The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-02-28
AN UNTOLD STORY.

two years after their marriage to keep
Mr. Lobdell from finding life burden
some. Among these were four clubs,
several fine horses, which he handled
himself at the gentlemen matinees,
and the privilege of going and coming
when he pleased.
If Beatrice Lobdell grieved because
of his neglect, she did SO in the strictest
secrecy, and succeeded in retaining her
beauty through it all
1t was whispered, however, that she
didn't care, but there is great deal of
whispering in society that is unwar-
ranted Certainly Mrs. Lobdell might
have had admirers if she had wanted
them. Indeed she did have them, but
they had to admire from distance un.
til George Whitford arrived upon the
scene.
The Lobdells had joined a fashiona-
BILE family club, not that Mr.. Lobdell
cared for it, but he wanted his wife to
have some place where she could enjoy
herself while he was not with her.
You see, he was kind hearted, chival-
bored him to be much in the presence
of the beautiful young woman he had
once loved so madly.
The whole trouble, if you must know
it, was that they were unsuited to each
other. Mrs. Lobdell had a taste for the
artistic. Her husband was not inclined
that way. He was one of the best anna
teur drivers in town-no one knew the
fine points about horse better than he.
He belonged to the athletic club, had
been known to walk seven miles through
the country mud in order to see for
hidden prizefight, and he had won a
medal on the golf links.
Beatrice Lobdell's enthusiasm over
rare old prints, Fitzgerald's rendering
of the Rubyiat, and all that sort of
thing seemed silly to him.
But one evening when she had ac-
companied the Wimbertons to the
Thursday evening cotillon party at the
Orpheus club, she met George Whit
ford. He danced with her and talked
about things in which she was interest
ed. He could quote 40 of Fitzgerald's
best quatrains, and Mrs Lobdell said
when the Wimbertons were ready to go
home that she was very glad to have
met him.
After that it became customary for
Beatrice Lobdell to attend the Thurs
day evening parties with the Wimber-
tons, and George Whitford's name
doomed up conspicuously upon her pro-
gramme.
cts a pity. he said to her one
evening when they were sitting out a
dance in the parlor, THAT you were
born in luxury"
"Why?" she asked.
"If it had been otherwise you would
have added something to the world 8
literature that would have lived. The
absence of necessity is unfortunate in
your case.
Do you really think have talentf"
II am sure of it.
Whitford was beginning to be known
in the world of letters as a novelist and
essayist. He was young, handsome and
not much of a favorite with men. But
most women regarded him as interest
ing.
Mrs. Lobdell looked at him earnestly
and sighed
Perhaps | would have been happier,
too, !" she said, ''if l had been compelled
to do something more than sit around
and feel that my life was going to
waste. +"
why not do it anyway" be asked
after awhile. Suppose we collaborate
on a story?"
II think" she answered, "that |
could give you the outline of a story
that would interest the world .
There was something in her tone-a
tinge of wistful sadness-that brought
the color to his cheeks He bent for
ward eagerly to make reply, but she
hurriedly rose, saying:
Come, we must not sit here any
longer.
He followed her back to the ballroom,
and when they parted that evening he
pressed her hand very gently, while his
heart went at violent pitch.
She avoided his look and said Good
by instead Of Good night. .
George Whitford waited for their
next meeting with boyish impotence,
and when the evening arrived it sud
denly occurred to him that she might
not come. In that case he didn t know
what he would do. But when the VIM
bertons put in an appearance she was
with them, and he saw that her cheeks
| Redeemed when he went forward to
greet her.
He managed before long to lead her
away from the crowd. Then he asked:
"When are you going to give me that
story you spoke OFF,
| She looked at him as if she were
| frightened and answered almost in a
whisper:
Never
"Why?''
II must not 1t would be wrong"
''No story that you nave to tell me, :"
ne said, could be wrong"
She looked at water color upon the
wall and asked:
''Have you ever noticed how that
artist failed in his foreshortening?"
"Hang that artistl'' Whitford ex-
claimed. "You know you are not inter
ested in his picture. Say that you will
tell me the story. Do it for my sake.
With it know could make the world
listen. .
She looked up at him, and after they
had gazed into each others eyes for a
moment she replied:
"Well, some day perhaps !"
''Oh, here you are, " exclaimed man
to whom Mrs. Lobdell was engaged foi
! the next dance. Come on; they've be-
gun. y
George Whitford sat alone for awhile
and then went into the ballroom to fine
Mrs Wimberton waiting for him. He
had forgotten that his name was upon
her card for that number.
1t was long week for Whitford, that
next one, and there was a huge disap
pointment for him at the end of it,
When Mrs Lobdell arrived at the
Orpheus club, her husband was witt
her.
But Luoius Lobdell was not one o.
those selfish fellows that keep theil
pretty wives all to themselves at dane
ing parties. He put his name upon tht
cards of several married ladies as mat
ter of duty and then rushed in among
the young folk, for he had fondnes
for girls especially as dancing partners
So it was not long before WhitforC
had an opportunity to lead Beatrice
Lobdell into the refreshment room ant
from there to little nook off one of thu
parlors
81 believe, he said. THAT there i