New-York tribune., 1912-02-18
BY EDITH MACVANE

rangcmcntS.
rushed into my mind the vision Of what existing ar
rangcmcnts" meant. Victor Cobb, the husband OF
Lii the center Of the world and of the house, the
abtcr Of destiny and Of every days dolngS, the father
Of Lis children the companion Of Lilis youth and Of
her old agc That clustering voice. those lrcCkCd ana
hairy hands! No, couldn't, couldn't! And there
flashed into my mind the thought Of Lucia d Lammer-
moor" that once at the Opera Comquc and Lucia
who takes a dagger to her room on her wedding night
Mrs. Cobb | said in little weeping voice, please
don't make me marry Victor He loves somebody else
And Yes love somebody else too. And ii you make
marry each other, can assure you that wei both be
perfectly miscrablc
And your word" responded she, "your word that
YOU gave me and accepted when picked you up op
of the mess you'd got yourself into, and took you IN like
daughter? Ali YOU glad enough Of me then: you
cried at the very notion Of going back to your aunt who
snubs you no doubt. You couldn't find the lady you'd
come to visit
But Mrs Stuart is shc!" | cried desperately "Shc
recognized my name almost Immediately IT. She that
knew mv-my family, when she was young girl IN
France. The letters, the miniature, they are hers II
she, don you understand, that came TO America
to find"
"Onv YOU didn't, interrupted Mrs Cobb with vio-
lcncc "You found me instead, and glad enough you
were 10 profit bv the chance and to work me for good
thing, So weak fool that was, took your promise III
gospel carncstncss, and opened my heart TO you, and
spent thousands Of dollars on you, and tunpctcd your
name all over the country, and gave you my darling
bow the only child I've got for your husband. And at
the last moment, Just because young man turns up
that YOU think swclcr than my Victor, you rcnig You
60 of and leave in the lurch when the cards are OUT
for the church and the Duchess already on the water
And here before | could even open my mouth 10 re-
pv she amazed me by sinking her knees beside my
sofa The tears started up IN her eyes and made char-
ncls down her rouge her voice fell from anger 10
pleading, and ! saw my adversary become my sup
plant.
~Dcar little Lili" she said passionatcly, my dear
little daughter as hope you'll be, DO earnestly be
sccch YOU, and with my whole heart, don't 60 back on
me now II when yOu first knew me was distracted az
the idea Of my bow with HI, life before him. running
everything by tying himself 90 that vulgar Iitc adycn
turc,s think what II would mean 10 me now, II you de-
ser, me, III own 10 YOU frankly We made the most o.
this alliance and the Duchess and ALL 10 push myself
into the bcs, sct-anl I've got there We got there
almost For the little supper at Sherry on the night
Of the Duchess arrival I've got aCCcpianccs that rep
resent the very Of America coming up from New
port and from this place on purpose people llh
wouldn't acccp, diamonds from me- own 1t imnhIy'
weren't YOU and your aunt And for the wedding
breakfast well the list 81 acccpriuccs would bring
tear. 10 your eyes tell YOU for me It means success
rn,. master stroke carried a. mastery finish, And the
wedding presents, the silver and Icwclry that's been
arriving 40 the house YOU We been gone, You
could see those and rows Of plush cases, really
think they'd mel, your heart. And then the cards on
'hrr1-ir's Ike the whole Of Iianvs with the Social
Rcgi-tcr attached, Good Lord, Lii, don't tell me 10
send them back again, Don't tell me 10 issue card,
The marriage has been indefinitely postponed, "iiIc
the bride goes of and marrIcs Mr. Harry McckcnbuIE
Stuart And Victor and me- We could 30 OF ana hanE
ourselves; for never could We show our heads IN
New York or in this place either after being made pub
lie laughing stocks like that. And my son, fallen back
into the cutchcs Of that little fcnd Of chorus girl. Oh
Iii think Of it, think Of It. To climb so hgh only to
fall back lower than at the beginning, so low $"
low that never can ever hope to climb mp again She
actually sobbcd on my shoulder the hard the IN
tcrcstcd, the infcXblc
~Oh. Lii. keep your word to me- On, Lii, DO beg
and bcsccch yo,l don't go back me now
Where her threats might have left IoophoIc Of cs-
cape her tears left powcrlcss. After all, had not
nrrmiscd, And from my word, once given, there could
IL, NO rsrlpc Madame" | said "don't be afraid.
I I,,iUl l,D.f,