The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-10-24
BY Chance.

was, at lHS llliC tHC olOly OPCHo, at
fashionable summer resort, where l
went to escape the vigilance of my
father, who was on the lookout for
wife for me. AS I heard something
about friend of my sister, who was
coming to pay us visit, I suspected
my father of the intention of question
ing me on the subject of proposal, so I
quickly got out of the way.
l had no intention of getting married,
and l felt certain that this maiden
whom l had never seen was as ugly as
a dragon, and should I ever have had
the misfortune of meeting my fate, as
they say in the novels, it would not
have been her. When 1 was through
soliloquizing on the strange maiden it
was time to 60 in the water, and had
been in it but short time when l i'm
agined | heard distinct cries for succor.
AS l was so far out as to be beyond
talking distance with any other person
bathing, I determined to discover the
drowning person and lend him my as
sistance. This it was quite difficult to
do, for the cries had ceased, and the
horrible thought struck me that the
poorunfortunate man had been drowned.
was just about to retrace my steps
when the cry again struck my ear, and
l recognized it as that of female. l
answered with more readiness than l
would had it been one of my own "ten-
der" sex, and once more l waded out
into the water, looking for the distress
ed female. AS | was accommodating l
was thrown by heavy wave, and in
falling my hand came in contact with
and object which proved to be the head
of the person I was seeking. l was in
the nick of time, for had grasped her
long, beautiful hair just as she was sink
ing. I held the girl until, reaching
the shore we received abler assistance.
It was not until then that l noticed that
the strange beauty had tainted in my
arms from sheer exhaustion, and we
were conveyed to the nearest hotel,
which turned out to be the very one at
which was stopping.
AS 1 sat alone by the couch of the
young girl, who was sleeping, and while
| awaited the first return of life, l noted
how beautiful she was. She possessed
hair that could not have been excelled
by Venus; her complexion was olive
her features were well made, and alto
gether she was a handsome creature.
Just as 1 was admiring her pretty face
was startled by her eyes opening. They
were very pretty eyes, and they opened
with a fascinating look and she awoke
with the customary cry:
"Where am I?"
"You are in the hotel" l answered.
ssYou were rescued while drowning.
Had it not been for the timely inter
ference of friend you would undoubt-
edly have found watery grave"
eyes, 1 remember all now. But do
you know this friend?"
I answered with some prevarication,
but did not let her know how near that
friend was at the time. gave her the
full particulars of the affair, and when
her nurse entered left, intimating to
her that was a neighboring physician
who had been called in for assistance.
Returning shortly afterward, | was
surprised to find her somewhat jubilant,
and when I entered the room she pour
ed out thanks to me for preserving her
from watery grave. When l asked
her where she obtained her information,
she said that the nurse had told her. !
was not sorry, though, for it led on to
an acquaintance, and about month after
ward let myself into secret. l was
in love with her. I did not even know
her name. One day, when we were
sitting on the piazza talking about things
in general, she inquired where l resid'
ed.
ooh! l live in New York when am
at home, which is seldom" I answered
carelessly; "and, strange to say, never
erred for this place much, and would
not have been here now were it not tc
escape the wiles of a woman whom
have never met, but whom / was de-
stined to marry. heard that she was
coming to visit my sister, and my father
informed me that he wished me to cul'
tivate her acquaintance, intimating that
she was very pleasant creature. die
not wish to marry just then, and had
notion that she was coming to capture
| me, so I ran away from this girl-thi:
Beatrice Lorton-and by the time gel
home I hope she will have returned te
her native city, Chicago"
Raising my eyes, saw that my com
panion had risen and was leaning or
the chair, looking very pale. I quickly
asked if she were i'll, but, instead of re
plying, she went on with my story
where 1 had left off.
$780," she said, "you wish to escape
from this woman, as you call her
Them" she added, in sneering tone
"let me tell you there was no love lost
this ''woman" did not 60 to New Yorl
city. She also heard that she was to b.
sought after in marriage and came tt
this place to get out of the way"
A vague suspicion crossed my mind
"How do you know all this2 1t i
impossible that she is here"
"Not at all impossible, Mr.. Desmond
for I am the identical Miss Beatric
Lorton whom you met against your will
Quite coincidence, is it notr" ant
she burst out laughing.
| 1 was so astoupded that I abrupt
left her, and it was some weeks befor
/ spoke to her again. When I foun'
the opportunity l implored her pardo