fell in love with him and they
became engaged. As she grew more sophisticated she saw the folly of
their youthful infatuation. Underwood was without fortune, his future
uncertain. What position could she possibly have as his wife? While in
this uncertain state of mind she met Mr. Jeffries, then a widower, at a
reception. The banker was attracted to her and being a business man he
did things quickly. He proposed and was accepted, all in the brief time
of--five minutes. Robert Underwood and the romance of her girlhood were
sacrificed without question when it came to reaching a prompt decision.
She wrote Underwood a brief letter of farewell, telling him that the
action she had taken was really for the best interests of them both.
Underwood made no reply and for months did not attempt to go near her.
Then he met her in public. There was a reconciliation. He exerted the
old spell--on the married woman. Cold and indifferent to her husband,
Alicia found it amusing to have her old lover paying her court and the
danger of discovery only gave the intrigue additional zest and charm.
She did not lead Underwood to believe that he could induce her to forget
her duty to Mr. Jeffries, but she was foolish enough to encourage a
dangerous intimacy. She thought she was strong enough to be able to call
a halt whenever she would be so disposed, but as is often the case she
overestimated her powers. The intimacy grew. Underwood became bolder,
claiming and obtaining special privileges. He soon realized that he had
the upper hand and he traded on it. Under her patronage he was invited
everywhere. He practically lived on her friends. He borrowed their money
and cheated them at cards. His real character was soon known to all, but
no one dared expose him for fear of offending the influential Mrs.
Jeffries. Realizing this, Underwood continued his depredations until he
became a sort of social highwayman. He had no legitimate source of
income, but he took a suite of apartments at the expensive Astruria and
on credit furnished them so gorgeously that they became the talk of the
town. The magazines and newspapers devoted columns to the magnificence
of their furnishings and the art treasures they contained. Art dealers
all over the country offered him liberal commissions if he would dispose
of expensive _objets d'art_ to his friends. He entered in business
relation with several firms and soon his rooms became a veritable bazaar
for art curios of all kind