Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-07
MISS MARCHMONT'S MARRIAGE.

oVcE uculu VI any Oue yluS u man
of the name Of Hermannsohn 1t is pre-
posterous. Besides, one doesn't marry
Germans, to begin with"
20, Aunt Louisa, one must marry
somebody"
81 don't see the necessity" said the
elder woman, tartly. "lf had never
married your uncle, should have been
spared half my annoyances. Besides,
you might have made decent match
years ago, but you never could make up
your mind. You've got money of your
own, and relations to stay with, whereas
this person, Hermannsohn will feed you
on veal and sauer kraut, and make you
scrub the floors. Take my word for it,"
"Oh, but Ludwig is devoted. He
wrote poem about me the other day in
German, all about the nightingale and
the rose. Shall l read it2"
certainly not. The nightingale and
the rose won't prevent him from maxi
ing you scrub the floors Don't be
fool, Selma. Really, for a woman of
your age, you are extraordinarily def
Gent in common sense. But your
mother was just like you.n
Selma Marchmont shrugged her
shoulders, for she was accustomed to her
aunts tart criticism; and, besides, the
wedding was TO take place in a few days
80 that nothing that any one said mat
tered much now. II was settled at last,
and she was going to try the great ex-
pertinent Aunt Louisa, to be sure, had
had nothing to do with it, and that was
already an augury of success. Aunt
Louisa, indeed Why, the one or two
chances she had had in years gone by
had been promptly nipped in the bud
by that lady, who, on one occasion at
least, had succeeded in securing the parti
for one of her own daughters. The re-
lations were not particularly cordial be-
tween the aunt and niece.
Lady Crayley was of opinion that her
niece was fool, In which, however, she
was mistaken. There was good deal
Of quiet determination and a certain
amount of shrewd common sense hidden
away beneath Selma Marchmonts quiet
self-effacing manner. Twelve years ago
abe had been a pretty girl, but it was
not the sort of beauty that wears. The
pink in her cheeks had become hard
and veined, her blue eyes had paled
into nondescript tint, and she had lost
the roundness, the freshness of youth.
But Miss Marchmont made herself no
illusions on the subject of her personal
appearance. Everybody thought her
nice woman, and everybody said She
would make charming hostess. Poor
Selma She had never presided at any
sort OF table yet, for she had spent the
last ten years or so staying with aunts
and uncles and cousins, as well as with
friends, so that she had gradually fallen
ut tha rD1a ,,fN 49,,
"a role which includes being at every
ones beck and call, smiling and cheer
full when you are i'll or tired, ready to
drive or walk when you would rather
stop at home, to eat when you are not
hungry, and to go to bed when you can
not sleep-in short to live other peoples
lives. Selma Marchmont was sick of
other peoples houses and other peoples
lives. She wanted an existence of her
own.
And you have never told me where
you picked the creature up" continued
Lady Crayley, knitting vigorously, "or
who his people are. I'll be bound he
hasn't got any people"
Miss Marchmont blushed, 30 Aunt
Louisa told you met Mr., Hermann
sohu in London-at-the house of
mutual friend. And his people-why,
his people live in Berlin"
"Well, that's one comfort, they're
long way off. Of course, Selma, shall
come to your wedding. know my duty
to my relations, hope"
Lady Crayley talked continually of
"dolng her duty"-a process, tn the
bye, which, though usually involving
the discomfort of other people, was
always vigorously carried out.
And sure enough, five days later Lady
Crayley arrived promptly at the church |
on cold winters morning, and kent
the bridegroom under strict Surveillance |
with her long tortoiseshell lorgnette.
But Mr.. Ludwig Hermannsohn was not |
to be intimidated by Lady Crayley Or
any other woman. A large, pink, good |
looking young man, he was of the order
OF Ieutons who have small opinion of |
the fairer portion of humanity. The |
English Fraulien with the English |
consols was what he wanted, and he |
gave loud sigh of relief when he and |
his bride had finally signed the register.
The English consols were now his, or
at least, so he imagined.
1t being midwinter the happy couple, |
like other happy couples, were to go to
Monte Carlo, and the club-tain was TO |
take them straight to Paris. The day
was bitterly cold, and by the time they
were landed, shivering and miserable, at
CalalS harbor, poor Selma was already
dislllusioncd on the subject of her hus-
band. At the station he had asked for
her purse 70 buy the tickets, and, much
70 her astonlshment, had failed to return
1t to her with the change All the way
70 Dover Herr llerm8nnsohn had forti
Hed himself with a malod0rous zine. To-
gether with frequent "schnappsh from
mask OF brandy in his pocket. On the
boat she had stumbled about, scasick
ana miserable, while he had eaten
largely in the cabin, and had allowed
hcr to crawl off the steamer, carving
all her own things. Poor Selma heran
TO think that the nightingale and The
rose were going TO have small place in
her married life. But il was on I'M
long train journey to Paris that things
same 10 crisis. There were fsw pag.
singers, and the bridal couple were
carefully shut in by obseryant guards n
a carriage to themselves. When they
were finally alone Selma became aware
mat Herr Ilermannsohn must have been
terrifying himself with many and
lengthy libahons. His face was red,
his eye was watery, and he betrayed i
curious tendency to drop things about.
AND presently he waXed confidential.
do good thing for myself, nicht
wahr9 Such a charming leetlc Wife,
und blenty of money, We will he te-
lightfully happy. But you must gif me
the money, mein Liebchen. Iii our
gontry, the wife gifts all to her husband,
ia, dass list recht.n
Selma shrunk into her corner. She
dared not look at the red-faccd man Oh.
posite her. She began to see what
iHI.EILln al 1. l. Il ~.