Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-08-31
gaIss 3 shstebes.
WHY HE Didn't.

DhbN
"But Judge you never told me why vor
did not mary Miss Van Horn. We al
! thought that matter was settled, but sud
denly we were surprised by the news thai
! you had married stranger in the city, and
| Helen Van Horn was lett disconsolate.
wonder what has become of her she must
have married well, however she had a fine
chance to choose, for there was scarcely a
good match in the city that was not at her
command at one time.
Yes, yes" answered the gentleman ad.
dressed-Judge Hume, distinguished.
handsome, intelligent looking man of about
forty-fve years of age successful law.
yer. who had some years before been rails.
ed TO the judicial bench almost by acclama-
ton. mo woman could we'll have mar
ricd better than Helen Van Horn. Why |
did not marry her is short, simple story,
not without moral, and l 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 a cigar-you
will find it good one-and hear how. pos
sibly, Helen Van Horn is not Mrs. Hume
to-day"
"Y ou knew her father,n began the Judge,
"and will remember that Rc 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 pittaucc
for Helen, obligirg her, the petled child of
fortune, To live with extreme economy ever
sincc.n
do you mean that she has never mar
ried ?n asked his guest.
Married !" repeated Hume ''no in
deed. And in that way may be seen the
moral of my story to which have referred
But do not let me anticipate let us begin
at the beginning" ,o mini an enraoe-
n,onE With ehh9S. van Horn, as the servant
ushered me announced into the parlor, |
found her engaged in an animated conver-
sation with n singularly handsome young
man, who, l saw ut n glance, might readily
become formidable rival, and l felt for an
instant sharp rang of that unamiable,
disconcerting passion, jealousy. But as
my entrance had been unobserved | was
able to recover myself before saying in my
blandest manner, good evening" The
gentleman started and stiffly returned my
bow. As for Helen. with suilused checks
she said, why, Mr.. Hume, l did not hear
you at all A; you are absolutely as gentle as
lamb. -
somewhat angry at her satirical tone, |
observed that she was engaged in courer-
,
and added that | had called to attend her
TO the gallery TO See picture she was anx-
ious about.n
But really, Mr.. IIume,m she said, some
what confusedly, looking from the stranger
to me, Il had quite forgotten all about it,
and SO promised Mr.. Churchill here to ac-
company him to sec Richeeu Tonight
II glanced toward the stranger, and he
returned the glance with slight frown on
his face. Miss Van Horn continued, But
oh beg your pardon, gentlemen, had
/ forgotten you were not acquainted with
each other Mr.. Hume, this is my friend,
Mr.. Churchill, of Richmond, and she care
| lessly fell back into the chair, from which
/ she had risen for the moment"
/ II am very Sorry Miss Van Horn has Sc
| 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 homage paid her, and there seemed tC
be gleam of triumph In the face OF my
rival.
''The young man looked at me gravely
then silently turned TO Miss VAN Horn TO
some expression of her wishes. lie wa!
evidently much displeased at my interrup
ton of their little tete-a-tete, and was sutli
ciently interested in the lany to be serious
ly rutlled by my seeming rivalry he wa
not altogether pleased with the fact tina
she seemed 50 careless with respect to he
engagements, which did not accord will
his standard of women. lie was an edu
Gated, comely young man, OF good fortune
accus toned TO be well received by women
and yet-as he afterwards told me-h
could not help for the moment some appre
hensiOn that the lady's voice for the even
ing might 90 against him for you know
was quite lady's man in those days"
"As for Miss Van Horn. she sat mean
while, demurely toying with large tasst
suspended from the arm OF her easy chat
for n moment, as if in deliberation, the
exclaimed "Really, am sure it must b
very wrong in me TO be so thoughtless,
il not ?'' Here a captivating smile illu
minated her beautiful features and parte
bewitchiug lips, Just discovering the pearl
teeth beneath them, and she added, Wi
you not settle the question, gentlemen, be
tween yourselves ?"
''The matter must be arranged in som
way. and as was the most intimate iren
of the family, and my rival d comparatly
stranger, was about to magnanimousl
withdraw my pretentlons and leave tn
field when, suddenly, there was lou
ring at the front door, aud Miss Van Hor
started to her feet with the exclamation
'Ah, that must me Mr.. De Stultus. Wha
au unfortunate thoughtess girl | am, to
do believe l am engaged to so 10 tn
opera with him tonight
"That quickly settled the question {
, dispute between Mr.. Churchill and mysel
and with common impulse we both ros
, to our feet, smiled at each other pleasant
. and with merely hurried good eyenin
to Miss Van Horn, l stopped for my ha