Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-11-29
ANNAPOLIS ID, SATURDAY

Az w NuA boNN but aNuu. <AHU Il WOuiu
not be SO wicked as to refuse to help
anybody in distress, if | knew about
them | hope You don't think would,
that"
| am sure of it, love" James an
swened, thinking how charming she
looked with the tears starting into
her child-like blue eyes, and that
wistful, half-aggrieved expression on
her face as she made the appeal and
his little lecture was quite over for
that evening, nor did the occasion of
it recur again to his. mind.
But that night, as he walked home
under the stars, their conversation
came back TO his memory, and he was
conscious of a vague, undetinable feel
ing of dissatisfaction, a longing for
something he was not quite sure of
having obtained. He had beer
brought up with very prudent, sensi-
bic ideas in regard to money, and
though he was the most generous
hearted man in the world when occa-
sion required, he never INDUCED in
wilful waste, or threw away shilling
simply for the pleasure of throwing il
away. But it was not the knowledge
of the difference of Mary'S ideas on
the subject, or the thought that she
might expect too much from him when
they were married that troubled him
now. He knew he had ample means
of satisfying her wants, and was not
afraid of ever giving her cause to re-
proach him for depriying her of any
thing to which she had heretofore
been accustomed.
But her answer to his question,
" And so you could not marry poor
man ?' REQUIRED to him perpetually,
with a sense of pain, for it seemed
somehow to lessen the value of his
love for her, and to put it aside, as of
minor Importance in comparison with
his wealth.
It was true, he had not asked her,
Would you have been willing to
marry me if had been poor man ?''
but would not her answer in that case
have been Just the same? Was her
affection for him as pure, as deep, as
his for her or was her gay heart more
shallow and frivolous than he liked to
think? Could he look forward to
having her true, womanly helpmeet,
to journey with him through life, or
was she mere brilliant butterfly,
fitted only for sunshine and summer
hours
Musing thus, in not very cheerful
frame of mind, he arrived at last at
his lodging. On the table i'll his room
he found note, containing only the
following brief notice:
!" You are wanted at the Office with
out delay. News of Importance to
communicate"
Marvelling much at this summons,
which was from one of his partners
in business, James Immediately re-
paired to his office, where news of q
most distressing character awaited
him.
Intelligence had been received of
the failure of o large speculation; a
bubble had burst, and the firm, OF
which he was member among several
others, was totally ruined. Even his
own private fortune would probably
be swallowed up in assisting to pay
the claims against them.
The blow was almost too stunning
a one for him to realize at first.
After a long and perpleXed CONSUL
tation, he hastened home in the chill
gray dawn of morning, a haggard-
looking and miserable man. 1t was
not for himself he grieved; he could
was young and strong, full of energy
and hope, and in few years at most
he knew he could again work his way
mp. But Mary--his betrothed How
could he expect her to wait on him so
long2 He felt too surely that all
must now be at an end between them;
every sentiment of duty and honor
required that he should at once re-
;ease her from her promise, and bring
their engagement to close.
How dark the future looked, when
all had been so bright a few hours
before
He reached his lodgings, and,
face in his hands. Long he bFoOded
any way.
At last, with q great effort, he
reused himself.
This is mere folly ~ he exclaimed.
q What is the use of delaying what
has to be done. Let me be a man
cannot see Mary--I could not bear it
ust yet; but | can write to her, and
I'll do it at once.n
He drew a little table, with pen,
ink and paper, towards hlm, and after
~FutC OOilOCA&b1OAg NAOSO bttC AOAAV6AhS
ines
!" My Own Mary For | must call
you SO once more, though for the last
,ime-when we parted last night | was
rich and prosperous man to-day
am ruined. Our firm has failed. and
have nothing in the world that can
call my own.
Under these circumstances, there
IS but one course left me to pursue,
and that is to give you up. | well
know that you could not share life
IF poverty and toil-indced, l would
not ask it. 1t nearly breaks my heart
to write these words. / love you
more than / can express, more perhaps
han you win ever comprehend. But
enough of this; all is over now. and
why dwell on thoughts like these ?
Our brief engagement is at an end;
hut you will still permit me-will you
not ?-to cherish its memory as
bright and beautiful dream, which
shed over my life halo Of the purest
happiness have ever enjoyed.
Farewell, bless you. my lost love
May you be happy in whatever path
of life you are called to walk. is the
fervent. heartfelt prayer of one who
can now only sign himself your
friend, j. M.n
James read this note over, and was
not satisfied with it.; it seemed too
howery, too elaborate. He had meant
TO be calm and concise, keeping his
own feelings in the background. in
rknaH 81 ol.fpsaHfr.er kha~.n oc1G oL l. ..r,oxa