The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-11-04
THE RIGHT THING
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The WRONG TINE
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Mrs. Otway sighed. Good heavens!
How weary she was OF the four walls Of
her drawing roomi a small house, even
though ia Mayfair, was but a restricted
area. Why had she married Jim? He
was a dear, good fellow, Of course, but SO
monotonous in his limitations. Why
hadn't she married Jack Dalrymple in
| stead of allowing Sophie to appropriate
his f7,OO0 a year? She could SO easily
have done it. What lovely things would
have been hers now! What would she
have chosen for her birthday present to-
morrow? Jim, very likely, wouldn't even
remember that she had a birthday, or, if
he did, he would give her something use
| full. How she hated useful thingsi
Perhaps she could cajole him out of a
check? Then she could pay Cerise some
thing off her bill and order that new tea
gown that was so adorable. The one she
had on was getting passe, and 40 self
respecting woman could afford to be i'll
dressed, especially a pretty one. Mrs.
Otway walked across the room and in
spected her face In the glass. It was
worth inspection, in spite Of its discon-
tented expression. It was q very pretty
face. The sleek head and big brown eyes
were indeed curiously attractive. As she
looked the eyes changed their sulky look
to one of interest. For the door opened
to admit Captain Dalrymple. Lalage OF
way turned to greet him and then sank
into a chaif-her W special chair IN
front of the fire.
ITO think of the devil seems to have
the same power as to speak of him. she
said, .'for my thoughts appear to have
conjured you here"
"But surely you expected met"
II never expected anything good, there
fore I'm not as surprised to see you as l
otherwise should have BEEN" she re-
turned.
He laughed. "Frankness is veracity's
vice."
81 don't pose as yeracity. Pm in no
mood for anything so effective. ] was
railing at fate when you came in"
Were you? What has she been do
ing?' he asked.
"Enmeshing me in her web, and. alas
(shrugging her pretty shoulders), lit isn't
ever spun of silk!!'
81 think, Lalage, that l would have
spur it of silk had you let me-"
"And l think, Captain Dalrymple, that
you are using my Christian name with
out my permission"
"Christian name! Why, it is as deli
ciously pagan as you are yourself and as
beautiful" he said.
"Then it serves it's purpose, for beauti-
full things are useful, even though useful
things are not necessarily beautiful" she
said, as she poured out tea and handed
the cup across to him. Sugar. she said,
picking up a piece and offering it to him
with her fingers.
He put out his hand and grasped hers.
She freed it with a laugh.
How nice he was! 1t was delightful to
have such influence over him. What a
fool she would be to %reiinquish it! Jim
need never know. Besides, a little come
dy scene like this appealed to her ar
tistic taste.
What a naughty girl you are" he
said.
She made a grimace and enunciated a
truism: But for our failings our virtues
would have no background against which
to be shown up"
The solemn manservant opened the
door suddenly rs she spoke Captain Dali
rymple pushed pack his chair from its
close proximity to Mrs. Otway's. She
looked at the man carelessly-perhaps the
carelessness was a little overdone-a lit
tie too obvious.
ssWhat is it, Mallory?" she asked.
"If you please. num-, Captain Dalfym-
pies man has come, and will Captain
Dalrymple go at once, as he is wanted
most particularly" and with that NAL
lery closed the door discreetly behind
him.
at must be a message from the bar
racks. Captain Dalrymple explained IN
answer TO Mrs. Otway's look Of inquiry.
sIt can't be from home, for, as you
know Sophie is in Loamshire hunting
and supposes me in Hounslow. And" he
added. with q happy laugh at his recoy-
cred bachelorhood, "Im entirely my
master. If / go now, may ! come back
presently
"No, mo-. Not tonight" shaking her
head. slim is coming home to dinner,
and. although a duet is sometimes meio-
dious. / have never heard harmony in a
trio" she said. :,
aBut / must see you again." he said,
with insistence.
sCome tomorrow, them
ssTomorroW is your birthday. You
didn't think I'd forgotten It, dearest aiu
you??" be said tenderly.
Il expect that You have a convenient
memory she said. with a little sheer
which was yet unable to destroy the
! beauty Of the face.
Jack Dalrymplc came up to the girl
! sLalage,' he said. you are unfair, foI
yous know that | do nothing else but
think Of you-morning, noon and night
He took her hand. 1t lay INTERESTINGLY II
his, the pretty pink palm uppermost. Ht
bent down aud imprinted q burning kis:
IN it, shutting the fingers that thes
/, might hold this record Of his infatuatlon
! "My darling be went on, speaking bur
ricdly, syoI mustn't mind but I've sen
Won Il present. fcafae up from HounsloN
! today purposely ii buy it. You'll woal
{ It. won't your / didn't ask your permits
i sien'
"a uha uhiari36ns Mallory again appear