Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-09-01
TheEvening Story
An Illusion
Dispelled
By JOHN Y. LARNED

by a lifelong friend of hers, a Mrs.
Auchincloss. There was something
very romantic in this friendship which
could not understan nd. but / never
saw Mrs. Auchincloss till after my
mothers death. / remember when I
went from my desclate home to that
OF my foster mother she said to me:
Poor boy! loved your mother, and
I will love you for her sake"
| Her little daughter, Della. stood by
and said, And l will be your sister"
As l grew older Mrs. AuchincIoss
kept her word. only 1t seemed to me
that she loved me as much for myself
as for my mothers sake The day
became twenty-one she said to me:
Frank, wish you to marry Della"
had thought Of Della az q sister
and believed that she had regarded
me as brother. was somewhat
taken aback by this announcement
but somehow II was not an unpleasant
one.
Why, thought. Aunt Margaret
/ had always called Mrs. Auchincloss
aunt though there WAS no relationship
!
in love with Dan Gregory"
"She thinks she is. but that is all
nonsense. Dan Gregory is worthless
and uninteresting. and Della will dnd
it out some day But don't propose
that she shall learn it as his wife.
prefer to marry her to please me. that
later on she may be pleased herself"
That's very complimentary TO me-"
I said. taking Aunt Margaret in my
arms and kissing her. You have been
so kind to me that have no right to
refuse you anything. I mean by this
that 1t is not at all contrary to my in
clination to marry Della, but would
prefer that she should love me instead
of another man."
Agreeably to Aunt Margarets re-
quest went TO Della. told her Of her
mothers desire and said / should be
happy to acquiesce. 1t was no news
to Della, who had been informed of
what was considered best for her She
told me that she would do everything
she could in the matter. but she could
not give me her heart since that had
been given to another. TO this | re-
/
TO whether she would marry me under
the circumstances, for my obligation
to her mother was such that I would
not refuse her any request. But also
told her what had told her mother
| that would be very happy In a mar
riage with her provided she would be
happy to marry me
This seemed to have some effect on
Delia-that is. In gaining her consent
TO the match She had a good deal OF
character, so much, indeed, that
wondered how she could have given
her heart TO so shallow chap as
Gregory. She gave me kiss TO seal
the betrothal, and. although there was
no great warmth in it. there wRs no
ice.
As soon as We became engaged Mrs.
Auchincloss seemed greatly relieved.
When | proposed that Gregorys calls
on Della might better be discontinued
her mother did not agree with me.
The good lady seemed to be acting on
the idea that the more Della saw OF
him the sooner she would end out how
little there was in him. However. as
gagged to me he ceased his calls of his
own accord.
After our marriage by Mrs Auchn.
Gloss advice. ] let my wife alone so
far as her disappointment in giving up
her lover was concerned. Coming upon
her suddenly one day, found her read
ing over some of his letters with dim
med eyes. l made no complaint In
deed, l did not refer to the matter ex-
cept to speak 4 word OF sympathy.
She seemed to be ashamed OF her
weakness and. putting her arms about
my neck. kissed me. The next day
saw some unburned scraps Of paper
in the fireplace and knew they were
Gregory's letters. This seemed to be a
turning point in the matter, and in fu-
ture. whatever may have been Delia's
feelings, l experienced no expression
of them.
Eight years passed. Della and I lived
in our home alone with our children
while Mrs. Auchincloss lived In an
other. Indeed, she refused to live with
us from the day we were married. One
day when l went home from business
Della told me that her mother had
telephoned n desire that we should dine
with her that evening. We never
thought Of declining a request of any
kind from the good lady and at the
hour appointed appeared at her house
We found Mrs. Auchincoss in the
drawing room entertaining man.
Both arose as we entered. nd our host
ess introduced the man as Mr.. Greg
DRY. Della was a trihs put out and
darted look of reproach at her moth
er for inviting her TO meet her old
lover. But the old lady's reason for
doing so was soon apparent. Gregory
bad deteriorated. He was the same
man as eight years ago. but the Greg