The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-31
EFFIE'S MARRIAGE.

O<t HtJ Is
sented to the engagement all along.
"Whenever you like, dear.
II hope he won't expect me to be senti-
mental I suppose not, though. An old
| fogy like him will be too rheumatic to
trouble me with demonstrative affection.
"He is only As, my dear child"
every likely, out he is q stiff as poker,
and whom he dances he lifts one of ones
feet and shakes the ROOM
Married men don't often trouble them
selves to dance with their wives, Effle;
| therefore you can Danish that grief from
you at all events"
The ceremony was over-tender youth
tied to middle age for life. For better, for
worse, Effie had swallowed that much
| gilded pill. !
Even to think of Laurence Leicester
was now a sin, she told herself. Yet she
met him everywhere, her eyes would
stray to the door until he entered, and she
allowed him to talk to her n put on her
wraps as he had been won't to do.
Had he and she not been SO basely ham
| dled she would have behaved differently,
she also told herself, for her husband, she
was forced to own, was a good man.
~ 4OO fdb0 6l0 a COL 6CA bkAfls .
| coming marriage to Miss Faisey had been
contradicted. She had been duped into q
hateful union, and it gave her almost a
right to permit her old lover to hover
around her.
All, almost-not quite-the right. Not
a great deal of difference in the phrase,
yet enough to torment her conscience at
moments, such as when her husband took
/ tho uror from Ta1roneciS hands w1Eh
frnness and dignity-by the way, how
dignified he could look at times, consider
| ing that he could not dance-or when he
framed her small face in his hands and
| turned it toward him, looking at at it
| with a patient m~ournfuIness which hurt
her more than if he had struck her.
It was not long after this that Laurence
| Leicester went home from his club with a
| white face and a dizzy brain. He had been
| playing higher even than usual. fortune
had made a dead set against him, and he
was q disgraced man unless he could have
the command of several thousands. He
reviewed his position, but knew that he
could not lay his hands on as many hun
dreds.
Yes, there was one way, but
The blood mounted to his brain as he
eOOh q tC1tCA PACtuAAy <SStSA
his desk in Efie's beloved handwriting.
Hitherto he had never held it without
putting it to his lips, but now he could
only hold it stifly while he struggled for
| power to act q chivalrous mans part and
destroy it.
Twice he put it away, a third time he
took it out again, thrust it into his pocket,
rushed out and made his way to Grosvenor
square.
What were a few thousands to herr Her
millionaire husband was SO lavish he
would never know for what purpose they
had been used.
Naturally, he would not threaten her
in fact, he would not, except as a last re-
source, show her the letter. She wa SO
good that she loved his fair name better
than he did.
"Let me see whether I take in your
meaning, Laurence. am to rob my hus-
band in order to-
"EffieI What a world He gives you
untold thousands to do what you like
with"
"In fact, I might construe your words
into a threat. If I like, / may buy back
my letter-that is, il / fear my husband s
anger should you feel disposed to show it
TO him?"
aFor heavens sake dom t look like that,
Efie," he cried, land forget all I have
said. / am a cur. There, see," and he
tore the letter into fragments. II am a
disgraced man, and desperation led me- TO
this dastardly conduct"
Efie staid his hand as he was about to
throw away the pieces; then she composed
~ gathered them up in ber handkerchief.
"Efie, . he repeated in urfeigned anguish,
forgive me and forget this wretohed bust
ness. Let me fling away those bits of pa
per-" Forgive him! Yes, perhaps in time
she could do that, but forget it-never.
and she loved this man-loyed him instead
of tho husband who was waiting for the
day when her heart would cease to go
astray and turn toward its rightful place.
Laurence, don't press me for an an
swer tonight. Come tomorrow morning
"But / want no answer, y he said yehe-
mently. II tell you my madness is over,
and I humbly beg your pardon. OF course
I'll come tomorrow just to see you, If you
don't hate the sight of me, that is"
He gave her a long look as he left her.
She was SO still, and if she said goodby
the words were inaudible. And there she
remained, half stunned, yet mechanically
thinking.
ut was best so. / will neyer see him
again, but / might hive broken dow if /
had attempted the final farewell. He shall
not be disgraced, but the assistance shall
come through my husband. He will help
him, / know, and he is SO good and so
patient that he will not expect too much
from me-just-at first"
81 say" said one club acquaintance of
Laurence's Co another, Leicester is i'll
luck. / wish had his appointment. IN
common good onel'
I'm India, is it not9"
Eyes"
Efie did not make quite a full confess
sion at that time, not until later when
they had drawn nearer together.
The exact words OF his reply not even to
her mother did she repeat, but they caused
tears of repentance and of gladness to flow
in abandonment from her heart.
As time wore on when they took their
daily drives the spectacle of the quiet faced
man and the now blooming, happy young
wife caused much talk and much wonder
ment that for once the meddling OF 1.-The
Fate had not wrecked two or more lives
London ArgosY.
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