The Washington critic., 1885-11-17
HER FIRST ENGAGEMENT.
Ivy FRANCES EDWARDS.

~ why pIctlS STdy lCdul ttnu TdIneI
old-fashioned basket ph@ton stood in
front of n large cream brick house on
Clifton avenue one Tuesday morning
in late June. The air AMI sunshine
and sky were perfect n most tempt.
ing morning for adrive.
The owner Of the turnout Colonel
Baker, was within the mansion solicit
ing Miss Hazel Traits company for a
drive. The young lady had not the
slightest objection to going with him,
He was nm old friend of her fathers,
an amusing story teller, and very fond
of his horses lie was called Colonel"
not from any connection with military
life, but It was title received in his
carly boyhood days and it had chung to
him ms nicknames and titles of this sort
often do.
Presently they came out of the house
and he helped her into the carriage.
Very lovely she looked in pale ccru
| dress and hat to match, with u fam
ing bunch Of poppies low down on one
side.
On the way down the avenue they
met DIR. Whitbcck, driving slowly and
bent over in his seat mcditatively eye
ing the dashboard, as If profoundly
considering some scientific theory or
studying the latest treatment of
case" The moment he looked up and
saw them he grasped his whip The
horse gave start, which nearly
threw the doctor over backward, and
went furiously up the street.
d that Colonel" he muttered,
under his breath. "What business
has he to be driving her out so much2'
Then, with grim smile and long
drawn breath, "It's none of my bust
ness, though, none whatever, if she
rides to the end of the earth with him. F."
This young man had met Hazel the
summer before while visiting a school
friend He was proud, poor, reserved
and ambitious--a sclf-made man-but
uncomfortable in society. lie lacked
the ease and polish that many an UNI
worthy, weak man possesses who is
brought up in the habits of refined So
ciety. lie felt this lack keenly-over-
estimated his "barbarisms," as he called
his unpublished style.
Hazel first saw him by accident, bind
ing up the broken leg of dog one day
when she was out for walk in the
country. His goodness to this little
stray creature touched her heart, and
his manly form and open face, beamng
intelligence and kindness as he arose
from his cramped position on the
ground impressed her strongly. She
went up to him like a child without
embarrassment or hesitation, and spoke
of what he had been doing.
1t followed in the conversation that
he knew her friends with whom she
was stopping, and walked home with
her. They were introduced, though,
as Hazel said, lit was entirely super
lluous aftcrisuch an extensive acquaint-
ance." Almost every day during the
remainder of the summer they were
companions, riding walking, fishing,
sailing
DR.. Whitbeck was more at his ease
in the open air. His scientific lnowl-
edge often came into use, and he grew
to be sort of hcro-a skilled hero in
her eyes; she thought there was moth
ing he did not know and could not do.
To him this child woman grew more
charming every day. Her innocence
and open admiration for him was quite
too much for his reserve, which melted
completely away in the sunshine of her
presence. She was such lovaOle lit.
tie maiden, with her merry laugh and
ready sympathy. He did not realize
how he had opened his heart to her and
the strength Of his passion until it was
too late When he did see his danger
with strange faulty he said to himself:
"Shc does not know it, I'll make no
resistance now, but 30 on and be happy
in the present, as shall probably never
again know happiness in my life" So
they had parted without one word of
owe being spoken.
The following winter Dr. WhitbeclS
had commenced practicing in the same
city where Hazel lived. She met him
occasionally and invited him to call,
but he was always busy, and strange
GOODNESS grew up between them. He
actually seemed to avoid her. She
thought with woman's sensitivcncss,
that she had been silly and foolish and
he regarded her as too trifling n piece
of humanity to be worthy of his least
attention, SO with equal GOODNESS she
studiously avoided him.
The summer days slipped away
Autumn came and early winter, still
she had received proposals-not one
Her young gentlemen friends did moi
find il easy to make advances with hcI
in spite of her franliness and seeming
pleasure in their society. The only
person who really enjoyed her conf
dence was the Colonel, whom she regard
ed as a sort of father. confcssor.
However, the fatal day came at last.
She and the Colonel had been out for
one of their numerous drives. They
had been unusually merry, the Colone
behaving much like young boy. Or
bringing her home he came in, ostensi
bly, to "get warm" Standing with his
! back to the fire and his hands folded
behind him and his feet wide apart h,
] regarded Hazel in an distracted way n
she threw off her wraps, dropping hel
cloak on a chair, her hat on sofa
, dragging scarf over stand, anC
leaving mitten on the floor.
Suddenly bringing his heel
together with click and raising him
self up on his toes and letting himsel
down again, he said:
Come here, child, IwOnt to tell yo,
something"
Hazel came over to where he wa
standing, and, dropping into chair
looked up with expectation in he
eyes.
The Colonel took step, wheeled
around facing her, and said in a deprc
eating way: II don't know how to tel
= YOU am not an eloquent man-no
much of man anyway-but Ii Low,
, you, have loved you since you were
! wee child. Perhaps do seem old t.
o you, but feel younger than | did a
: go. | do so long to devote the remain
: der of my life to you darling, Coul,
you-do you think you could be m
, Wife?"