The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-09

DIG laugneu hgdln Nv tnlB.
"You laugh savagely, as il you wish.
cd that was true. Isee she didn't know.
AL right"
when want good time, I'm not
quite dolt enough to ask all the world
to come and take hand. I hate three
handed whist. You can ask her to play
when she's your wife"
"Then shell never play at all.
''Then it is true, after all, Is II, and
Lola gets the odd trick? cried Mrs. De
Witt, looking up quickly. II thought
90 two nights ago. Tell me all about it.
But how about Beryl?"
Sir Jaffray smiled at her eagerness.
"You've called me an odd trick,
and I'm not sure that that's compli-
ment." be said.
"Bahl You men are all card tricks
to us. Some we win, some we don't,
some we throw away, and some we can't
hope to get. A good many we win by
bluffing and finessing, and some are
snapped up because we are fools enough
to revoke. But it's q compliment to be
called the odd trick-that's what we're
all fighting to get"
"Are you fighting to get me?"
"Haven't I unanswered now to get
you alone here, and aren't you In about
the most Objectionable and unoomfort-
able mood possible? You're not bit
worth fighting about, and you're not fit
for anything but to be married"
you're bit put out, be answered,
adding, after a pause: I'm glad came
over, because we ought to have word
or two to put matters straight. OF
course 1t must make change in things"
"You mean your engagement with
Lola?"
yes"
"Under the circumstances I wonder
you came" she replied Grossly.
II came to see Beryl."
II think you're very horrid," she
raped out irritably. "That means that
I'm not only in the way, but that I've
acted the part Of marplot in stopping or
postponing most interesting explana-
ton between you two. think I'd bet
ter go to my hotel" And she got up
from her seat and rustled her dress
angrily.
"I'm sorry you take 1t badly" said
Sir Jaffray. but you must see that
something Of the kind had to be done.
Things couldn't go on"
II don't know what you mean by
things" she said Grossly. Marriage
needn't make man boor-before it
happens There's plenty Of time after
ward for all that. OF course I can quite
understand your wanting to train for
an Arcadian existence, and you can't
begin too soon. But you needn't start
by bludgeoning every woman you've
known while you haven't lived in
Already"
"Sorry you've taken it like this
We've been good friends, little woman,
and I've many thing to thank you
for"
After long silence Mrs. De Witt said
suddenly:
II must have seemed to take it very
seriously, I'm afraid. But remember
I'm only woman, and when we lose
the odd tricks it's not only that we're
vexed at losing them, but angry with
those who have won them from u.s.
"That's all right, but then you and
could never play any thing else but dou-
BILE dummy all our lives, and that's not
riotously lively game.
"But it's sometimes safer than when
kbn m vdo uro NOT nm tho oh1o ~ Ohm ra-
torted, adding, after forced laugh and
in changed voice: II think I'm glad,
Magog, after all. do really. She's a
magnificent creature and as clever as
she's beautiful. That's praise from a
woman. And If you'd only told me
what you wanted and meant I could
have helped you. And really, under the
circumstances. I'm sorry that l sent
Beryl off today before you came, though
il she knew Of this she may have jumped
at the chance gave her Of getting away
rather than stay and see you. You don't
expect her to like it, of COURSE" 81
Sir Jaffray thought there was more
naturalness in her manner than he had
ever noticed before. This pleased him,
and when they reached the hotel they
shook hands and parted better friends
than ever, perhaps. so far as he was
concerned.
He was glad to have had the opportu.
nifty of the conversation, and as be lean
ed back in the railway carriage on his
return journey the incident suggested
to him the changes in his life which his
marriage with Lola would make.
He had drifted into the friendship
with Mrs. De Witt. and on his side the
relations had never got as far as even
the mildest Irritation. He had been glad
to go to her house when in town and
had been amused more than anything
else to watch her develop habit Of
monopolizing him. He had been quite
keen enough to read her and quick
enough to avoid anything like CON-
promising complication.
Never before had she made such an
effort at direct Irritation as in the case
Of this arrangement to get him to her
self for time at Torquay, and he
smiled as he thought how she had thus
been paid out in hor own coin and left
nlone as the result of her maneuvering
BE had meant 70 drop the more pro-
nounced friendship as soon as his en-
gagement was certain. and he knew
that there must be some kind Of expla-
nation. "Things couldn't go on" as he
had said, and he was glad that the
matter was over 90 easily.
As to Beryl, be was by no means so
satisfied. 1t was true that, SO far as the
idea Of marriage was concerned, he
na Is, !