The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-08-31
HER FATAL MISTAKE.
NUMBER 80.

One fine morning IN the SpIiLR Ol Ten
years ago, there came up TO my room
with nv French rolls and chocolate
dainty little pink note. L was certainly
astonished in a mild way at its early
advent, but knew the writer, and was
by no means seriously curious.
a. Ellen in dreadful distress about some
dressmaker, or exercised about her spring
shopping" 1 said, " and il can watt
For 1 am particular about afew things.
and a calm deliberate breakfast is one Of
them.
So laid the note aside and took up the
morning paper. Having finished both
breakfast and newspaper / took up
Ellens note with that feeling OF re
luctance with which we come back from
great emotions to the small selfish con-
Germs OF our own everyday life.
The note, for once, was full OF real ear
nest feeling. and reused both my sympa-
thy and curiosity, though it contained
only these few lines:
"DEAR SARAH: Come to me at once.
1 am in great trouble about Alice.
Yours, etc, ELLEN TBAvEEG."
About AliceT 1 speculated now
with a very grave interest. Alice Traveen
was very dear to me. and dressed my
self in haste, and went at once to relieve
the curiosity which had now become
anxiety.
i found Ellen nursing her trouble in
with the most dismal OF faces. Yet some
how the tone and atmosphere OF the
house had quite dispellcd the fears that
had hurried both my hands and my feet
for the last hour. For heard Alice tax
ing her singing-lesson, and Maud had
kissed me in the hall with all her usual
Joyous abandon.
..Some love affair" now decided.
And / was not wrong.
Ellen was feeling herself to be the most
injured and miserable of mothers. Alice
had had two offers, and had madly re-
fused the chance of becoming Mrs. Van
Solgen, and accepted the modest destiny
that young captain OF artillery could
give her.
And, my dear Sarah, he is under
orders to join the army now, nd he and
Lice want TO be married at once, and the
girl has not dress fit TO be seen, and
there is no time to arrange anything de-
Gently; and. Upon he whole, it is the
most dreadful affair"
What foes William say about it?"
She looked at me Indignantly.
9 Now, Sarah, what do you expect that
William would say: You know how fun
Of dreams and crOtchetS he always is.
He says, OF course, Let the young ones
have their way; that young Eldridge is
fine noble-hearted fellow; and that any
dress Alice has is nice enough TO be mar
ried in
"WeH. Ellen, 1 think myself that
young Eldridge is in every way Alice's
equal; the family is a very estimable
one
- Oh, dear me, Sarah, that Is not the
question. Jack Eldridge is poor. j
don't care for family, and that kind OF
| nonsense. Van Solgcn is rich, and has
| an establishment and evcryrhing respect
| able. Fancy Alice Traveen following the
| drum in a baggage-wagOn And William
mover will see these things in q proper
| light. l don't see what can be done to
save Alice if you 20 against her, too
Ny dear Ellen, l am not against the
| child: you know how dearly love her.
| But this Van Solgen had a very bad name
about his first wife"
His first wifei why, Sarah, she
had not particle OF style! How could u
man respect woman who neither know
! how a dinner or n lady ought TO bc
dressed? II under such circumstance
| he lost his temper. l think he ought to bt
| excused for it. Now Alice knows how T.
| manage both cooks and dT>sSs makers
and between you and me, my dear, they
| manage the world"
Il have heard, too, that with III bis
wealth, this Van Solgen is really very
| stingy."
"Stingyl And he has got the dearest
little cottage at the seaside, and the finest
establishment in the city. L think IL is
shame for people TO say such things.
| Two such houses rs Van Solgen owns
ought to cover a multitude of sins
But two houses can't make the child
happy IL she does not love the man"
"1hcn she is very unreasonable and
she ought to be made TO behave herself" p"
And 50 she was. Poor Jack Eldridge
went of the next week TO his corps, look
ing dark and hopeless enough; and Alice
came oftener than ever TO see me, and
wept and complained passionately Gt her
and Jacks disappointment.
| l respected and sympathized with her.
Twenty years before had had my Owl
little dream OF love (Which had not COM
true) and so | was quite able to speak
with authority on its uncertainty and in
| stability.
Then, as the summer ripened, 1 went
to my pleasant country house, and the
Traveens went 10 Scarborough.
| With what subtle tact Ellen laid her
| plans. and with what patient indomitablc
industry she worked them, l know not
but the autumn brought her her reward.
For though Estless and Indifferent about
| many grave things, she was consum-
| mate tactician where fashion or worldly
advancement was in question:; SO l wa
by no means surprised when L read in the
| papers the announcement Of the contcm-
| plated marriage between Arthur Van Sol
gen and Alice Reid Traveen.
Not surprised, buC still very sorry, ano
the moro so when 1 saw AIices listless
looks and variable temper.
| Mr.. Travecn was not satisfied.
'' / do not like this marriage, Sarah,
he said to me one night. Van is no
the kind of man should have though
| Alice would have chosen, and j woulC
much rather have had Jack Eldridge 70
| a Son-in-law."
"Oh, suppose she must marry; Ellel
thinks she has no time to lose"
And the child is not twenty until mex
March. That is what troubles me. l d
think should like her beauty and accom-
plishments to adom my own home a IL
Tie while before she is given to one almos
a stranger
But Ellen is quite satisfied, she says
with Mr.. Van Solgen's character and pos
ton"
That is what amazes me. If Prov
dence had asked FOR Alice again, ,you woul
see Ellen almost frantic. But here come
a man about whom she knows nothin
except that he is rich, and Was not happ
with his first Wife; and she strives
give her child TO him. / deprecate Il
whole transaction .s
why DO YOU not speak to Alice, then
=" do, whenever have IN opportunitl
but she says as she could not have L
dri'ige, il l. perfectly Indifferent TO h
whom she InarTics; and that she may
well please her mother"
Christmas holidays passed, ana 500
aa0er ulcin, IN al the ponlp OF lace, al
satin, ard diamonds, Alice became Mr.
Van Solcen.
Alice knew l disapproved the cour
she had taken, so our intercourse .
sumcd a ceremonious character
About four months after her marriac
went one morning To Mrs. Trayeen's
ask Maud to go shopping with me. Mau
was at her sisters, and l drove there Il
her.
iptarr,rn+ad n Sisfarlv ararral mn
Maud, with flashing eyes and burniI
cheeks, said "I win be ready TO .
with you in half an hour" Alice offere
no exnlanation but sat with a moof