The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-01-28
M is eIlane O rs.
HERBERT'S TWO COURTSHIPs

pretty little rural village was Penn
sylyania; pretty little cottage on the
outskirts Of the village, standing with its
back towards the groups of other houses,
and looking off over the pleasant fields
and knobs, and its own little door yard
full of flowers, where the doves huttered to
and fro in serene security. On the vine
covered porch of the cottage stood Mary
Graham and Herbert Dudley in very brisk,
II not very earnest talk. At least Mary's
share of the talk was brisk enough, to
make amends for all the vivacity lacking
in Herbert's. She was only the pretty
daughter of poor, rustic widow, and
Herbert Dudley was the richest of all the
young men who had strayed from the city
TO spend the summer in this nook of re-
tirement; but, nevertheless, Mary put
down her little foot as emphatically, and
said what she had to say as vigorously in
his presence as if she had been the "beau-
tiful and accomplished" Miss Fitz Clar-
ence, and lie had been only the awkward
student in the village doctors office. And
this was what she had to say
II tell you again that will not | have
told John Reese the same thing twice, and
he has no right to trouble me any more
about it. And as you have taken the
trouble to bother me as his agent, why, l
must he just rs sharp with you, / won't do
it, and that's the long and short of it,"
Long enough for so short q sentiment,
| must say" responded Herbert.
"rhere is no need for you to say it if you
don't want to-"
"But seriously, Miss Graham, is this your
finality? Remember John Reese is very
rich man lie is man who holds the
highest social position he is man OF
absolutely no bad habits, ard am sure he
loves you very honestly and sincerely. He
would take you out of this hard life into a
life of case and luxury. Think of all this
before you say mo- 50 decidedly"
Mr. Dudley, if you have any other topic
to talk about, will talk with you; if not
I'm waiting to say good-bye," and the pref
ty face had rather angry flush upon it,
and the bright eyes shone rather danger
ously.
II have no other topic to talk ABOUT
now, Sc goodbye" and Herbert Dudley
walked to the gate, opened it, and was
passing out, when shy words reached him
from the porch.
THAT is not the way for friends to say
goodbye, | say it to you with all my heart
| am sorry that your friend is your friend
and am only cross with him, not YOU
Mary was smiling now, and smiling very
sweetly.
Herbert paused at the gate, smiled lit.
tie pre-occupied kind of smile, lifted his
hat and walked away. He had tried his
utmost and failed, but it must be confessed
he had not at all the air of an unhappy
man.
AS for Mary, she watched him as he
walked briskly off. while her smile died
out. Then she walked rapidly up and
down the gravel walks for minute or two
talking to herself for want of any othe,
listener
ats an INSULT" she said.
"The idea of his teasing me to marry
him, the old scamp So, he wants to buy
me, does he Z Thinks his fine house will
make him more to my taste. Why the pal
ace of the Caesars wouldn't sugarcoat sucl
dose as that And then to think thai
Herbert Dudley should undertake to work
for him. It's all because lie wants to mar
ry John Reeses sister, and that's the wa,
he takes to earn his reward. o. did no
think it of him. But they're alike, ever,
one"
And then Miss Mary ran into the house
threw herself upon the sofa and cried mos
heartily, ing to herself the while, "I'n
glad it's all over, and now won't be both
cred any more by any of them"
The situation was this: John Reese, ,
rich but 'cranky" old bachelor, had come
from the city some two months before, ant
established himself in this pretty countr,
village to spend the summer. II had somt
good qualities and some bad ones-thert
are some men of that kind-and only hi
sister, a rather weak young woman, be il
said, and the absolute slave of her brother
knew to certainty that his good qualities
far outweighed his bad !; and yet many
people were very well acquainted with him
He saw Mary Graham, and fell very sin
cerely in love with her, as Herbert haG
said. His good qualities must have led tc
that, and possibly his bad qualities ex
planned the fact that Mary did not in the
least return his love. He proposed and was
rejected very decidedly. Then, thinking
on reflection, that he must have misunder