Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1886 — PERCY ST. JHON'S MARRIAGE [ARTICLE]

PERCY ST. JHON'S MARRIAGE

BY STANLEY VERNET,

. In a highly respectable though by no "means pretentious boarding honse.on the West Side lived n pretty little nrasic teacher named Elsie Walton. She was a distant relative of the landlady. Mrs. Brooks, who assisted her in getting pupils and introduced her to the pit bo inter of the house. Mr. Percy St. John, a dry goods clerk of handsome appearance and genteel manners. The young people were seated together at the table, and as both were sociably inclined a friendship soon sprang up between them. Percy had a tenor voice that he was fond of exercising and it was seldom he met anyone who could play his accompaniments as nicely and good-naturedly as Elsie did Upon the thin-toned piano in Mrs. Brooks’ ‘drawing-room,’ 1 which, by the way, was a aheerless room for such an ambitious name. As frequently as the young man’s finances would permit he repaid Elsie's kindness by inviting her to attend the theater or drive on the boulevard. When these expensive pleasures codld not be afforded a walk in the park or a visit to.an ice cream restaurant were enjoyed as substitute delights. It'was soon whispered and generally understood among the boarders that this prepossessing though impecunious couple were engaged. The course of their love ran very smoothly until midsummer, when Percy’s employer gave him a two weeks vacation. A few days previous Elsie had been called "out of the city by the illness of a school friend, who lived in one of the suburban towns. Percy was so dull without his sweetheart that he determined to spend his holiday at a small Wisconsin summer resort. There he met Mrs. Estelle Donnavan, a stylish widojv who looked about 25 in a subdued light, but ten years older in a glare of sunshine. She was • vivacious, agreeable talker and seemed to be by far the most important personage at the Lake House. Percyfelt flattered when she favored him with a marked preference, and without any intentional faithlessness to his absent affianeed he allowed himself to drift into what he considered a harmless flirtation with the widow. At the end of ten days he began to experience a few twinges of conscience,and an Uncomfortable idea forced itself upon bis \ mind that Mrs. Donnavan evidently considered his attentions in a serious light. Swas no summer idyl to her. but a matter- - fact courtship. Already she occasionally called him “My dear Percy,” and now and then threw out a hint regarding their future happiness that struck a chill to Perley’s heart. r— - He was getting tired of her gush and affectation. and thought regretfully of modest little Elsie. “I believe I’ll have to take refuge in flight,” mused Percy one evening as he sat upon the veranda of the hotel smoking a cigar after the widow had bid him good night in a manner more possessively affectionate than usual. '* W'-W The next morning he rose early with the fixed purpose of taking the, first train for Chicago. As he sauntered into the office after breakfast he met Robert West, a Chicago acquaintance, who was a salesman in the •tore from which, Percy bought his tightfitting, pointed-toed shoes. ’ The young men exchanged greetings and arm in arm strolled down to the beach. “I hear you are in luck, Perce," said Mr. West, jocosely. “What do you mean?” asked Percy. “Oh, you’re a sly dog,” continued Mr. West. “It was a sharp little game for you to come down here, pass yourself off fora gentleman of leisure and means, and thus gain the affections of a rich widow.” Percy colored and replied, a little testily, liad two weeks leisure square enough •nd a right to spend it as I pleased. As for means, I have enough to pay for all I had here and it's nobody's business if my salary is only six hundred a year. If anybody has a mind io suppose it’s more. I can't help ft. You don’t think I am called upon to go around and correct such a report, I hope?” “By no means, my dear boy,” laughed Mr. West," “and I advise you to make haste and tie to the widow beforethe decept—delusion. I mean—is dispelled.” “What have you heard about the widow that you have so much so say about her?" asked Percy, with an assumed air of indifference. “Nothing, only that it was a case of lore •tfirst sight—disinterested love, of course—that your engagement is an understood thing, and at the rate the affair has progressed everyone expects a marriage will tale place soon. Honestly though, Old chap, / think your head is level after all. You have a pretty little girl in Chicago that you’re sweet on, but there is no earthly chance for fellows like us to get anything •head to marry a girl whose 'face is her - fortune ’ It is all we can barely do to support ourselves and keep out of debt. You are awfully lucky to be able to marry fifty thousand dollars, even if your bride is. no spring chicken.” “Is Mrs. Donnavan worth fifty thousand dollars?” asked Percy, with a start of surthey say. You can cut a swell with • bank account like Ihat, but dppt.fOrget your old friends when you become a bloated bondholder.” / ..• “By the way, I expected when I came down here to be the bearer of bad news for you, but to! I find you so far above such

trifles (hat my words will have no stiug," said Mr. West with a playful nudge;in 'l’erejrirrtde. . / sw—-- ——• —-—■ ’ “What bate you to tsdl me.?. I wish you wouldn't l>e s<> funny/' said Percy. Mr. West pulled down his face until it; wore an expression of great solemnity, and gYhvely remarked: “I ovex- ! heard niv boss tell a friend of his that the firm who receive your valuable services is likely.tofail within*a-month.” “1 Can hardly believe it," said Percy, thoughtfully. “Still it may be so.” All the rest of that day his face wore an anxious look. He changed his mind about returning to Chicago Indore his vacation expired. Mr. West’s words haunted him. Surely there was A poor prospect of his ever being able to many th” girl of bis choice, less than ever jf it was trite that he was soon to lose his situation. Insignificant as it was, be knew that another as good would be hard to find. He was not a man of versatile talents. A clerkship was the only position he knew how to .fifi. Elsie was a sweet little girl, he thought, and he cared more for her thaii anyone else, but really, now he came to* look at it in the right light, it was scarcelv-fair to bind her to a foolish engagement for years, and then be no nearer marriage than they were then. West was right; there was no chance for fellows like them to marry gills without money. It would seem like flying in the face of Providence to refuse fifty thousand dollars which plainly might lie his. with only the widow ns~ an incumbrance,— I’excy banished all thoughts of Elsie from his mind and devoted himself to Mrs. Donnavan with business-like zest. There was a little impromptu dance at the hotel that evening. Mrs. Donnavan was radiant in old gold satin and the most dazzling of imitation "diamonds, and Percy was all that a lover should be.

Before the party broke tip. one .of the widow's lady friends proposed having.a wedding,. “It would be such fun and a good ending to a merry party,” she said. Everybody looked at the only sentimental couple present. Mr. St. John and Mrs. Donnavan. Th? latter luidher hand upon her companion's arm and said, in a way that was meant to Ins arch but was simply sillyL. “Shad we oblige our dear friends, Percy love?” ", I “Peicy love" turned very white for a moment, but seeijF, the expcctnnt-faceH around him he summoned a weak smile and assented. The landlord, being a justice of the peace, was immediately called into the ball-room, and before Percy had time to realize the importance of the step he was taking, he found himself married to Mrs. Estelle. Donnavan. * • ■ • , ♦ * * * On the evening following this unceremonious wadding. Elsie Walton returned to Chicago, and was disappointed in not finding Perev waiting at the depot to meet her. She had not received a letter from him in several days and her mind was filled witlf anxious feiSrs lest he might be ill. When she rang the bell nt her boardinghouse. Mrs. Brooks came to the door with a severe look upon her ruddy face. “Is anything the matter?" asked Elsie, anxiously. “Matter enough,” replied Mrs. Brooks, as she led the way to Elsie’s little room' on the third floor, and dropped upon a chair, very much out of breath. As soon as the dooririts closed she exclaimed tragically: “Elsie Walton, you are my second cousin's child, and when you came here I meant to be a mother to you.” “I am sure you hate teen, very kind,” said Elsie. Mrs. Brooks waved her hand to indicate that she did not wish to be interrupted, and continued:.— . “When I intro luce.l you to Percy St. John, and encouraged your friendship and engagement, I thought he was a gentleman.” ... “Why certainly, Mrs. Brooks,” Elsie wonderingly interposed, "and you were, perfectly correct. Percy m a gentleman and the dearest fellow in the world.” “He is a villain and a fool,” said Mrs. Brooks with emphasis. Elsie's blue eyes flashed, and she made the most of her five feet one inch stature as she inquired with dignity: “What right have you to make such a surprising and unjust assertion, Mrs. Brooks?" “His outrageous behavior toward you gives me a right to call him the worst names I can think of.” replied Mrs. Brooks. “Two weeks ago he left here engaged to you, nndl am sure I never saw a man pretend to be deeper in love. This afternoon I received a letter from him stating that he has married a rich widow, and impudently asking, me to ‘break the news gently’ to you. He gees on in a maudlin way about your being the sweetest angel living, but shys you are both so poor that marriage was impossible, and he felt it his duty to improve, his prospects by making an eligible match.” Elsie's face grew white as death, and she caught and held Mrs. Brooks'arm so tightly that the good lady winced. ' ‘ "Is it really true?” she' said. “Are you sure it is not a bad joke that some one of the boarders has perpetrated?” “Hera is the letter,” said Mrs. Brooks; “you can judge foxxonrself. ” Elsie instantly recognized her whilom lover’s writing. She read the weak, unmanly missive through with - compressed lips and a sharp pain tugging at her heart, then crumpled it slowly in her hand and threw it into the waste-basket by the side of her little writing table. “Really, Mrs. Brooks, I think I am fortunate in losing a lever who has so little honor. He shamelessly confesses that he has married for money, and insults me with protestations of his continued love.” “Hie wife must be very rich,” said Mrs. Brooks, thoughtfully.“or perhaps he did not know of the snug little fortune yo.u will come into next year." “No; I thought I would keep that as a pleasant surprise. It is well that I did so, else he might have married me for money.” “You are a sensible girl,” said Mrs. Brooks as the left Elsie's room and descended the stairs in quite- a composed frame of mind. Elsie went her usual rounds among her pupils. If her heart" sometimes ached while she counted the time for new beginners and drilled them in the never-end-ing five finger exercises and scales, ho one knew it but herself. To all outward appearances, she was the same, bright, cheerful Tittle girl that she was before Percy St. John’s desertion. One day as she was waiting for a street car on the corner of Madison and Clark streets, she found, herself face to face with ■ ter recreant lover. Her heart thumped un--1 pleasantly, but of the two she seemed much the less disconcerted. Seeing the car that she wished to take. Elsie was turning hurriedly when a high feminine voice cried eut, “Goodness gracious! if there ain’t Elsie." The young lady mentioned naturally looked to see who the speaker wag, and -an expression of intense astonishment overspread her face as 'her eyes fell upon the showily-dressed lady who was rushing toward her. “Why. mamma, how surprised lam to meet you. I thought you miles away.” The lady clutched Percy’s arm and made an effort to blash as she coyly said: “I supnpse that you have not heard that I have been getting married. Let me in-

i tngluee you to my husband. Mr. fjt. , John. U|y «t< p-daughter, Elsie Wal.um. 1 I am sure I" Irope you will dike each other very niuch»” . - Percy's face was a picture of agonised ■ sunuisc wheti El«i« congratulated him with a wicked little gleam of mischief in her I eyes and ati atuuKed.smile upon- her 'lips; “I believe I have the honor- of Mr. nt. John’s acquaintance,” she said,"but Lnevet expected he would turn out to ;be my steppapa,” P,erey would have welcomed an earthquake that would nt that moment have I swallowed his simpering bride and himself. And his feelings were not at all soothed when he became aware of the fact that he and his wife were living upon the interest of Elsie Walton's property. Elsie’s mother died whefi she was an infant and she was adopted by her grandparents, who preferred to have her, called by their name. Mr. Donnavan. Elsie's father, married Estelle Pardue for his second wife and did long survive the Union. His estate was estimated at #30,000. A third of this was left to his widovi - , als<: the interest of the whole until Elsie should come of age. Mrs. Donnavan managed to soon spent her portion and since then her only hop« was to get a husband'before Elsie’s 21st birthday.; She had scarcely a year yet of grace when she succeeded in captivating Percy St. John, who had never-once suspecte<l Elsie of being nn hciress: She had received a good musical education and when her grandparents died, leaving onlv a little money, she very practically decided to support herself by teaching until she became of age. Percy was angry with her sot not being more confidential with him regarding her family history, -and-doul»ly angry with himself for nibbling so quickly at the golden bait thrown out by the widow;. Two years later Elsie married a rising lawyer and has a haitdsotue Ttoni" on Prairie Avenue, where she lives verv happily. „ Percy still fills a clerk’s position*, and his w ife has lately esttiblished herself proprietor of a small shop which bears a sjgfi over the door, “ H air work done eheapt’’ They are a disappointed, discontented pair and make no longer any pretentions to being fashionable.