The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-07-05

wraps, answering With commonplace
quiet whatever Alsop had to say.
There was no rebound in her-she did
not even admit how stupid she had
found the rich folk. Her husband was
all taken aback-she had always been
as responsive as a harp-string and as
vivid as a summer day.
In his heart he cursed roundly the
root of trouble-the little lame dog
she had found and fetched home. only
to have it sent by his mother straight
to the pound. This was the sensible
thing, of eourse-but the furry limo
cent, hungry and friendless, had gone
straight into Elinor's heart She bad
begged to keep it--only until It was
well. and she could find q home for it.
Her mother-in.law had been inexore
able, with the result of sending her
into stormy tears Throughout the
next six weeks Of dry-eyed calm on
her Fart, William Alsop thought he
would welcome anything that would
bring back the tears.
she kept going, going, from her
late rising to her later lying down.
The house she had let slip into elder
hands, giving over even the account
books which had been her special
pride. Business drove Alsop as hard
as Elinor drove herself in the name
of pleasure. She helped him indubl-
! tably. Traver stuck at nothing In his
behalf. Want to make some pretty
money for the pretty child to throw
away" he said sometimes, with
chuckle. Traver's word had weight,
especially when his money went be-
hind it. After feYerish campaign,
| Alsop caught breath--to find himself
| richer by quarter of a million.
He started home early, but moved
by queer impulse stopped a a IA
nous jewelers. shop. 1t had suddenly
come to him that Elinor loved pearls.
He would buy her a string, the hand
! soonest he could find, even though the
cost might be half his recent gains.
He was no judge of such things. but
| the shop imprint was a guarantee
besides, 1t employed the best Of all
experts. Alsop had nodding ae-
| quaintance with the expert. Moving
among bewildering counters In search
| of him, he came in view Of a couple
| standing face to face The woman's
! back was to him-the man he recog-
nized as an elderly bachelor banker,
enormously rich. with the name of be-
ing also enormously INSCRIPTIONS. He
was smiling down at the woman, and
! saying persuasiyely, IF you will but
permit-what happiness for me. Any
thing-here-or in the whole world.
You love pearls"
Alsop made almost leap for the
pair-something familiar in the out
line of throat and shoulders in the
silken chestnut hair, told him who was
listening. But he was man enough,
gentleman enough, to carry off things
we'll Il see my wife has been con-
Tossing her pet sins to you, Mr.. Vor-
tress,' he said, stepping between them.
Are you a judge Of pearls? How
lucky! My business here Is to buy
her a string
mot now-some other day" Elinor
murmured composedly, turning to 90.
Alsop walked possessiyely beside
her, put her into her cab and himself
followed her.
Not until they had made the round
of the park did he speak Then, lift
Ing his haggard face from the hands
that had hidden it. he asked, miser-
ably: "Elinor, how far has this gomez
How long have you known Vortress?
How dared he offer you"
Travers presented him have toll
Grated him for business reasons, Eli
nor said coldly "As to his offer
please understand / did not accept
You see-I am still foolish. He told
me you had won out-as you don't
need me any longer, am going away
in the morning.
"Elinor! Darlingi ] need you as
never before. | love you, love, love,
love you-better than all the world!
Try TO forgive mel know | was bru-
tal," Alsop painted. only say you
shall have whatever you want-eYen
if it should be a hundred dogs"
Elinor sat trembling, her eyes hui
mid. Il don't want-any dog-now. "
she murmured q ought to go away
but truly cannot want my-hus-
band!"
Alsop could not speak.