The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-12-21

gaming, the town stores had festooned fronts
of evergreen, and extra illumination
showed windows piled high with rare and
beautiful souvenirs for the gift-giving sea-
son of the year.
It was nine o'clock Christmas Eve, and
all was, indeed, we'll. The spell of merri-
ment and happiness unalloyed seemed to
have settled down over the lordly mansion,
aglow with brilliant lights, just beyond the
crest of the hill, and upon the humble
wood cutters hut nearer town, alike. A
stranger, passing from house to house.
and peering in, would have decided that
here was the ideal oasis of contentment,
Joy and virtue amid the dark desert of life
Under the snow matched roofs, however
that royal evening of excitement and glad
ness, pictures were weaving, soon to join in
a coherent series of scenes upon broad
stage of action. In a cosy room in the sin
gle hotel the place afforded seated at a
table containing wines, cigars, and other
concomitants to a social chat. were seated
two young men, one dark featured and
with keen, restless eye that bespoke
thirty years Of reckless experience in the
dark ways of life, the other his junior by
half decade, and having a somewhat
tired and dissipated expression on his face.
The elder of the two was known as Bruce
Herbert, and was a comparative stranger
in Glendale. His companion was Ellis
Markham, the son of the occupant of the
lordly mansion on the hilh who was reput-
ed to be the closest and wealthiest resident
of the village.
ITS no use, Herbert" the latter was say
ing. Il tell you I'm in a box, and even the
quite liberal cash present my fond but
stingy old governor has given me for the
holidays won't enable me to bridge over my
difficulties. I'm in terrible strait"
Sorry. Can't it be helped?" murmured
Markham's companion, his clear, cold eye
in startling contrast to the fiery, irritated
face of the other.
mo. have half mind to cut out and
let the explosion come. Ican't stay to face
it; disgrace. MISREPRESENTATION"
AS bad as that?"
"Yes."
You'd better make a conndant of me-
Markham" insinuated Herbert, with a
crafty smile of mystery. I've been your
friend"
Il know you have"
And you've stood by me-"
i have. indeed I have!" replied the
younger man with effusion, NO sour grapes
for me! and when l found out that it was
impossible for me ever to win the love or
fortune of my fathers charming ward
Eunice Davenal, why, not only abandoned
the field to you. but, honestly, I've been
working like Trojan to win governor and
girl to see your value as match"
Good for you'll" murmured Herbert, with
Frightening eyes.
Il told the governor who you were
nephew of the great New York banker,
James Herbert, of your immense bank ac-
count, and all that and, as he is anxious to
have Eunice marry, and as she won't have
me, tell you that you are the most eligible
person in view; stand an elegant chance to
win the prize"
oh! he's anxious to marry her off, is her"
muttered Herbert, contemplatively stroking
his silky mustache.
Yes. You see, according to her fathers
will, the day she marries the estate is Set
tied, and my father receives large sum as
bequest, only the use of which he now en-
joys, and Eunice assumes control of her
own fortune. It's princeIy one. Way up