. Joey
was ten years older than Florrie, AMI had
the ma Iestic carriage and law-giving pro-
clivlties of man about town le was
what is known as "A great institution"
which means that he was invaluable in
snow bound country house. He could tell
iirst-rate and first hani ghost stories and
could Dass the severest examination in De-
brett. He was pillar of strength in private
theatricals, and Gbald initiate the divine
Sarah to the life. He knew all the latest
gossip and could tell it wit, ,2ut seeming ill
natured. In short Joev was that rara avis,
a social success ".
nappief couple than the FitzJenhsohs
"nen 'ney first came to Curzon street you'd
10. pe Imagined 1t was only when Capt
I%JohnS on settled down i'll his new house
apu ms ND set that he made the discovery
.nal ue lad won his wifes heart AS we'll as
uel maid During the courtship and honey
nni,.9'.5.l the disposition OF that important
/ factor in matrimonial happiness had been
doubtful. Florrie leased, chaffed, and com
manded her husband in a way that to such
A conqueriug hero was both novel AMI pro-
voking. Capt FitzJ Johnson had, however,
learned stately else where than at W colwich.
| The morning after the arrival III London
the willy young man left his wife in her
boudoir-the latest thing in boudoirs, exc
cuted under Joeys wondering
dIsmally how she should kill the time until
" clock in the evening, when she was told
she might look forward 10 seeing her lord
| and master again. 1t was something more
| than to fetch a forgotten cigarette case that
made Capt tzJohnson retrace his steps on
arriving at the foot of the stairs His in
It net had not deceived him The fortress
had capitulated
Il love you so, tieotfrey," sobbed the poor
little wife with her head on her husbands
shoulder; and Geoffrev, as he strolled down
the street, having promised to be back by
luncheon time, bummed Rule, britannia
in triumphant soto voce The victory won,
the victor, as he had perfect right to do,
rested upon his laures; but he need not
have given up so suddenly the reverential
worship of the lover and assumed SO in
stantly the condescending tolerance of the
| huahan1 II tplrtnA of him txbor, no
came home just in time to dress for dinner,
after having been at the club all the after
noon to plunge into that horrid French
novel with satisfied grunt, and barely
vouchsafe his wife word. 1t was down
right rude of him when she leaned over his
chair and stroked his hair to snarl out
| Savagcly "For heaven sake, Florrie, don t
paw me about like that. | don't like it,
and 1t was positively rUtal, after treating
her in such way, to scold her all dinner
time for being depressed But so it was.
The FitzJohnso family ark, pretty little
vessel as it was, with its fresh paint and
dainty furniture, had drifted into the cur
rent which, sooner or later, must land it
upon the rocks Geotfrey, llinded ty selfish
vanity, became bored with his wifes well
meant but Intellectual efforts to please hei
much changed lord Her lavish affec
ton, varied only by ill concealed and some
times fearful despondency irritated him
and made him more bearish than ever. II
WIS the old story. Things went from bad
to worse. At last the first cruel rock doomed
in the distance and shipwreck seemed i'm
minent Lady Angelica Lansdell was, sc
she said, very old friend OF Geoffreys. 81
knew him. when he was quite a boy-such a
nice boy, she told Florrie the afternoon she
made her FIRST call in Lurzon street She
was u wonderful and Ouida -ish parsonage
Of the Cleopatra type of beauty, 1.-the and
serpentine, with voice that could coo like
a dove or hiss like serpent at will She
used a peculiar kind of scent that hung
about the room long after she had left it
she was mysteriously fascinating and Flor
rie detested her. This was great griev
ance Of Geoffrey's who was blind to tbs
pearl powder and impervIous to the scent
Angelica" me called her Angelica was 6
charming woman-a most valuable friend.
Was IL not common knowledge that cabine
ministers met as often in her rose-lit draw
ing room as at Downing street-that she has
a finger in every diplomatic pie-tha he
! craftsmanship had brought about roya
marriage and averted European
war Even joey admitted that sh'
was an unavoidable necessity. He
, smile or frown could make or mar a man
IL the FitzJ ohnsons ever hoped to be any
thing they must cultivate Angelica. 81
tlorrie had to submit, but not even the bus
I band she adored could make her more thai
1ecently civil to the enchantress with tn
cruel smile, who called Godfrey "Geoff,
and who was always sending him mysteri
, GUS little notes about goodness only knew
what, for Florrie was never told their con
tents
i The silly little fool is jealous" laughe
, her lady ship to hersel! ns she sat in col
ner, aloof from the "madding crowd" OF
. foreign office crush, pretending to listen
h Geotfrey earnest conversation and watci
A., ing, with interested amusement, his wit
trying to keep an eye on her husband anc
at the same time, respond cohsrentiy to til
civihties Of voluble attache.
In teach her a lesson" muttered tho S
rem, with an angry glitter in her dusk
I eyes. as, for the twelfth time, q pale, Iii
D tressed face, with appealing eyes, wa
turned toward The oblivIous husband AZ
cordingly when, for the Thirteenth, time, I'll