The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-11-24
THE CASE OF MRS. ELLIorr.

days on the fruits of eau
ton. Its worldly efficacy is now,
perhaps, sufficiently recognized, At all
events. in the philosophy of Mr. Giyert
Elliott's life it was writ large. Some,
indeed, proclaimed that Elliott's life
knew neither system nor philosophy.
But this is not the fact. Every man is
scheme unto himself This one had
commenced, fearful of breakage, by es-
chewing toys in the nursery. Later
chary of his body's safety, he denied
himself school sports; and now at thir-
ty he sided through life as Persian
| juggler through trough of hens eggs
In short, it may be remarked that an
gels would have rushed in where Gill
vert Elliott feared to tread.
In the city, as is understood, pru-
dence is the pinnacle of mercantile
vertue; and the cautious man is a
prophet honored in his own country.
Once reputably cautious and the rest is
easy. In time he will figure on the
boards Of stedgy, mahogany-countered
insurance companies, among trustees
for debentures, upon committees of adj
vice and rings Of guiding counsel. That
is in the course of things. But at thirty
the prosperous city man has just gained
| his guerdon to sign checks, and instead
Of ped pro" blossoms with his firms
cognizance into real signature of his
| own.
| Elliott's house in North London might
| not have satisfied artist or aesthetic.
But to every man his own cave. His
address was "Chatsworth," Stoke New
ington. An incorrigible cyclist, he
knew more about full, light and helical
roadsters, mud guards, Clincher and
Beeston tires and the whole art of
gearing than any ten ordinary men. In
his home talk his mother and sisters
found surprising enjoyment.
Truthfully speaking, hypocrisy is the
| rarest of this worlds sins. Most bad
men prefer murder. There was, of
course, nothing either good or bad
about Elliott; certainly no pretence.
For one and thirty years. if we expect
an occasional sortie, he reared golden
palisades in Throgmorton street, and
threw up moral earthworks in Stoke
Newington; then he met the woman.
How the soul of poet dropped to
habitation in the breast Of an onyx
eyed, orchid skinned Indian goddess,
and the two were fettered to the calling
of London board-school teacher, the
gods may explain when the time comes.
Steadily the three issues strove for the
stroke Of ascension. The impulse of
the second influence carried her into the
arms of Mr.. Gilyert Elliott.
Miss Christine Gertrude Forham was
a higher grade school-teacher, who
made tri-weekly pilgrimages to Toyn-
bee Hall in search Of that shapeless
evasion-culture. MY dear poets" she
styled her shelves to calling friends.
Miss Forham knew few men, other than
the masters on the boys side. All the
same, she was indisputably a mans wo-
man. The two met at a subscription
dance. When they fell to talking he
certainly dropped below her IDEAL But,
at the time, the blood of her ancestral
goddess was strong within her
So, then, on the waves of the eternal
instinct caution was carried to the
seas; and at st. Peters, South Horn
sey, at 2:30 in the afternoon, the stock
broker married the school-teacher. The
first three months were the reign Of the
Indian queen. Then the soul of the
poet asserted ITSELF but. In visions of
the SHOOT board of London, waned and
sank to filter. Six months after the
wedding Elliott dined with the Kaffir
market at "Jemmy's," and drank HIM
self into heap. His wife paid the
cabman thirteen shillings, and un-
dressed him and got him to bed. That
night the soul of the poet, shrinking
from the flesh, burned as beacon;
even the embankment board was ap-
parelled in white light.
Cycling, with the freaks and pirouet-
ting of the bulls and bears, filled his
thoughts and hours as heretofore. Most
women would have simulated interest;
but soul Ia grievous burden for q
stockholders wife.
Her little feminine arts and whims
passed unremarked. That mood OF
tired sweetness which she found in ma
ture, in some books and in music, was
| to him as incomprehensible as Roman
law. OF course, he was never rude tt
her; it waws simply that he could no.
understand.
1t was on heavy night in late July
that Algy Herriott came to the house t.
dine and sleep. The Hon. Algernor
Bourke Herriott was senior member
of several junior clubs. woman hat
dubbed him once "a rip with a taste fo1
verses" The description was severe
but not unwarrantcd. His was pref
. ty pagan sensualism, though, singing
from wine palate to church music
For the rest, he had just Imagination
enough to despise mediocrity.
Christine, however, hailed him as
creature of light and wisdom, and lis
tened to his froth and small verse in {
spirit of pure gratitude. She had eater
a long dinner of herbs, and here. sh'
thought, was salad. suculent, crisp
!, delightful. Owing Elliott money, Her
riott was frequent visitor. He Away
lived we'll outside his income, and pait
his creditors by eating their dinners
In time it came to taking tea with Mrs
Elliott. And Algy could sit with nj
, woman, knee to knee, without making
love to her.
On a certain Saturday the coupl