Ellsworth American., 1913-01-01
REVENGE
Her Better Nature
Conquered
By CLARISSA MACNE

home again Willoughby Jones Derrick
stretched himself comfortably before
his own hearthstone and agreed that 1t
had turned out very well indeed-ex-
actly as he had planned.
Mrs. Sylvester had worn the yellow
roses he had sent He had reckoned
on her looking especially well at the
Ponsonby dance, but she had been ac-
tually beautiful-her charming little
figure gowned in pompadour silk, and
above her soft black eyes cleaned that
crown of silvery white hair which dis
tinguished her among the other women
of her set-and uncertain age.
At Just the right moment-when she
was slightly bored with the common
places of the ballroom, when the first
flavor of the dancing had departed
he had rescued her from the idiotic at
tentions of worshiping youth and car
ried her off to secluded nook in the
conservatory which he hsd previously
marked for the purpose.
Here, amid the tinkle of fountains
and the plash OF goldfish in the marble
basins. with now and then a lulling
murmur OF music from the distant ball
room, amid the heavy scent Of exotic
flowers and the pure fragrance OF
countless roses, Willoughby solemnly
and somewhat heavily, as became a
Jones Derrick, asked Lucia Sylvester to
marry him.
The result of this was that when
h,x hnnrS Of
was wearing beneath her little white
glove the engraved emerald which was
the traditional engagement ring of the
Jones' Derricks and Willoughby had
her promise that in the approaching
Indian summer they would be married.
All this had been the result of care
full planning and almost painful fore
thought on the part Of Willoughby
Jones' Derrick. He had lived forty
nine years of his life in the firm de-
termination to die a bachelor. He
loved too we'll the luxury Of living for
himself alone to share his liberal in
come with wife who at best might
shine brilliantly at costly entertain
ments and deplete a fortune which
was ample for a prudent bachelor.
And in his fiftieth year his business
agent reported that those sources
whence came his inherited income were
In danger Of total elimination. even
now were divided by one-half. and
there was no escape from the impend-
ing doom of poverty except a good
marriage. The impending doom was
a secret between willoughby and his
agent. The idea Of the good marriage
was Willoughby's own. Quietly he
had gone about ii, and the result was
most gratifying. There would be no
cause for wonderment that the rich
clubman should marry one Of the rich
est widows in town
So the last of the Jones' Derricks
dreamily consumed several gold tipped
cigarettes while he pondered the ad-
vantages of the new life that would
open when he assumed the RESPONSE
bility Of becoming Lucia Silvester's
second husband. 1t was a very pleas
ant outlook, for he admired Lucia as
much as 1t was within his power to
admire any one save his own punctil-
ious self.
He frowned as he remembered the
existence Of the child, Annabel SIl-
vester. and smiled when he recollected
that little Annabel was safely ensconc-
ed In a French convent from which
she would not emerge for some time.
Then he dismissed all dIsagreeable
thoughts with a firt of his cigarette
into the crate.
1t was quite two weeks afterward
that Willoughby Jones Derrick dropped
into Mrs. Silvester's for a cup Of tea.
The drawing room was empty. but bore
evidence of recent occupation.
The ladies will be down immediate.
SIR" said the obese butler.
Jones-Derrick's brows were elevated
for a brief instant and then crumpled
into a frown. He had a beastly head
ache and did not feel like talking to
lot OF chattering women: he needed Lu-
cia's low, thrilling voice and quiet pres.
ence to charm away his indisposition.
TITS only Miss Annabel. SIR" ex-
planned Martin discreetiy. "she just
arrove an hour ago. sir"
Willoughby stared haughtily at the
presumptuous menial. and when the
broad back had disappeared with un-
dignified haste he transferred his gaze
to his hat
He felt that this unexpected intru-
sion of little Annabel would prove an
obstruction to his present happiness.
He would impress 1t upon Lucia that
the child should be returned at
The door closed gently. and he lifted
his cold gray eyes and looked straight
into the great brown orbs of-Anne
Langc: Anne Lange. grown beautiful,
her red hair softened to a less objec-
tionable shade than when he had last
seen her In paint stained holland
apron. Her creamy skin was guiltless Of
its powdering of golden freckles and
her perfect features rendered more ex-
quisite by the simplicity Of her coiffure