The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-02-12
The Capitulatio1l
OF Celia.
flT I'D I tell you that had
asked auntie to come
here, Lem"

not replied Leonard Nancourt, his
forehead lowering into frown. is be
helped himself to q second piece OF
toast. Might inquire which of the
two is going to afford Us the delirious
delight of her presence-Clarissa the
saturnine, or Amelia the magpie imi-
tator"
"Lenr' The dclicately traced eye
brows were raised in indignant expos
tulation. Il think that it IS particu-
larly unkind Of you to speak in that
manner Of my relations. You used to
say that Aunt Amelia was a shrewd
business woman"
| II would be the last to deny her that
| qualification. Celia" remarked Van
court, grimly. 1T was positively a
stroke Of genius the way the old rep
tile-ahem-lady palmed off on to me
that property in Southwark. Fifteen
houses, my dear. with only rudiment-
ary drainage and hungry County
| Council waiting on Inc to render the
| same effective. Aunt Amelia ought to
have been a company promoter. Egad!
she would have made her fortune at
the game, my respected aunt-in-law,
has it in her bones. Where is the
| Daily EXpress?
| Celia's lip commenced to quiyer.
| 81 think that you are horrid, Len
she vouchsafed at length. glancing re-
| proachfully at her husband, who sud-
| denly became immersed in the money
| market column Of the paper which he
| had discovered under the table.
II must say that I think you are
particularly unkind to speak of my
| relations in the way you always DO!
! You should not forget, dear, that Aunt
| Clarissa has been more than q mother
to me, and brought me up since I was
a tiny tot; the first time you ever met
! me, Len, was ut her house."
II know" replied Vancourt casually.
"But If it hadn't been for Gus Har-
| rington taking me to Rutland Gate l
should never have seen either of you.
remember the evening we'll. I took
IN instructive dislike to your respected.
| more than q mother Of an aunt! \
feeling incidentally which has intensi-
| fed ever since"
| "You used to say that you were very
| fond Of her-bcfore we were married,
| Len"
Vancourt coughed dryly.
II was diplomatic, Celia" he said
quietly, as, laying aside his paper, he
buttered a piece Of toast. "You see, as
I could only see you in her house, |
was obliged, in sort Of way, to hold
the candle to the-your aunt"
| "She was very fond Of you, Len"
Celia vancourt's eyes were bent re-
| proachfully on his.
"Ahem! That was very kind Of her,
dear. You see, Celia, I had shekels; In
London society I was considered rather
q decent match at the time I married
YOU" His accent was irritatingly sar-
donic.
"Do you mean to insinuate that Aunt
Clarissa liked you because you were
we'll off and had house in Park
Lane?" demanded Celia, her face flush
ing an angry pink.
"Aunt Amelia did, anyway" smiled
Vancourt unfeelingly. "My spare
cash made her Southwark property
boom In a manner which brought a
smile to her face! She had me on
toast, Celia"
| She raped her knife impatiently on
the immaculate damask. Leonard
she remarked, with dignity, II would
| have you remember that you are
speaking Of my relations"
"1 have no desire to rob you Of their
ownership, DEAR" remarked Vancourt;
then added, as he commenced his
breakfast in real earnest, II wish to
goodness that you would manage to
see that we got bacon for breakfast
that is not salty enough to skin the
inside Of ones mouth. I don't believe
that the tradesmen would dare to sci
such abominablc meat to anybody else
but u.s."
Celia's face grew tearful-looking. as
she poured herself out cup of tea
! then, glancing across the table at the
sombrely annoyed features Of her hus
band, said, irritably:
"I never met such growing mar
as you are in my life! The moment
anything puts you out YOU quarre
with your food. Goodness knows,
am fanciful enough, but I don't fine
this bacon a bit salty"
"Of course not! 1t is quite suficien
for me to say that it is for you to de
clare the contrary" said Vancourt
angrily. 81 never met such contra
dIctory woman as you are in the who'll
course Of my existence. 1 am JUS
about sick Of it"'
"And I am tired to death of you AM
your grumbling," retorted Celia, flush
: ing with anger "Everything that
t do is wrong. 1 can't make out what o.
earth made you marry me-
> because was victim of the throe
i of driveling lunacy, that's why" sal
Vancourt savagely. II wish now tha
had never set eyes on you. VII!
!, ever since my marriage I have neve
known what it is to have a decen
: breakfast. If don't get high egg
get salt bacon which sailor woul
kick at, and If get neither of thos
] two things have piece Of fish whic
would disgrace an East End cook-sho
n put in front Of me-"
He shifted Indignantly, as, turnin
~ in his chair, he picked up his discarde
paper and. iattening it out angril!
commenced to read it's contents.
every we'll, Leonard" said Celia, diE
. nifty struggling with tears for master
in her voice. "Since you are as SORT