The Opelousas courier., 1903-04-18
The Capitulation
OF Celia.
IL tn I'D I tell you that 1 had
asked auntie to come
here. Len?"

AS1& ANh
g "No, you certainly oil
not" replied Leonard Vancourt, hi
forehead lowering into a frown, as b
helped himself to a second piece Q
toast. might I inquire which Of til
two is going to afford us the deliriou
delight of her presence-Clarissa til
saturnine, or Amelia the maybe inn
tator?"
Len" The d~elicately traced eye
brows were raised in indignant expos
tulation. Il think that it is particu
larly unkind Of you to speak in tina
manner of my relations. You used t
say that Aunt Amelia a a shrew'
business woman"
81 would be the last to deny her tina
qualification, Celia" remarked Van
court, grimly. "It was positively
stroke of genius the way the old rep
tile-ahem-lady palmed off on to IN,
that property in Southwark. Fifteel
houses, my dear, with only rudiment
airy drainage and a hungry Count,
Council waiting on me to render tn
same effective. Aunt Amelia ought t.
have been a company promoter. Egad
she would have made her fortune a
the game, my respected aunt-in-law
has it in her bones. Where is thu
Daily Express"
Celia's lip commenced to culver.
II 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.
Il 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 a mother
to me, and brought me up since I was
a tiny tot; the first time you ever me-
me, Len, was at her house."
II know" replied Vancourt casually.
"But if it hadn't been for Gus Har.
rington taking me to Rutland Gate ]
should neve have seen either Of you.
/ remember the evening well. I took
an instructive dislike to your respected,
more than a mother of an aunt! A
feeling incidentally which has intensi-
fed ever since"
"You used to say that you were very
fond of heretofore 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
/ could only see you in her house, /
was obliged, in a sort Of a 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
a decent match at the time | married
you" His accent was irritatingly sar-
donic.
do you mean to insinuate that Aunt
Clarissa liked you because you were
well off and had a house In Park
Lane" demanded Celia, her face fush-
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, 81 would
have you remember that you are
speaking Of my relations"
II have no desire to rob you OF their
ownership. dear" remarked Vancourt;
then added, as he commenced his
breakfast in real earnest, ST 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. / don't believe
that the tradesmen would dare to sell
such abominable meat to anybody else
but us"
Celia's face grew tearful-looking, as
she poured herself out q cup of tea;
then, glancing across the table at the
sombrely annoyed features of her hus-
band, said, irritably:
Il never met such a growing man
as you are in my life! The moment
anything puts you out you quarrel
with your food. Goodness knows, +
am fanciful enough, but I don't find
this bacon a bit salty"
"Of course not! 1T is quite sufficient
for me to say that it is for you to de-
clare the contrary" said Vancourt,
angrily. 81 never met such a contra
dictory woman as you are in the whole
course of my existence. I I'M just
about sick Of it.'s
And T am tired to death OF you and
grumbling," retorted Celia, nusIr
ing with anger. Everything that /
do is wrong. can't make out what on
earth made You marry me-"
because / was a victim of the throes
OF dsiveling lunaey, that's why" said
savagely. 81 wish now that
] mad never SET eyes On you. Why.
eTer since ny marriage 7 have never