Middletown transcript., 1902-02-22

just as il I were father or brother
''Do you know why she wants TO DC
married at all?''
eHaven't the widest idea, probably
only one Of her fancies."
"And you are going to marry her, then
tomorrow said Monica, trying to speak
lightly. 'Where is the interesting event
to take placer"
"I do not know exactly. Somewhere
in the country. Jessica said she kne"
lust the spot. / am to meet her at the
train"
81 must send you away now" said the
girl. at is high time for me to get into
dinner frock. I congratulate you with
all my heart, though it is such an aston
ishing sort of an affair, one hardly knowl
what to say"
s'PIease do not mention it to anyone.
1t is to be great secret"
sT am the soul of discretion" laughed
Monica.
AS soon as he bad gone, however, she
went straight to her desk.
.'Mv dear Jim," she wrote, "your bird
means to fly tomorrow. She must have
obtained an inkling of something, for
she has asked Lloyd Lesley to marry her.
1t is all to be kept very secret. This does
not suit our plans at all. She tells him
she only wants him to marry her awhile.
and then they. will get divorce. de-
pend upon you to stop this affair, since
it is to your interests to do SO. Do not
fail me. MONICA.
The next morning Mr.. Lesley, looking
very smart, with fresh boutonniere, as
beftted bridegroom-to-be, appeared at
the railway station. Eleven o'clock was
the hour set, and he reached the place
fifteen minutes early.
At twelve there were no signs of Jes.
sica. He took a cab and drove to her
house. The servant informed him that
Miss Downing was ill. He asked for her
Aunt Eleanor, with whom the girl made
her home, but the latter's son, Jim, re-
sponded.
''How de do, old man?'' he said, heart
lily. Lloyd disliked the man, partly, he
thought, because of that iovial manner
under all circumstances. "Jessica is in
bad shape to-day" he said, regretfully.
"Can't receive anyone. My mother is
with her. Some trouble with her head,
you know" tapping his forehead signii-
cantly. "she has been acting strangely
for week, and it eliminated last night.
Afraid it is going to be brain fever, or
some serious sort of an attack. You can
imagine how I feel. We were to have
surprised everyone by being married
quietly very soon."
Lloyd murmured his regrets, and got
out of the house as quickly as possible.
That explained, then, Jessica's strange
request Of the day before. What a fool
he had been to think for a moment that
she could be in earnest on such a SUBJ
iect, and yet feeling of uneasiness
swept over him, as he recollected how
perfectly we'll she had seemed; how
anxious for the marriage, how collected.
Perplexed and worried, he decided to
60 to his Office.
''Some one in the private Office, sir"
said the bookkeeper, as he entered.
"Wouldn't be put off, insisted on watt
ing"
Lloyd, glad of anything to distract his
thoughts, entered the private room, and
uttered a tense exclamation as slim,
girlish figure rose from the chair before
his desk. 1t was Jessica, heavy-eyed
and pale, with disheveled hair and dis
ordered gown.
''They drugged me-" she said. in q
weak voice, "then Jim watched me con-
stantly. He must have heard somehow
what we intended to do. He told the
servants l was wrong in my head. /
suppose he told you the same thing. /
escaped while he was down talking to
you. I can always frighten Aunt Flea
nor, you know. Come with me at once,
and let us get married, it is tremendously
important.
Lloyd looked at her keenly.
"Oh, I am quite sane," she said. 'I
will explain as soon as am your wife"
They took cab uptown to the nearest
clergyman known to them. After the
ceremony Jessica nearly tainted.
"Come up to my rooms" suggested
Lloyd. 'T have a spare chamber, and
can make you qnite comfortable; and
I will telephone for my sister TO come,
or at any rate to send her maid"
On the way Jessica explained.
''It is all about my money" she told
him, weakly. THAT will of papa's,
which is to be opened on my twenty-first
birthday, you know. 1t seems that he
was very old-fashioned on the subject of
a woman marrying; strongly opposed to
old maids. If I am married by the time
/ am twenty-one-which, thanks to you,
l am-all the money comes to me, free
and clear of all membranes, save that
my husband is to have the handling of
most of it, only small portion being
reserved for my own personal use. If
not married, the money to be divided
between Aunt Eleanor and myself, but
would not have the handling Of any
portion; she was to invest il all and give
me a sufficient amount for clothes, as she
has done all these years, and you know
how l have rebelled at my dependence.
1t would mean that Jim would get all
the money which rightfully belongs to
me. was going to marry Jim, because
Aunt Eleanor said it would please her,
and ] thought he was as good as anyone
else, so long as you were in love with
Monica" /"
Lloyd put his arm around his wife's
waist.
''Oh, ! know You are in love with her,
evervOne savs So. hrlk che 10 ,,,,t ,,,,.tL