Part 17 (1/2)
”'_What a sacrifice_,' the latter muttered, between their set teeth!
'What a sacrifice,' my heart echoed back!
”Mr. Jefferson Jones was an ossified old bachelor. He had but one idea in his head, and that was, how to make money. There was only one thing he understood equally well, and that was, how to keep it. He was angular, prim, cold and precise; mean, grovelling, contemptible and cunning.
”And Edith! Our peerless Edith, whose lovers were 'legion;' Edith, with her pa.s.sionate heart, her beauty, grace, taste and refinement; Edith to vow 'love and honor' to such a soulless block! It made me shudder to think of it! I felt as though his very gaze was profanation.
”Well, the wedding was over; and she was duly installed mistress of Jefferson House. She had fine dresses, fine furniture, a fine equipage, and the stupidest possible enc.u.mbrance, in the shape of a husband.
”Mr. Jefferson Jones was very proud of his bride; firstly, because she added to his importance, secondly, because he plumed himself not a little in bearing off so a dainty a prize. It gave him a malicious pleasure to meet her old admirers, with the graceful Edith upon his arm. Of course she preferred _him_ to them all; else, why did she marry him?
”Then how deferential she was in her manner since their marriage; how very polite, and how careful to perform her duty to the letter. Mr.
Jones decided, with his usual ac.u.men, that there was no room for a doubt, on _that_ point! He noticed, indeed, that her girlish gaiety was gone; but that was a decided improvement, according to his views.
She was _Mrs. Jones_, now, and meant to keep all the whiskered popinjays at a respectful distance. _He liked it!_
”And so, through those interminable evenings, Edith sat, playing long, stupid games of chess with him, or listening (?) to his gains or losses in the way of trade; or reading political articles of which the words conveyed no ideas to her absent mind.
”She walked through the busy streets, leaning on his arm, with an _unseen form_ ever at her side; and slept--(G.o.d forgive her!) next his heart, when _hers_ was _far away_! But when she was _alone!_ no human eye to read her sad secret! her small hands clasped in agony, and her fair head bent to the very dust,--_was he not avenged?_
”It was a driving storm; Mr. Jones concluded to dine at a restaurant instead of returning home. He had just seated himself, and given his orders to the obsequious waiter, when his attention was attracted by the conversation of two gentleman near him.
”'Have you seen la belle Edith, since her marriage, Harry?'
”'No; I feel too much vexed with her. Such a splendid specimen of flesh and blood to marry such an idiot! all for a foolish quarrel with Ainslie. You never saw such a wreck as it has made of him. However, she is well punished; for, with all her consummate tact and effort to keep up appearances, it is very plain that she is the most miserable woman in existence, as Mr. Jefferson Jones, whom I have never seen, might perceive, if he wasn't, as all the world says, the very prince of donkeys.'
”Jones seized his hat, and rushed into the open air, tugging at his neck-tie as if he was choking. Six times he went, like a comet, round the square; then, setting his beaver down over his eyes, in a very prophetic manner, he turned his footsteps deliberately homeward. It was but the deceitful calm before the whirlwind!
”He found Edith, calm, pale, and self-possessed, as usual. He was quite as much so, himself; even went so far as to compliment her on a coquettish little jacket that fitted her rounded figure very charmingly.
”'I'm thinking of taking a short journey, Edith,' said he, seating himself by her side, and playing with the silken cord and ta.s.sels about her waist. 'As it is wholly a business trip, it would hamper me to take you with me--but _you'll hear from me_. Meanwhile, you know how to amuse yourself; hey, Edith?'
”He looked searchingly in her face. There was no conscious blush, no change of expression, no tremor of the frame. He might as well have addressed a marble statue.
”Mr. Jefferson Jones was _posed_! Well, he bade her one of his characteristic adieus; and when the door closed, Edith felt as if a mountain weight had been lifted off her heart. There was but one course for her to pursue. She knew it; she had already marked it out.
She would deny herself to all visitors; she would not go abroad till her husband's return. She was strong in her purpose; there should be no door left open for busy scandal to enter. Of Ainslie, she knew nothing, save that a letter reached her from him after her marriage, which she had returned unopened.
”And so she wandered restlessly through those splendid rooms, and tried, by this self-inflicted penance, to atone for the defection of her heart. Did she take her guitar, old songs they had sang together came unbidden to her lip; that book, too, they had read. Oh, it was _all misery_! _turn where she would_!
”Day after day pa.s.sed by--no letter from Mr. Jones! The time had already pa.s.sed that was fixed upon for his return, and Edith, nervous from close confinement and the weary inward struggle, started like a frightened bird, at every footfall.
”It came at last, the letter, sealed with black! 'He had been accidentally drowned--his hat was found--all search for the body had been unavailing.'
”Edith was no hypocrite. She could not mourn for him, save in the outward garb of woe; but now that he was _dead_, conscience did its office. She had not, in the eye of the world, been untrue; but _there is an eye that searches deeper_! that scans _thoughts_ as well as actions.
”Ainslie was just starting for the continent by order of a physician, when the news reached him. A brief time he gave to decorum, and then they met! It is needless to say what that meeting was. Days and months of wretchedness were forgotten like some dreadful dream. She was again his own Edith, sorrowing, repentant, and happy!