Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-11-18
WOODBURY., n. J, THURSDAY NOVEMBER l8. 1897.

politeness, and presently came in Elsa's
father and mother and her younger sis
ter Kate. Mr. Beechley discoursed On
the bar as profession and by and by took
his leave. Tom saw him out of the
house, and as he returned up the stairs
met his father
"Jolly fellow, isn't he?'' said Tom.
Don't talk to me about him, " said
Mr.. O'Donnell
Outside the drawing room door Kate
appeared. She put her finger on her lip
and made the most hideous grimace of
disgust which her pretty face could
achieve.
Meanwhile Elsa and her mother were
alone
Elsa, my darling, are you really
happy"
Elsa averted her face. Mother, l do
love him, but-but | wish he were
more like-more like Tom or father. -
Mrs. O'Donnell gave a little sigh.
Its not the jolly. witty men who al
ways make the best husbands, she
said. If you really love him, you
won't mind his being serious; but make
sure of yourself, my darling, that all. 2
Elsa did not reply
Elsa, you don t really mean it? What
reason have you? You give no reason -
Whats the good Of arguing about
it? It's not question Of argument I
feel can t marry you-that is enough.
/ oil o1.f
for-for disappointing you. But what
is the good? We could never be happy
together. -
"Why not?' said Richard Beechley.
"I'm not your sort, Richard | know
| worry you dreadfully. I'm irresponsi-
BILE, | suppose, and foolish, and you re-
you re serious We should never get on
together. =
Richard Beechley bit his lip and took
a turn up and down the room. Then he
spoke with an effort:
"Give it longer trial, = he said.
"You're right in way l can't help
being serious, as you call it. | can un-
derstand l seem heavy to you
"Oh, don t, don hate to hear you
run yourself down "
"I'm not running myself down. +" said
he stoutly. 'Id rather be as l am. l
dom t understand men like your brother.
l don't see what their aim in life is.
But, Of course, you expect lot Of So
cial tricks | haven t got. I'm sorry, but
you must remember I've not been
brought up in the sort of atmosphere
you have My people are so different.
Elsa, he said suddenly, I'VE cared for
one another Don give it up for such
a little reason as that. =
Elsa burst into tears He leaned over
her and tried to comfort her after his
fashion. She let him kiss her passively.
After awhile she spoke Forget
what | said, Richard l will try"
Tom 0 Donnell, hearing the hall door
shut, strolled up to the drawing room.
You've been crying, Elsa, he said
involuntarily
''It's nothing she said and went
from the room
Tom kicked over chair, and, hap
pening later in the day to pass Richard
Beechley in the street, gave him the
slightest possible nod.
The marriage was, Of course, broken
off. The conversation last reported took
place again. twice, thrice, and then
without the reconciliation. and the
O'Donnen family were bright faced
once more.
But the point on which perhaps it
would be interesting to be assured is if
they who loved Elsa were justified. One
may wonder if he should be sorry or
glad. A stolid, unimaginative husband
and light headed but simple hearted
wife have been happy before now. In
this case each went back to his kind.
Beechley, if he marries now, will mar
ry, think, for convenience alone. He
is suspicious, and he is not amorous.
He has thrown himself heavily into his
work and is very busy indeed.
The man to whom Elsa O'Donnell is
now engaged is very popular with her
father and her brother Tom. Elsa and
he seem to be very fond of each other.
They laugh together a good deal; they
chaff each other wittily and have num-
berless secret jokes. On the other hand
such is the occasional balance of life
he is inclined to drink rather too
much and is certain to go through the
bankruptcy court sooner or later
1t is a small problem, this of the ac-
tual state and the foregone possibilities
of Elsa O'Donnell, but | should rather
like it to be solved. Chapman Mag
azine.