LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1898, 24 March 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

HOW SHE MARRIED FOR MONEY.

Addia Arlington looked at herself in the mirror, and then turned away with a little smile of happy satisfaction, that rippled over r into a joyous laugh as she oaugbt her cousin Elite's eyes. ‘ Yon are thinking I am vain as a peacock, aren’t you. Bilie ? Well, I do look well don’t I ? And I’m awfully glad of it, because, cousin mine, it will be all the easier for me to come off victorious in the campaign I have laid out for myself during my three months’ visit with you.’ She spoke with charming frankness, that made Miss Nelliston smile back in her lovely girlish face. * And what may your plans be, Addie ? Of course. It is a settled question that yon shall take New York by storm. You know, of course, also, that your pretty face will secure that happiness to you. But further than that, what, little mischief-maker V She looked fondly, proudly, at Addle, whose dusky eyes were glowing like stars. ‘ Oh, only my arrangement for the chief end of woman marriage! I tell you, Ellie, I am going to make my hay while the sun shines—in other words, while I am in New York, I am going to secure some rich—oh, some awfully rich fellow, who oan just smother me with diamonds and dresses, and give me all the money I want—enough to buy everything I can think of 1 ’ Miss Nelliston laughed at the girl’s honest enthusiasm.

* You rapacious little cormorant! You certainly have erected a very ambitious standard, but I cannot see who or where the desirable parti is. lam quite sure you deserve just what you want, dear; but the question is, can you get It ? Addle shrugged her pretty shoulders. ' Ellie, I shall get it 1 I know just exactly my own worth. Now don’t put me down as a vain, silly creature, because I frankly admit I regard myself good-looking, and quite desirable for a wife generally. lam fairly good-natured—am I not, Ellie ? and I ought to have a good husband, oughtn’t I ?’ She leaned her soft, fair cheek caressingly on Miss Nelliston’s face.

* Indeed you ought, my darling. And if I could, I would conjure one to order for you. Addie, yon are beautiful enough to win the highest and beat in the land.’ And she was very beautiful —and all the more so that she was not in the least vain in her charms. Standing there, beside the dressingmirror, In her dress of delicate pink silk, with her fair, white arms bared just below the dimpled elbow, the dainty hands cased in creamy kids, the joyous, happy face, whose features were so exquisite, whose complexion was so richly warm and satiny in its pale, brunette beauty, whose eyes were so deeply dusk, and lustrous, and eager — Addie Arlington was certainly sweet enough, and winsome enough, to fully warrant Miss Nelliaton’s loving assertion. *lf only there was anybody rich enough, in or about New York, unmarried, to satisfy you, Addie 1’ Addie laughed. ‘ I’ll tell you a secret, Allie, I’m going to take my fort by storm; and when yon see me the bethrothed bride of an English milord, Bilie— ’ Miss Nelliston {gave a gasp of positive horror at the girl’s audacity.

* Addie Arlington, you don’t mean yon actually have designs on the illustrious guest that the Van Bensellers are expecting—the English nobleman all New York is on the qid vive about I’

The girl’s silvery laugh accompanied a very defiantly positive shake of her silken skirts, as if that graceful little gesture added incontrovertible emphasis. • Exactly, cousin Ellie, Yon needn’t look so horrified. I’m sure the prospect of having a Lady Grosvenor in the family ought to delight you.’ But Miss Nelliston was too taken aback to appreciate the prospective honor. ‘ Addie, how wild you talk ! The idea ! Why, you never have seen him; you don’t know whether he is young or old, a gentleman or a —not a gentleman. Suppose he is old, and fat, and ugly, and short-breathed, like papa’s British friend, Sir William Wiggleton t’ ‘The charming estate everybody knows Lord Grosvenor owns, and his rent-roll of a hundred thousand : dollars a year, and his wonderful mines In Wales, and his treasures of costly elegance in his town house in Park Lane, and his country houses in Sussex and Cornwall, will cure all these defects. Bilie. Come, we’ll be late at Jennie Jernyngham’s, and you know Jennie always expects me first of any one.’ ‘And so does Jennie’s brother! I am ready, Addie. ’

The music, hidden in a covert of ferns and rose trellises, was playing a lovely fantasie, in low, softly-delioions chords, and dozens of couples were promenading the suits of rooms, Addie Arlington and Fred Jernyngham among them, and the young gentleman evidently not delightfully interested in the tenor of the young lady's animated conversation, * Why, he is the handsomest man I ever saw in my life ! Of course, I’ll except you, Freal’ and the pearly teeth twinkled in a smile for a second. * But I want to hear his name. I want to know all about him. Fred, is he rich V It was impossible for matter-of-fact young Jernyngham to understand whether cr not Addie was in earnest. * His name is—Melton, and I know nothing whatever about him, except that he’s a member of an engineer corps at present in the city. I don’t see what there is about him so remarkably handsome.’ He glared at the unconscious target of his and Addie’s eyes with a scowl that delighted her. ‘ You’re not to be supposed to sec any masculine attraction beyond your own, Freddie. But if he’s only an engineer— Hark ! that’s our waltz.’ And off they glided, a faint flush on Addie’s cheeks, as Mr Melton’s handsome blue eyes caught hers and held her glance a second, despite herself That was the way it began, and a month later, when New York society was stirred to its soul by the deferred advent of Lord Cuthbert Grosvernor, Miss Nelliston wondered why it was that Addie’s enthusiasm had so completely died out. 'You’re a mystery to|me, Addie,’ she said, as they drove home from the crush at Mrs Van Kenseller’s, on the occasion of Lord Grosvenor’s complimentary reception. And, for the first time, Addie’s reply was a little sharp : * I don’t see where the mystery is, I’m sure. Whatever there is about a little, fat, bald-headed old man to admire, I can’t see.’

‘ But he’s a lord, all the name, Addle.’ ‘ No, it’s not all the same at all, Ellie! How insufferably hot the rooms were tonight I I have the most wretched headache.’

The next afternoon a magnificent coach and pair, with the armorial bearings of the house of Silverland—Lord Grosvernor's illustrious family—with coachman and footman, in his lordship’s livery of silver and maroon, drew up at Miss Ktllis’on’a door, and the little fat, puffy old gentleman descended to pay his compliments to the prettiest girl of the night before—the only girl who had at all interested him—Addie Arlington After that well, Ellie hardly knew Addie, so variable and capricious she grew ; now in the wildest of spirits, again dejected and petulant; until one day there came, by one of the liveried servants, a written proposal of marriage, on a satiny sheet of paper, bearing a crest and a monogram in silver and maroon, and signed in a little crabbed, spidery hand, ‘Groavernor’—a letter that offered her, in a very gentlemanly, untnthu siastic way, all the grand, good things that had been her solo aim in life to possess and enjoy. While by mail, net ten minutes later, had come another letter, .that made the girl’s heart thrill and all her pulses stir, as she read the passionate prayer for herself to be given to the man who loved her—Philip Melton, with his handsome face and his salary as an engineer. For several hours Ellie wondered what Addle was doing so long alone in her room, and then, by and-by, she came softly down stairs, a sweet flash on her face, a tender pride in her eyes, a thrill of perfect content in her voice. ‘ Ellie, dear, I want to tell yon. I have refused Lord Grosvemor’a offer of marriage, and—accepted Philip.’ And without a question, Ellie put her aim about the slight form, and kissed her.

* You have done right,’ she said, simply, gravely. * *■ at ® * ' If you will permit me, might I ask why you decline my offer ! ’ Lord Qroavenor said, an hour later, when, her gentle refusal having reached him by messenger, he poathasted to the house. And Addie’s lips trembled with actual happiness and pride as she answered, with a sweetness that was charming ; ‘Because, sir, I—l loved Mr Melton best. You won’t be angry ?’ ‘Mr Melton! A fellow on salary!’ ‘ Pardon me, my lord—a gentleman, rich in nobility, in goodness, and in love for me.’ * Oh, that’s ft I But about the money ? Miss Arlington, there’s is not a wish in the world that shall remain a moment uagratified, that money can procure, if you will honor me,’ ‘ I shall want only what Philip shall give me, sir.’ His kindly eyes twinkled good-naturedly. ‘ Then, Miss Arlington, am I to consider my answer absolute ! You positively decline to become Lady Grosvenor, to live at Silverland Park, to ba a leader of London society ? ’ She smiled sweetly, proudly. *I am sure I have decided. I thank you for the great honor you have paid me—l shall be proud of it all my life ; but I cannot, because I love Philip Melton more than all the world and what Is in it.’

‘ Addie, my true little darling ! Addie, little love! ’ And Philip Melton stepped out from between the curtains at the bay-window, and took her in his arms, his handsome face all smiling and proud as he turned to Lord Grosvenor. * I told you so, sir I She loves me, and is true rand sweet in her loyalty to the man she loves I Addie, perhaps, you will not mind so very much that, after all, you will bo Lady Grosvenor, some day ? For Lord Grosvenor here Is my father, and I am Philip Melton Silverland, next in succession. Addie, yon will not be angry with ns for our little rnse ? We had {heard you were so desperately determined to marry money, and the moment I saw you I knew there was a heart that would conquer ambition —a heart I wanted to conquer on my own merits. ’ Addie listened, bewildered, and Lord Grosvenor laughed. ‘ Bless your bright eyes, child ! you nearly tempted me to be treacherous to Silverland there. But yon will not refuse me for a father-in-law, I hope ?’ And, in her almost royal home, Addie is happy as the Summer days are long and shining.