The record-union., 1897-04-18

and breathing vows of unutterable af-
fection-I have all your poems lauding
my eyes, my figure, my beauty; and.
finally, l have the special license made
out in our joint names; now, what do
you say?"
Say, woman?" l shrieked, jumping to
my feet. Il say that letters and poems
were all addressed to Jenny 1t is she
whom 1 love; and you know it,
Quite right, Philibert, do know it.
But the world doesn't. Tomorrow all
Pottlebury shall know through the
mouth of Jenny-that you have eloped
with me. am Jane barrow. and l can
prove all say My niece will deny your
story and substitute mine. Under the
circumstances. 1 think you had better
make the best of it, and wed your faith
full Jane"
1 could say nothing, so overcome was
I with the horror of nay position. In
flash of thought saw the trap into which
had fallen, a trap whence l could not
hope to escape 1 groaned aloud as l
thought that this elderly maiden would
sit henceforth at the head of my table
The groan touched her time-worn soul,
and she drew me down beside her.
Poor little Philibert," she said in
softer tone, do not grieve. / shall
make you a much better wife than
Jenny would have done. I shall guide
you, and take care of you, both OF
which you need. L am fifteen years
older than you, 1t is true; but what
is age compared to love? Come, you
must promise to be mine; and l shall
take care that you never regret the
match"
And if 1 refuse?" said I, in faltering
accents
Then it will be my painful duty to
submit poems, letters and elopement
to jury of my fellow-countrymen. L
value my broken heart at 10000"
Oh, Heavenl Ten thousand pounds!
And there was no doubt that she had
strong case, for how could L prove
that it was the other Jane l loved?
There was no loophole of escape other
than payment; and the sum she de-
manded was so excessive that / shud-
dered with horror. Let no one blame
me when 1 admit that 1 yielded to the
inevitable. What could / do in such a
situation? l had been tricked into a
false position; and unable to extricate
myself therefrom, save at a ruinous
pecuniary sacrifice, 1 yielded. And,
after all, She was a most agreeable
female.
So she is now Mrs. Pottlebury, and
rules me with a rod of iron. We were
married next day by special license.
and when we returned from our honey
moon it was to witness the marriage
of the perfidious Jenny with the mon
ster Monteith. She had tricked me. and
so had he. He had fled by arrange
ment from my eye; and she had laugh
ed-hysteria l thought it was-when L
ascribed his flight to my moral infiu-
ence. l forgave her, however, and him
also. My wife made NE forgive them;
but down in my heart there was rage
and black despair. 1t is there still.
Here ends my romance. l am welded
to an elderly woman, who combines in
one the functions of mother and wife.
1t may not be bliss, but it is at all
events economy. 1 am Comparatively
happy, but l cannot deny that | have
my trials, and Jane Pottlebury, nee
barrow, is the greatest of these.
shall conclude with some bitter lines
of my own-they are yet unpublished:
The ills of life all sting and sting,
And cause me bitter pain;
I'm tortured by horrid thing,
The name of it iS-Jane.
New York Evening Post.