Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-08-03
WHY HE DIDN'T.


But, Judge, you never told me why
you did not marry Miss Van Horn. We
all thought that matter was settled, but
suddenly we were surprised by the news
that you had married stranger in the
city, and Helen Van Horn was left dis.
consulate. | wonder what has become
of her she must have married well
however; she had fine chance to choose
for there was scarcely good match in
the city that was not at her command at
one time"
Yes, yes" answered the gentleman
addressed-Judge Hume, a distin.
guished, handsome, intelligent look
ing man of about forty five years OF
age; a successful lawyer, who had some
years before been raised to the judicial
bench almost by acclamation-" no
woman could well have married better
than Helen Van Horn. Why did not
marry her is a short, simple story, not
without moral; and will tell it if you
care to hear it. have never told it
before, even to my wife, ludicrous as
some of its phases are. So take cigar
you will find it good one-and hear
how, possibly, Helen Van Horn is not
Mrs Hume to-day
"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"
"Ds you mean that she has never
married ?n asked his guest
Marriedn' repeated Hume; "no,
indeed! And in that may be seen the
moral of my story to which | referred.
But do not let us anticipate; let us be-
gin at the beginning.
some evening, going to fulfill an en-
gagement with Miss Van Horn, as the
servant ushered me unannounced into
the parlor, found her engaged in an
animated conversation with singularly
handsome young man, who, | saw at a
able rival, and | felt for the instant
sharp pang of that unamiable, discon-
certing passion, Jealousy. But as my
entrance had been unobserved | was
able to recover myself before saying,
in my blandest manner, Good even
ing The gentleman started, and
sttf1y returned my bow. AS for Helen,
with sutfused cheeks she said, Why,
Mr.. Hume, did not hear you at all
you are absolutely as gentle as lamb
Somewhat angry at her satirical
tone, | observed that she was engaged
in conversation and probably did not
hear me enter, and added that had
called to attend her to the gallery to
see the picture she was anxious about.
"'But really, Mr.. Hume she said,
somewhat contusedly, looking from the
stranger to me, ] had entirely forgot
ten all about 1t, and so promised Mr..
Churchill here to accompany him to see
Rchelieu" tonight
g glanced toward the stranger, and
he returned the glance with slight
frown on his face. Miss Van Horn con
tinued, But oh! beg your pardon,
gentlemen, | had forgotten you were
not acquainted with each ether. Mr..
Hume, this is my friend, Mr.. Churchill,
of Richmond and she carelessly fell
back into the chair, from which she had
half risen for the moment.
"'I am sorry Miss Van Horn has so
treacherous memory but hope, Mr..
Churchill-with your approval-can be
prevailed upon TO defer his engagement,
for | assure you the picture is a rare
gem, and well worth seeing persisted
in this, because had become slightly
reused by the indolent way of receiving
the homage paid her, and the re seemed
to be a gleam of triumph in the face of
my rival.
"The young man looked at me
gravely, then silently TO Miss Van
Horn for some expression of her wishes.
He was evidently very much dspleased
at my interruption of their little tete a
tetc, and was sufficiently interested in
the lad to be seriously ruffled by my
seeming rivalry he was not altogether
pleased with the ct that she seemed
so careless with respect to her engage
ments, which did not accord with his
standard of women. He was a well edu.
Gated, comely young man of good for.
tune, accustomed to be well received by
women, and yet-as he afterward told
me-he could not help for the moment
some apprehension that the lady's
choice for the evening might 90 against
him, for you know was called quite a
Iady's man in those days.
Gas tor Miss Van Horn, she sat,
meanwhile, demurely toying with a
large tassel suspended from the arm of
her easy chair for moment as if IN de-
liberation, then exclaimed Really,
am sure it must be very wrong in me to
be so thoughtless, is it not?' Here a
captivating smile illumined her beauti-
full features and parted her bewitching
lips, just discovering the pearly teeth
beneath them, and she added, will
You not settle the question, gentlemen,
between yourselves? /?
-" That quickly settled the question in
dispute between Mr.. Churchill and my
selt and with a common impulse we
both rose TO our feet. smiled at each
other pleasantly, and with merely hur-
ried good evening to Miss Van Horn,
stopped for my hat, which had fallen
from my hand in my surprise, and struck
my mead against the corner of the piano ;
Mr.. Churchill rushed into the hall, al,
most upsetting the diminutive De Stul,
tus, whom he met, the very picture of
eneminacy and utra.ioppishness.
Descending to the sidewalk. where
the brilliant equipage of De Stultus me,
our view, we both simultaneously burst
INTO laugh that seemed to break the