, 1897-11-15
Meanwhile Elsa and her mother were

! Elsa anu UtT HlOtutT were
! alone.
ELSA, my darling. are you really
happy:"
Eiss aveited her face. mother, l do
love MIN. brt-but ! wish he were
more like-more like Tom or father"
Mrs. O'Donuell gave h little sigh.
cts not the Jolly, witty men who el-
ways make the best husbands" she
said. "If you really love him, you
won't mind his being serious; but mike
sure of yourself, my darling, that's all. -
Elsa did not reply.
Elisa, you dom really mean it? What
reason have you? You give no reason
Whats the good of arguing about
it? It's not a question Of argument. l
feel 1 cant marry you-that is enough.
l beg your pardon with all my heart
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. l know
l worry you dreadfully. I'm irresponsi
BILE, l suppose, and foolish, and you're
you're serious. We should never get on
together.
Richard Beechley bit his lip and took
a Il up and down the oom. Then he
spoke with an effort:
"Give it a longer trial" he said.
"You're right i'll IL way. / cant help
being serious, as you call it. l can un-
derstand l seem heavy to YOU
sob, don't, don't! l hate to hear you
run yourself down."
"I'm moi running myself down" said
he stoutly. I'D rather be as l am. l
don't understand men like your brother.
l don't see what their aim in life is.
But, of course, you expect II lot of So
cial tricks l haven't got. I'm sorry, but
you must remember I've not been
brought up i'll the sort Of atmosphere
you have. My people are 50 different.
Elsa, 3" he said suddenly, I'VE cared for
one another. Don't 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 l said, Richard. l will try"
Tom ODonnell, 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 a 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'Donnell family were bright faced
once more.
But the point III 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 Il 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
~, l 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 nan 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
chatf each other wittily and have mum
herless secret jokes. On the other hand
such lis the occasional balance of life
he is inclined to drink rather too
much and is certain to &c through the
bankruptcy court sooner or later.
1t is a small problem, this of the &C.
tual stare and the f%oregone possibilities
of Elsa O'Donnell, but l should rather
like it to be solved. Mag.
azine.