The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-12-16
VOL. XXXVU---NO. 81.

not to blame, " she cried in appealing
tones.
Il am not satisfied" he replied,
gloomily.
Out of patience she exclaimed "You
are both SO stupid | shall ask no
more fas ors of either of you"
She stepped into the street, and be-
fore they could recover from their sur
prise a passing horse car was carry
ing her from them.
what do you think p asked Hutch
inson.
Il think she is consummate flirt"
80 do L.
'She has tried to hoodwink both of
us. Whatever have been our differ
ences in the past, we have common
cause now. 1t is incumbent on both
Of us to assert our dignity, and to
show her no attention in the future
except what the most formal polite
ness requires"
Il agree with you and | further
propose that each of us shall solemnly
promise the other never again to seek
her hand in marriage"
Your proposal suits me exactly"
They shook hands earnestly and
vowed again and again to be faithful
to their pledge. They were as friend
ly now as they had been hostile a
short time before.
The painful situation was soon fur
ther complicated by an act of Miss
Meadows. She began to encourage a
mid 1le-aged widower named Slawson,
who had long desired to show her
marked attention, but who had been
prevented from doing so by her cold
demeanor toward him while his two
younger rivals were in favor. He was
now filled with inexpressible delight
because of the winning smiles which
the charming maiden for the first time
bestowed upon him, and he was so
elated becG use of his unexpected sue
cess that he did not stop to inquire
why she tire ted him with cordiality
that she had never before manifested.
But unlike the infatuated Mr.. Slaw-
son, Lucy was not dominated by SEN
timent alone She was as wise as a
serpent, while seeming to be as harm |
less as a dove She hoped that her
gracious treatment of the widower
would render Mr.. Hutchinson Jealous
and cause him again to seek her So
ciety for the purpose of preventing, if |
possible, third admirer from win
ming her affections.
The maneuver was skillful, but it |
only brought about a part of what |
she desired, and even of that part she |
was ignorant. Mr.. Hutchinson was
desperately jealous, but the agree
ment with Walters, which, of course,
was unknown to Lucy, prevented him
from endeavQring to become reconcil- |
ed to her.
Two months elapsed. Seemingly |
Hutchinson was determined to main |
tain his Indifferent demeanor. Miss
Meadows was discouraged. She be-
lieved that the young man did not re- |
ciprocate her love for him and she be-
gan to think that the best thing she
could do would be to marry Mr.. Slaw-
son. To be sure, he was widower
twenty years older than herself, and |
had two daughters, each of whom was |
not much younger than she was. but |
he was also wealthy and lived in q
fine house. Moreover, she rather k
ed him, and he adored her. She
might do worse than to accept him as
a husband.
AT this critical time Hutchinson,
unable to simulate indifference, re-
solved to tell Walters how he felt, al
though he feared that his former rival
might still love the girl as much as he
himself. When the two young men
next met Hutchinson, growing red
in the face, preached the subject that
was uppermost in his mind.
II want to ask YOU" he said, in a
blunt and desperate way, whether
you are willing to release me from
keeping the compact by which each
of us agreed not again to seek to mar
ry Miss Meadows? | confess that |
now love her more Than | ever did. |
suppose you may love her, too. |
would like to be free to court the girl
again, and of course if had that
privilege, you, too, would again have
a right to show her attentions provid
ed you desire so to do. Let the better
man win, | say, and if either of us is
to win we must be lively, l tell you,
for the widower is making alarming
progress in the improvement of his
opportunities, unless | AIN much de-
ceived.,'
Walters laughed Us the other spoke
and looked at him in peculiar way. |
Il release you from your promise.
Go ahead and may you have good
luck"
Hutchinson was much surprised.
Can it be that you are no longer in |
doubtfully.
II am no longer interested"
MAY l ask the reason?'
Eyes confidentially | will tell you
that am now in love with another
girl"
Il am so glad. | hope she will re-
ciprocate your affection and that You
will be very happy" said Hutchinson,
as he fervently shook tho hand of his
companion.
''She has already accepted me-"
Good
At two o'clock in the afternoon of |
that day Mr. Hutchinson stood before |
Miss Meadows in the parlor of her
home.
'Am l too late % he asked.
mo; but you would have been one
hour from now"
"What do you mean p
"At three o'clock Mr.. Slawson will |
receive his answer
what will you say -
Had you not called, my answer
would be yes"
what will it be now that have
called -
-. 4. Bolles, IN Boston Bud
get.