(_A Fragment from a Modern Romance._)
["It would be distinctly an advantage to girls to serve as
clerks in a lawyer's office before they launched forth on the
world."--_Weekly Paper._
EDWIN was sad indeed, for all had gone against him. He had lost
everything. Even the furniture in the house he occupied was scarcely
his--for all he knew, at any moment it might be seized in execution.
"What shall I do?" he asked again, wringing his hands and tearing his
hair.
"Cheer up," was the reply, spoken in a soft voice and by a sweet-faced
girl. It was ANGELINA.
"And you have come to me in my distress--after I have treated you so
badly?" he said, with a flush of shame colouring his hitherto pale
face.
"No, darling," returned the golden-haired maiden, looking into his
brown eyes with optics of an azure hue. "Do not say that you have
behaved badly to me. You wrong yourself; you do, indeed."
"Have I not deserted you?" he asked in a tone of bitter sorrow.
"But only after you had written me letters upon which I could base an
action for breach of promise," murmured the forgiving girl.
"But do you propose to proceed upon them?" he asked earnestly.
"Yes, my own. To quote that touching song you so frequently sang to
me in the gilded days of the golden past, 'it will be the best for you
and best for me.' I shall certainly ask for substantial damages."
"And is there no way to avoid this crushing, this final disaster?"
asked the young man, in deep distress.
"Dearest, you know that I have studied the law. Well, I would propose
that you should carry out your contract. I have here the form which
requires but the registrar's signature to make us man and wife. What
do you say to the matter being settled to-morrow?"
"If it must be so, it must," returned EDWIN, in a tone of resignation.
"And now, as we are to be married to-morrow, let us dine together. I
have an invitation from my aunt at Putney to stay with her until my
goods have been seized and sold. I am off. She will extend to you her
hospitality."
"Oh, my betrothed, I cannot come." she sobbed. "I am kept here by
duty."
"Well, as you will," he replied, carelessly. "But I suppose we meet at
noon at the registrar's to-morrow?"
"Yes, for by that time all will be over. The goods will be removed,
and I shall be free--free to become your wife."
"But what have you got to do with my property?"
Then came the sorrowful admission.
"Oh, EDWIN, my own. You know I am in a lawyer's office. For the moment
I am their guardian. Yes, darling, I am the woman in possession!"
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[Illustration: DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
_Cook_ (_to Vicar's Wife_). "AND WHAT'S TO BE DONE WITH THE SOLE THAT
WAS SAVED YESTERDAY, MA'AM?"]
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