The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-23
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; A FREAK Of FATE.
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Hen their engagement WdS dr.
nounced to the world at large it created
the proverbial nine days wonder, fol-
they were about the last people that
anyone would have expected to come
together The affair was freely dis
cussed at o'clock tea tables, and in
club smoking-rooms, and the universal
verdict was that it would prove an
ignominious failure, and be off" be-
fore three months had passed. But
for once the wiseacres were wrong
When six months had passed, the affair
was still "on," and preparations fol
the wedding were in full swing. Shout
ders were shrugged and heads were
shaken. The tide of gossip and scandal
flowed merrily, but somehow it never
touched Maisie. There was something
about her that forbade any active out
side interference in her private affairs
and the most hardened scandal-monger
lacked courage TO approach her on the
subject of Dicks delinquencies, past
and present.
l say present" advisedly, for though
he contemplated matrimony he did not
contemplate giving up the amusements
and associations that belonged of right
to his bachelor days. Certainly those
amusements and associations were less
in evidence than they had been before
the background all the same-and he
intended them to remain.
Most men pull up a little when they
marry, and go steadier, at any rate, for
a time; but Dick did not mean to. He
meant to go on as he had begun. In
short, instead of his proposing to relin-
quish the aforesaid amusements and
associations that he might marry Mai
sic, he proposed to marry Maisie that
!, 1;.-l,+ IL 1lzI To rics7
the amusements and associations. That
is the case in a nutshell.
For he had come to the end of his
tether at last. The patience of his long
suffering creditors was exhausted, the
Jews would have nothing more to say
to him, his signature was a drug in
the mOney-lending market and ruin,
absolute and complete, stared him in
the face.
In such a desperate strait there were
two alternatives left to him-and only
two. One was social extinction, imme-
date and for all time; the other was
to marry money. OF two evils choose
the least, and he chose to marry money.
His choice fell on Maisie, for rea-
sons that were sufficiently practical.
He proposed, and was accepted; after
which he proceeded to play the role of
devoted lover to the best of his ability,
and it was a role for which his hand
some face and delightful manners emf
nently fitted him.
But Maisie knew nothing of all this.
She was not ignorant, although she
was innocent, and, doubtless, she sus-
pected that Dick, in common with other
men, had sown a certain amount of
wild oats in his time, but that he was
still assiduously engaged in sowing
them she did not suspect. Dick knew
she did not suspect, and he prayed de-
voutly that her suspicious might not
be aroused, at all events until the mar
riage was an accomplished fact.
The oddly assorted pair regarded
their engagement and coming marriage
from totally different standpoints.
Dicks heart was in no way concerned,
and his view of the case was that of a
selfish. reckless man of the world.
Maisie's was that of true and loving
woman. Her heart was in every way
concerned, for she had given it to Dick.
He was all the world to her, and as the
golden summer days sped by, she
dreamed the dream that comes TO no
woman twice in lifetime.
So things went on, and the all-im-
portant day that was to change Maisie
nearer and nearer until it was only
week away.
"A week today said Dick. 1--WE shall
be man and wife. How does the idea
strike your
They were sitting out dance to-
gether at Lady Robinsons ball, and
they had chosen a very comfortable
place to sit in. A coy corner of the
large balcony, fenced in by a screen
and a thick clump of tall palms, and
lighted by Two or three Japanese Ian
fery7c swim overhead Tho ccapfaI
solitude was delicious after the noise
and glare of the crowded ballroom,
pleasant little breeze from the outside
world stole It's way through the chinks
in the striped awning, the dreamy mu-
sic of the violins thrilled sweetly in
the distance. The dim light fell rosily
on Maisie's fair uplifted face, with it's
chiselled features and satin skin, and
the great gray eyes that were so full
Of womanly softness and tenderness.
She made a charming picture as she
sat there. leaning idly back on the
SENDER plush pillows-a charming pic
ture of warm, living, lovely color.
Dick spoke lightly, but he looked at
her with a certain amount of anxiety
He could not help feeling anxious some
times. So much depended on this last
venture of his. and he was not safe
even yet. There was a whole week of
uncertainty before him, plenty or time
that for things to go wrong and if
they did-if they did. 1t was subject
that he did not care to pursue to its
logical conclusion.
A faint pink flush stole softly into
Mafsie's cheeks. 1t was a very pretty
flush. and Dick admired it critically
from an artistic point of view, though
t did not make his pulses beat one
whit the faster.
1T strikes me-pleasant," she an
;wered, and then she looked at him and
smiled.
The smile was as pretty in its way
IS the flush, and the two combined were
adorable. Dicks heart
thrilled with the pride of possession, if
With no warmer feeling.
THAT is just how it strikes me-" he
said, and laid his. hand caressingly on
Ter soft bare arm. Such a pretty arm !
round and white and dimpled as a
]aby's.
She smiled at him again, and his con-
science smote him, as it did from time
o time. for he was not all bad A
7ague sense of remorse stole into his
leart, chilling him unpleasantly He
could not meet the perfect love and
rust that shone in her eyes and feel
10 shame.
I'll go and get you an ice,'' he said, |
Using from his seat, with a desperate
ort OF feeling that he must be alone
or minute. wait here till 1 come |
Jack, and don't let anyone take my
,lace.''
He hurried away, and Maisie, left |
Llone, leaned back on her pillows and |
ave herself up to pleasant meditation. |
Ten minutes ELAPSED before Dick re-
urned with pineapple ice in one hand |
md a glass of champagne cup in the |
ther.
THE refreshment room was Sin1nlv |