Democratic messenger., 1881-03-26
THE BROKEN ENGAGEMENT.

"Are you going to remain in towr
during the holidays ?"
eyes"
"Do something for me?"
Certainly, will"
Even if it absorbs a good deal o.
your valuable time ?"
"I'll risk that misfortune"
"Well, I am going away until New
Year, and want You to look after my
fancee, Miss Allonby, and make your
self useful, if she wants an escort, you
known word, fill my place"
This dialogue took place in the cozy
bachelor lodgings of Mr.. Harry Temple
ton, just returned from Europe. His
friend, Mr.. Will Wilson, had made the
proposition to him to "look after
Miss Allonby. 1t was a good deal to
ask but then theyw we're old companions.
Two weeks after the above corveIsa.
ton Mr.. William Wilson was back in
town. Something seemed to have hap.
pened.
He called on his friend Templeton,
and that gentleman met him with an
uneasy air and a constrained largh. He
was standing in front of his fireplace in
his snug bachelor lodgings and wrapped
in the same flowered dressing-g gown.
But for some reason he seemed to be
chewing the end of the cigar instead Of
smoking it.
"Well, old fellow" he said to Wilson,
with an affectation of ease and good.
fellowship, "did you have a good time p
GA delightful time, down in the
country. You know / am rustic.
have never failed to spend two weeks at
home every year, and this year it was
more pleasant than usual.
Mr.. Templeton laughed uneasily.
"Some people might call that an un-
gallant speech" he said. SIT reflects
little on the attractions in other
quarters"
"You mean -"
Wilson did not go on. The unfinished
sentence was question, but his friend
did not reply to it. In fact, Mr.. Henri
Templeton was evidently far from at his
ease. There was an unwonted color on
his face, and his eyes did not meet
Wilson's openly-in fact, they seemed
to shrink from doing so.
whats the matter, Harry?" said
Wilson; "you don't seem like your.
self this morning?"
"Well, / am little ont of sorts /; ur
to the club last night until ever so much
in the morning" ~
"Weil, that's unlucky. You had
better have been at the opera.
It's rather singular that Miss Allon
by did not care to go. Did you pro-
pose it?-and that reminds me- that
you have not yet said word about her
have not myself seen her yeti ar
rived an hour ago. Is she well? Have
you had an agreeable time? I shall
see her this evening and find ont al
about everything, but you might as well
report in advance.
AT these words Mr.. Henri Templetor
exhibited unmistakable terror. He lost
his color suddenly, and turned away tc
relight his cigar which was already lit
"She's-well, in a fourishing state
of health, old fellow" he muttered-
"all roses and that sort of thing, yor
know"
"Glad to hear it, and nothing has
happened?"
Happened p
Wilson began to laugh and put OF
his hat.
&c was merely referring TO our las'
talk on the subject before left town,
he said. :" 1t was your own idea, you
may remember, that something might
happen. Miss Allonby, you said, might
fall in love with you, or you might fall
v<xxv< wrvekln kn.s r.l nI1 =.
sense, and must go and dress and call
You won't think that unnatural when {
man has been away for two weeks from
his intended? Good-by. I'll see yor
tomorrow. What lucky fellow I wa.
to have friend to take my place."
With these words Mr.. Wilson shook
hands and went away. AS the door
closed MIR. Henri Templeton fell sud
denly into his seat; knit his brows, ut.
tered profane expression, bit his cigal
in two and threw it into the CRATE.
" wish the whole affair was at the
deuce |" he growled.
As to Mr.. Wilson, he went straight in
the direction of Mr.. Allonby's mansion
on neighboring avenue. He reached
the house, asked for Miss Allonby, anc
was informed that she had severe
headache; would Mr.. Wilson excuse
her? He went away without word
and mixed with the rush of people, ant
seemed to ponder, for his brows were
knit and his eyes half closed. He wen
to his lodgings and found letter which
| had just arrived on his table. This HI
read twice, and then third time, anC
ii made him still gloomier it seemed
Then he quickly went to bed and fel
asleep.
On the nexs morning he called agail
and asked for Miss Allonby. Again tn
message came, would Mr.. Wilson ex
cuse her Her headache still continues
and was severe.
Wilson only bowed and went ava.
quietly.
"This viii have 10 end at some tim
or other" he said.
| He allowed two days to pass befor
he went back to see the young lady
Then the affair had really ended, j
| seemed, as be said il would.
| Miss Allonby had left>town for SOM
weeks--to travel. No message o. not