The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-24

sial lion that all New York would talk
about--no less a person than DR..
Bernstein. the celebrated psycholo-
gist. the originator Of the theory of
scientific psychology. Everything
seemed to 60 the way she wished; her
nusicales were the talk OF the town:
hsr husband had Just presented her
with the Jeweled tiara which now
gracsd her head: there seemed to be
nothing In the world that she could
not enjoy.
Yet she was not happy. and a. she
gased at the face reflected before her
n the glass she wondered II the world
guessed how unhappy she was. She
knew that by hor own indiscretion she
vas n danger OF losing all she had
Won. her position In society. her place
In the affections of her husband,
everything.
When she married Mr.. Jeffries II
was with deliberate calculation. She
~ not love him. but, being ambitious,
che did not hesitate to deceive him.
He Vas rich. he could give her that
prominent position In society for
which she yearned. The fact that
ne was already engaged to q man for
whom she did care did not deter her
foe Q moment from her set purpose.
she had met Robert Underwood years
Before. He was then q college boy,
tali, handsome. clever. She fell in
love with him and they became en-
wngod Az sha Uraur v,o.o s~oht.xt~~4
- she saw the FOLLY OF their youthful
fnfatuation. Underwood was without
fDrtune. his future uncertain. While
n this uncertain state of mind she
nst Mr.. JeRries. then q widower, at
. reception. The banker was attract
- 20 her and being a business man
he did things quickly. He proposed
and was accepted, all In the brief
time of-nve minutes. Robert Under
wood and the romance of her girlhood
we're sacrificed without question when
ff came to reaching a prompt decision.
0As wrote Underwood q brief letter
a farewell. telling him that the action
eho had taken was really for the best
interests OF them both. Underwood
made no reply and for months did not
a1tempt 70 go near her. Then he met
h<r In public. There was q reconcilia-
ton. He exerted che old spell--on the
married woman. Cold and Indifferent
to her husband. Alicia found II anus
ing to have her old lover paying her
court and the danger of discovery only
gave the intrigue additional zest and
charm She did not lead Underwood
% believe that he could induce her to
forget her duty to Mr.. Jehries, but
she was foolish enough to encourage
q dangerous intimacy. She thought
she was strong enough to be able, to
call a halt whenever she would be so
disposed. but as is often the case she
overestimated her powers. The In.
timacy grew. Underwood became
boider. claiming and obtaining special
privileges. He soon realized that he
had the upper hand and he traded on
a. Under her patronage he was In.
vstsd everywhere. He practically lived
on her friends. He borrowed their
money and cheated them at cards.
His real character was soon known to
all. but no one dared expose him for
fear of offending the influential Mrs.
Jenries. Realizing this. Underwood
continued his depredations until ne
became a sort OF social highwayman.
He had no legitimate source OF "a.
como. but he took suite OF apart.
ments at the expensive Astruria and
on credit furnished them so gorgeous.
lH hat
town. The magazines and newspa-
pcrs devoted columns to the rlagnifi.
cencs of their furnishings and the art
treasures they contained Art deal.
ers all over the country offered him
liberal commissions II he would Gis.
pose Of expensive objets dart TO his
friends. He entered in business rela.
tion with several firms and soon his
rooms became veritable bazaar for
art curiOs of all kinds Mrs. Jerrie,
friends paid exorbitant prices for
some OF the stun and Underwood
Tockctsd the money. forgetting 20 ac.
count 20 the owners for the sums thev
brought. The dealers demanded restt
tution or settlement and Underwood,
dreading exposure. had 20 hustle
around to raise enough money TO
make up the deficiency in order to
avoid prosecution. In this way he
lived from day TO day borrowing from
Peter to settle with Paul. and on one
or two occasions he had not been
ashamed tn borrow from Mrs. Jerries
herself
Alicia lent the money more because
she feared ridicule than from any real
desire to oblige Underwood. She had
long since become disgusted with him.
The mans real character was now
plainly revealed to her. lie was an
adventurer. little better than a com
mon crook. She congratulated her.