The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-11-04

might have developed into an exciting
one. He was so very easy to play upon.
Now, heigh-hoi-and Mrs. Otway gave a
yawn Of prospective boredom-there was
nothing before her but d dull tete-a-tete
dinner with Jim, who would probably
tell her little triyialities about the law
courts and with pride would retail his
dull remarks-remarks which it required
an expert in legal wit to comprehend
were intended to be an amusing repartee.
But Jim was distract tonight. His
usual bright happiness was ~clouded. he
had no stories to recount, and he seemed
generally parsimonious Of ideas. 1t was
absurd. Yet Lalage almost thought that
oncexor twice she encountered a critical
look in his eyes which was strange to
her. 1t was imagination, of course, for
she could always manage Jim-Jim,
whose loyal blindness was proyerbial.
With an effort she forced the conyersa-
ton during soup, fish and entree, which
were in turn marshaled by Mallory.
Even the complacency which had been
left from her interview with Captain
Dalrympie-the aftermath of battered
vanity-had deserted her; courtesy, the
fruit of cultivation from the seed policy,
alone supplying the place of the usual
dinner RESPONSIVENESS. A feeling of ten
sion was in the air, the atmospheric
heayiness which precedes a thunder
storm. When the servants had left the
room and coffee was upon the table, Jim
passed Lalage a cigarette in silence.
He watched her light it; then he said
sternly:
"Lalage, as I came in tonight the post
man gave me a registered letter. As it
is directed to you in Captain D~alrympie's
writing / felt it would be better for me to
see you open it now"
"a thousand thanks, Jim, for your con-
sideration,', she said in sarcasm. Then,
with that self love which sharpens peo-
pies wits and induces spurious clever
ness, she calmly put out her hand for the
package. She almost oyerrcached her OBJ
ject by showing too great an indifference,
but Jim couldn't see the terror of expo
sure which clutched at her heart and
drove the color from her face, and the
electric light was too becomingly shaded
for her to dread its betrayal.
"You silly Jimi'' she said, with a nery-
Gus laugh. Il believe you're jealous"
Her mind was weaving impossible
schemes Of escape. The parcel was a
small, square box, well wrapped in brown
paper, with seals so carefully and admit
rably formed that the Dalrymple crest
I was impossible to mistake. With reluc-
tant fingers she broke the seals The
brown paper gave place TO a wooden box,
which, upon being opened, revealed a
small velvet case holding a half hoop dla-
mond ring. Thank God, no letter was
there! She gave a sob Of thankfulness.
The rest was now easy. Light flashed
upon her as upon the diamonds.
How absolutely delightful Of SophieH
she said, calmly putting the ring upon
her finger.
.Of Sophie?7 said Jim incredulously.
"Of course" with q hysterieal laugh.
"Sophie Dalrymple has often given me
birthday presents. Weren't we school
fellowsp
sBut surely not such presents as this?'
@How like a man to appraise the val
ue!m
"Are you going to accept it? It must
have cost about f200."
Certainly" she said h~aughtily, now
secure in her position.
"WiIl you write and thank herr"
"Of course!' rapturously-
sit would please me if you wrote at
once. l will get you pen and ink here"
said Jim, still anxieusly watching his
wife. How pretty she was as she sat and
yrotei How pleased with the new toy!
What a fool he had been to doubt her!
Don't go out, dear boy; Mallory can
post this" she said. Il will give 1t to
him. going to the door.
mo, Lalage, l would rather take it
myself. l shall feel happier in knowing
it has gone" he said, taking the letter.
Lalage was a gambler, as are most wo-
men. The deed was done. The III |
perish, l perish" feeling was not strong
enough to disturb her further. When
Jim returned from the errand to the pil-
lar box, he found his wife in an entranc-
ing mood, and Nine. Cerise by the next
mornings post received a very fair sized
check, with an order for the cream tea
gowns =
The sun was shining into theb breakfast
room. Jim was immersed in The Morn
ing Post, while Lalage was deep in her
letters.
She glanced at him. Surely he was
very i'll or the glare was curiously unpe-
coming, for he appeared positively ashen'
He looked up. His eyes met those OF ms
wife.
what a magnificent actress the stage
has lost in youl" he~said bitterly. This
should interest you" treading from fht
paperl: =. 49,,
through an accident in the hunting field
which occurred yesterday morning OF the
Hon. Mrs. Dalrymple.s
$50 Sophie died yesterday morning
yet posted you a ring in the afternoon
n,.a.,s~ ,otb;no vou need trouhln fO say