The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-03-26
Misccll anenl,s.
BEHIND THE VEIL.

Mr. Edge was late at breakfast. That was
not an unusual occurrence; and he was dis
| posed to be cross, which was likewise moth.
| ing new, so he retired behind the newspaper
| aud devoured his eggs and toast without
| vouchsafing reply to the remarks of the
fresh looking little lady opposite, to-wit
| Mrs. Edge. But she was gathering together
her force for her final onslaught and when al
length Mr.. Edge got down to the last para
graph, and laid aside the newspaper, it came
Dear, didn't you say you were going 10
| have a hundred dollars for my new furs to-
day p
what furs?" (rather sharply was this
spoken) "Oh, pshaw What is the use OF
out in useless follies. The old ones are goou
enough for any sensible woman tn wear"
Mrs. Edge-good, meek little soul that she
was-relapsed into obedient silence. She
only sighed Il soft, inward sigh, and present.
ly began new attack.
Henry, will you go with me to my aunts
tonight"
Cant you go alone?"
Alone how would it look ?" Mrs. Els.
temper-for she had one, though it did moi
often parade itself-was aroused. You are
so neglected. of those little attentions you
used 10 pay me once; you never walk with
me, nor even pick up my handkerchief nor
notice my dress as you once did"
well a fellow can't be ever waiting on a
woman, Can he ?" growled Mr.. Edge.
you could be polite enough to Mrs Wal
| tiers, last night, when you never even thought
of asking if wanted anything, though you
knew perfectly well that had headache
don't believe you care as much for me as
you used to-" and Mrs Edge looked extreme
ly pretty with the tears in her blue eyes and
the CULVER on the round rosy lips.
"Pshaw," said the husband peevshly,
"now don't be silly, Maria"
And in the stage, yesterday, you never
| asked NE if was warm enough or put my
shawl around me, while Mr.. Brown was so
atiectionate to his wife. 1t was Notifying
enough Henry; indeed it was"
81 didn't know women were such fools"
said Mr.. Edge, as he drew on his overcoat,
to escape the tempest that was fast approach
ing. Am the sort of man to make a
ninny of myself doing the polite to any sort
| of a female creature? Did you ever know
me to be conscious whether woman had on
a shawl or Il swallow-tailed Coat?"
Maria eclipsed the blue eyes behind little
pocket handkerchief, and Henry, the savage,
banged the door loud enough to give Betty
in the kitchen nervous start.
Raining again do believe we are to
have second edition of the deluge," Mr..
Edge said to himself, that evening, as he es
corled his six feet of iniquity into the south
west corner of Car at City Hail. "Go ahead,
conductor; can't you see we are full, and it's
dark already?"
ain one minute, sir" said the conductor,
as he helped q little woman, with basket on
board. NOW, sir, move up a little, if you
please"
NJ, Edr, wa, ovoood;nol,, o,,,ro.,.h,,
and did not want to move, but the light of
the lamp falling on the pearly forehead and
shining golden hair of the conner, he changed
his mind and moved up.
what lovely eyes," quoth he, mentally, as
she bestowed a single acknowledging smile
Real violet, the very color most admire
Bless me, what business have married men
like me to be thinking about eyes? There,
she has a confounded veil over her face, and
the light as dim as tallow dip; but those
are pretty eyes !"
The fair possessor of those blue eyes shiv-
cred slightly, and drew her mantilla close
around her shoulders
Are you cold, Miss Pray honor me by
wearing my shawl. l do not need il myself"
She did not refuse-she murmured some
faint apology for troubling him, but it was
not refusal.
mo troube-not bit" said he arranging
it on her tempting shoulders and then as the
young lady handed her fare to the conduc-
tor he said to himself, "What a slender hand
If there is anything | admire in woman, IL
is pretty hand. Wonder what kind of a
mouth she has got? 1t must be delightful if
it corresponds with her hair and eyes-plague
take the veil J"
But plague" whoever the mystical power
may be- did not take possession of the veil,
so Mr.. Edges curiosity about the blue eyed
damsel remained unsatisfed
Have you room enough, Miss? | fear
you are crowded. Pray sit a little closer to
me-"
Thank you, sir" was the soft reply COM
ing from behind the veil-as Mr. Edge re.
flected-like an angel from dark cloud. And
his heart gave large thump as the pretty
shoulder touched his own shaggy overcoat
in hesitatlng sort of way
decidedly this is getting quite romantic"
| thought he, and then in an audible whisper,
what would Maria say?"
The rest of that long, dreary ride was de-
lcous with the shoulder against his own.
How CALAMITY he jumped up to pull the strap
for her-by some streak of luck it happened
to be in the very street where he intended to
stop. And under the Circumstance we hard
| ly blame him, when the cars stopped so sud-
| denly lnat sne caught AT Ills arm, for the
squeeze he gave the plump, rosy hand-any
man of sense would have done tho same
thing--it was such an inviting little lily
"Aow me 10 carry your basket, Miss, as
our path lies in the same direction" said Mr..
Edge, courteousy, relieving her of her bur
den as he spoke. "And-and-mayb you'll
find less difficulty ifyon take my arm"
Well, wasn't it delightful Mr. Edge for
got the wet street and pitchy darkness-he
thought lie was walking on roses. Only as
he approached his own door lie began to
grow little nervous, and wish the little in
cogniio would not hold IN SO tight. Sup
| pose Maria would be Mt the window, on the
lookout, rs she often was, how would she in.
terpret mattersY He couldn't make her be-
! lieve that lac only wanted to be polite to the
fair traveller. Besides, his sweeping declara.
tions in the morning-sh would be sure to
recall them. As he stopped at the right mum.