Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-03-04
The Capitlllatiorl
of Celia.
THE wHIP-pOOR-wILL.
BY HENRY VAN DYKE.
[ D I'D I tell you that I had
asked auntie TO come
here. LEM"

n NO, you ccft;lluly ulu
not" replied Leonard Vancourt, his
forehead lowering into a frown, IS he
helped himself to second piece Of
toast. "N1ight 1 inquire which Of the
two is going to afford us tie delirious
delight of her prescncc-Clarissa the
saturnine, OF Amelia the magpic imi-
tator?"
"Lenw The dclicately traced eye
brows were raised in indignant expos
tulation. 81 think that it is particu-
larly unlSind of you to speak in that
manner of my relations. You used to
say that Aunt Amelia was q shrcwd
business woman"
II would be the last to deny her that
qualification, Celia" remarked Van
court, grimly. ut was positively a
stroke of genius the way the Old rep
tile-ahem-lady palmcd Off on to me
that property in Southwark. Fifteen
houses, my dear, with only rudiment-
ary drainage and hungry County
Council waiting on ne to render the
same effective. Aunt Amelia ought to
have been 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 Quiver.
II think that you are horrid, Len"
she youchsafed at length, glancing re-
proachfully at her husband, who sud-
denly became immersed in the money
market column of the paper which lie
had discovered under the table.
II must say that 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 mother
to me, and brought ME up since I was
tiny tot; the first time you ever mot
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 /
should never have seen either Of you.
I remember the evening we'll. l took
IN 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 coughcd dryly.
II was diplomatic, Celia" he said
quietly, as, laying aside his paper, he
buttered q piece Of toast. "Iou see, as
I could only see you in her house, |
was obliged, in 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.
"Ahemi That was very kind of her,
dear. You see Celia, had shckels; In
London society was considered rather
q decent match ut the time married
you" His accent was irritatlngly sar-
donic
"Do you mean to insinuate that Aunt
Clarlssa liked you because you were
we'll off and had a house in Park
Lane" demanded Celia, her face flush
ing an angry pink.
"Aunt Amelia did. anyway" smiled
vancourt unfeelingly. "Iy spare
cash made her Southwark property
boom in a manner which brought q
smile to her face! She had me on
toast, Celia
She raped her knife impatiently on
the immaculate damask. Leonard y
she remarked, with dignity, II would
have you remember that you are
speaking of my relations"
II have no desire to rob you Of their
ownership, dear" remarked Eancourt:
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 tradesmcn would dare to sell
such abominablc meat to anybody else
but us."
Celia's face grew tearful-looling, as
she poured herself out cup of tea;
then, glanclng across the table ut the
sombrely annoyed features Of her hus-
band, said, irritably:
II never met such q growing man
as you are in my life! The moment
anything puts you out you quarrel
with your food. Goodness knows, I
am fanciful enough, but I don't find
this bacon 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. II never met such contra
'dictory woman as you are in the whole
course of my existence. 1 am just
about sick Of it!'
"And I am tired to death Of you and
your grumbling," retorted Celia, flush
ing with anger. Everything that l
do is wrong. I cant make out what on
earth made you marry me-!
because was victim of the throes
of driveling lunacy, that's why" said
Vancourt savagely. II wish now that
had never set eyes on you. Why,
ever since my marriage I have never
known what it is to have decent
breakfast. If 1 don't get high egg
get salt bacon which sailor would
kick at, and if get neither Of those
two things have piece Of fish which
would disgrace an East End cook-shop
put in front Of me-"
He shifted Indignantly, ms, turning
N his chair, he picked up his discarded
paper and, >flattening it out angrly,
commenced to read Its contents.
Every well, Leonard, said Celia, dig
nifty. struggling with, tears .foF1nastery
| In her voice. "Since you are as sorrs;
4t, is s4r arm s,at,A .,an mn ntaa "a hn rn