The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-07-05
For Business
Reasons
Copyright. 1912. by Associated Literary
Press
BY McCulloch Williams

"If you really cared about me"
Elinor began, breaking off there in
choking sob.
William. her husband, frowned hcav-
lily. and said sarcastically, "Of course
don't care-you are only my vic
for whom l spend my days toiling and
grubbing-and from whom | get in
return"
Il try! You know try--ever so
hard!" Elinor flashed out. but your
- your - m-mother - won't - let me
have minutes peace"
'Won't-eh? l really hadn't noticed
It," William retorted, still sarcastic.
81 suppose the real root of the matter
is-you want ME to leave her Under
stand-I shall not do I'll That's fiat
You married me with your eyes open
knowing all she had done for ne
that | was her only child-besides, |
told you outright l would never leave
her lonely. You agreed--anything to
get me. Now-you want to get away
from your bargain"
do you want to get away from your
bargain?" Elinor asked, suddenly
calm, sparks at the bottom Of her
eyes drying them magically.
William did not answer-only smiled
provokingly After little she went
on. still clearly, IF you do win
take myself away-as soon as we have
gone over the accounts. want to
leave things straight"
Really, Elinor-this Is. tn ridicu-
= lous. With the Trayers expecting Ga
to dinner-and the theater afterward,'
William began-he was not smiling
any more, but still his voice was hard.
Elinor's head went up. You do
not answer" she said. 81 take silence
for consent. As to the Travers, you
can make my excuses-say you came
to tell them I was-indisposed
The door opened without any pre-
liminary knocking Mrs. Alsop, the
elder, came through 1t saying with
a frown, William. you should be
resting-you can have fifteen minutes
before it is time to dress. Elinor new
er thinks Of such things-but if you
are to go on doing yourself justice you
must take care of yourself. And to-
night l want you to be your best self.
The chief justice, who is to be at
the Travers', is an old beau of mine"
Suppose you 60 in my place. am
staying at home. And ! can help you
Dress" Elinor said, her voice studi-
ously commonplace.
Her motherin-law stared at her.
mot goingl" she echoed. 81 take
your place! l knew you were poorly
bred, but must say l never dreamed
you could be ignorant enough to think
Of such a thing"
Say kindness for ignorance moth
err" William interposed. "Elinor is
impulsive-and very generous OF
course, her suggestion is impossible.
But l know she thought only of Civ
ing you pleasure-the pleasure of meet
ing an old friend"
ut will be much greater pleasure
to have him see my son and his wife
at their best, among the best people,"
Mrs. Alsop said proudly. AS for
James Dwight. don't care pin
except to have him see / made no mis-
take In refusing him. He will be
bound to see it-you are so much your
fathers son."
The clock striking the half hour,
made her hurry off with a vexed ex-
clamation.
AS the door shut behind her William
went up to his wife, laid a hand upon
her arm and said, not very easily
you are very angry, Elinor-that l
know. And 1t is in your power to
take deep revenge. Unless you go
tonight, | cannot. That will mean
the loss of Traver's good will and
good word, which Just now are vitality
important to me. He and his wife
count on us to liven their party
others are rich, but heavy-and wild
to be amused.
I'VE are not paupers-thanks to my
mother She saved my fathers es-
tate, you know. But one can't stand
still--you know that without telling
| have invested more than | ought to
have risked in a deal that Traver can
make successful. Knowing that-you
must decide | throw myself on your
mercy"
ION my justice, you mean" Elinor
said lifelessly. Therefore | will go.
1t shall never be true that | added
to the harm did you in marrying YOU
the wreck of your fortune"
Come, now, let's kiss and be
friends" Alsop said. trying to tale
her in his arms.
She eluded him, turned to her toilet
table, and began pulling the pins from
her hair, saying over her shoulder
"As | am staying only for business
reasons, and so long as they are i'm
portant, there seems to be no occa-ion
for us ever to quarrel again"
She was the life of the party that
night, SO blithely brilliant, so elinly
Fascinating, Alsop was amazed He
knew she could be so, but heretofore
she had been either too indolent or
too Indifferent to show off. All the
Traver guests made much of her-be-
fore the home-going she had many
engagements, tentative, to be sure, but
certain to materialize.
Even the great chief justice was
quite taken off his feet. Tell your
mother l thought her the most fasci-
mating of women-until | met the
daughter you have given her, he SAID
to Alsop as they shook hands.
Come and tell her SO yourself, sir,
Alsop answered. But the older man
held up his hands with face of comic
dismay.
II Elinor heard or saw the byplay
she made no sign. In the car as they
whirled home she sat inert amid her