The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-08-08
WHY HE DIDN'T.

buC, JuuSe, you never told me WHY
you did not marry Miss Van Horn. W.
all thought that matter was settled, bu
suddenly we We're surprised by the new
that you had married stranger in tina
city, and Helen Van Horn was left dis
consulate. I wonder what has become oil
her; she must have married we'll, howev
er, she had fine chance to choose, fol
there was scarcely good match IN tht
city that WAS not at her command at one
time"
eyes, yes" answered the gentleman ad-
dressed,-Judge Hume, q distinguished
handsome, Intelligent looking man OF
about forty-fve years of age a successful
lawyer, who had some years before been
raised to the judicial bench almost by &C
clamation.-"No woman could we'll have
married better than Helen Van Horn.
Why did not marry her is 3 short, SIM
pie story, not without a moral, and L will
tell it if you care to hear it. l have new
er told it before, even to my wife, iudi-
crous as some of it's phases are. So take
cigar-you will find it a good one-and
hear how, possibly, Helen Van Horn is
not Mrs. Hume today. Af
"You knew her father" began the
judge, "and will remember that he was
reputed to be very rich. However, it
turned out, upon his death, and after his
debts were paid, that there was left a
mere pittance for Helen, obliging her,
The petted child of fortune, to live with
extreme economy ever since"
"Do you mean that she has never mar
ried q asked his guest
Married !" repeated Hume; mo, in
deed And in that may be seen the
moral of my story to which have refer
red. But do not let me anticipate ; let
US begin at the beginning.
Gone evening, going to fulfill an en-
gagemcnt with Miss Van Horn, as the
servant ushered me unannounced into
the parlor, found her, engaged in an an
mated conversation with a singularly
handsome young man, who, [ saw at a
glance, might readily become formida
Bile rival, and [ felt for the instant q
sharp pang of that unamiable, discomfort
: ing passion, Jealousy. But as my en-
trance had been unobserved I was able te
recover myseli before saying, in my
blandest manner, Good evening" The
gentleman started and stify returned my
bow. AS for Helen, with suffused cheeks
she said, why Mr.. Hume, I did no
hear you at all you are absolutely as gen
tie as lamb.
Somewhat angry at her satirical tone
| observed that she was engaged in con-
versation, and probably did not hear MT
enter, and added that had called to at
tend her to the gallery to see the pictur,
she was anxious about.
"'But really, Mr.. Hume she said
somewhat eonfusedly, looking from The
stranger to me, L had quite forgotten al
about it, and so promised Mr.. Churchill
here to accompany him to see "Richelieu'
tonight
II glanced toward the stranger, and h'
returned the glance with slight frowl
on his face Misa Van Horn continued
But, oh I beg your pardon, gentlemen
Guainted with each other. Mr.. Hume
this is my friend Mr.. Churchill, of Rich
mond, and she carelessly fell back int
the chair, from which she had half riser
for the moment.
"tI am sorry Miss Van Horn has 81
treacherous memory; but I hope MI
Churchill-with your approval-can b.
prevailed upon to defer his engagement
for assure you the picture is a rare gem
and well worth seeing I persisted il
this, because I had become slightly rous
ed by the INDECENT way of receiving tn
homage paid her, and there seemed to b.
CLEAN Of triumph IN the face of my ri
val.
'The young man looked at me gZavely
then silently turned to Miss Van Hor
for some expression of her wishes HI
was evidently very much pleased at m,
interruption of their little tete-G- tete, am
was sufficiently interested in the lady t
d be seriously fulfilled by any seeming rival
r ry; he was not altogether pleased wit
/. the fact she seemed so careless with re
t. spect to her engagement, which did no
,e accord with his standard of women. FL
RS was we'll educated, comely young man
> of good fortune, accustomed to be wei
It received by women, and yet-as he after
} ward told me-he could not help for tn
$, moment some apprehension that the la
dy's choice for the evening might b
against him; for you know was quite
lady's man in those days.
GAS for Miss Van Horn, she sat, mean
while, demurely toying with large tas
sci suspended from the easy chair for
moment, as if in elaboration, then ex
claimed Really, am sure it must b
wrong IN me to be SO thoughtless, is i
not 2 Here captivating smile illuminec
her beautiful features and parted her be-
witching lips, just discovering the pearl,
teeth beneath them, and she added, 'wll
you not settle the question, gentlemen
between yourselyes?'
"The matter must be arranged in SOM
way, and as | was the most lntimat
friend of the family, and my rival com
parative stranger. I was about to mag
unanimously withdraw my pretension anc
leave the field, when, suddenly there wa