The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-01-15
MRS. ELICIT.

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Philosophers have diersssed In an DAYS
on the fruits Of caution. Its worldly EN-
cary is now perhaps sufficiently recognized.
At all events In tho philosophy of Mr..
Gilyert Elliott's life 1t was writ large
Some indeed proclaimed that Elliott's life
knew neither system nor philosophy. But
this Is not the fact. Every man Is scheme
unto himself. This one had commenced,
fearful Of breakage by eschewing toys in
the nursery. Later, chary Of his body's
safety, he denied himsslf school sports
juggler through trough of hens eggs.
Truthfully speaking, hypocrisy is the
rarest of this worlds sins. Most bad men
prefer murder. There was, Of course,
nothing either good or bad about Elliott
Certainly no pretense. For one and thirty
years, If we except an occasional sortie he
reared golden palisades In Throgmorton
street and threw up moral earthworks In
Stoke Newington. Then he met tho
woman.
How the soul OF post dropped to habi-
tation in the breast OF an onyx eyed, Or
child skinned Indian goddess, and the two
were fettered to the calling of London
board school teacher, the gods may ex-
plain when the time comes. Steadily the
three issues strove for the stroke Of ascen-
sion. Tho impulse Of tho second influence
carried her into the arms Of Mr.. Gilyert
Elliott.
Miss Christine Gertrude Forham was o
higher grade scboolteacher, who made tri-
weekly pilgrimages to Toynbee hall In
search of that shapeless evasion-culture
"My dear poets" she styled her shelves to
calling friends. Miss Forham knew few
men other than the masters on the boys
side. ALI the came she was indisputably
mans woman. The two met at sub
gcription dance. When they fell to talk
ing, he certainly dropped below her ideal.
But on the waves Of the eternal
instinct caution was carried to the seas,
and at st. Peters, South Hornsey, at $50
in the afternoon, the stookbroker married
the schoolteaoher. The first three months
were the reign of tho Indian Queen. Then
the soul Of the poet asserted itself, but in
visions Of Tho school board for London
waned and sank to filter. Six months
after the wedding Elliott dined with tho
Kafilr market at "Jemmy's" and drank
himself into heap. His wife paid the
cabman 10 shillings and addressed him
and got him to bed. That night the soul
of tho poet, shrinking from the flesh,
burned as beacon even. the emhankment
board was appareled In white light.
Cycling with the freaks and pirouet-
ting Of tho bulls and bears, filed his
thoughts and hours as heretofore. Most
women would have simulated interest,
but a soul is grievous burden for stock
brokers' wife.
Her little feminine arts and whims
passed unremarked. That mood Of tired
sweetness which she found in nature, in
some books and in music, was to him as
incomprehensible as Roman law. or
course he was mover rudo to her; 1t was
simply that he could not understand.
1t was OH heavy night In late July
that Algy Herriott came to tho house to
dine and sleep. The Hon. Algernon
Bourke Horriott was q senior member Of
several Junior clubs. A woman had dub
bed him once "a rip with taste for
verses" The description was severe, but
not unwarranted. His was pretty pagan
sensualism, though, singing from wine
palate to church music. For the rest, he
had Just imagination enough to despise
mediocrity.
Christine, however, hailed him as
creature of light and wisdom and listened
to his froth and small verse in spirit Of
puro gratitude. She had eaten q long din
ner Of herbs, and here, she thought, was
salad, succulent, crisp, delightful Owing
Elliott money, Herriott was Il frequent
visitor. He always lived well outside his
income and paid his creditors by eating
their dinners. In time it came to taking
tea With Mrs. Elliott, and Algy could sit
with no woman, knee to knee, without
making love to her.
On certain Saturday the couple were
asked away to corporation ball. I'm
afraid you'd better not turn up, Chris,
Elliott told his wife. "There's no time
for new fEGek, and you woaidn't Ike TO
go In the old one, no said. 'ot course
mans clothes are always new, ne aad
ed, las long as his shirt Is clean. 30
hlrs. Elliott stald as nome. In inc aieer-
noon Herriott called and took Tea. Alter
ward they sat on sofa with Swlhburne.
Six was cuckooed rom the CLOCK her
riott rose for his hat. "Supposing you ask
me to dinner" he said hghtiy.
But Gllyert Is away, SIZE answered.
doubtfully.
"The secret would be ours. dear lady
II should tell him tho moment no re-
turned"
ASK tho ogrc's leave. Wire care oil
The Beadle, Guildhan
"Oh, stay II you ike! she SAID shoftly.
And he staid
By II the Hon. Algernon had in the
wash OF Two bottles OF lry hoyai apsoi'eu
himself OF oil poetic paganism. he shed
his halo like a shell. Then ON tho Wings
Of eloquenCe and small damns he was rude
to Mrs. Elliott.
"You-you are shocking biackguard' "
she said simply.
In quick skirmish OF pelting fun No
sought to escape. But the woman rose
swept through the door and turned the
key, and in her pink SILK evening clothes
and barred arms sat on the hall form wait
ing for her husband.
The dining room door handle shook
now and again and a hoarso voice pleaded