The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-24
S0THY WAS TRUE.
Mr.. MOrtinOro Will Now Attend
to His Own Business.

Let me scc-whcrc was it that first
met her: Oh, yes; it was under the
ancient arches of the old bridge, boat
ing by moonlight, the sound of n flute
played softly afar off. and all of a
sudden the keel OF my boat coming
sharply in contact with somebody's
oars.
Hello, you!" cried out clear in
cisivc young voice. 'Where are YOU
going? Why don't YOU look which way
you are stccring?'
Charley Dresdcn.'' cried out I, little
needing the torrents of obloquy he was
beginning TO heap upon me.
odd Mortimorc.' hc responded JOY
ously ''Why, who on earth would
have thought of finding you dreaming
on the Thames? Here! Come into my
boat Hitch on your old craft behind;
and let me introduce you to Miss Sophy
Adriancc."
looked rs sharply ut Miss Sophy rs
the moonlight and my own modcsty
would let me, for knew that she was
the especial admiration of my friend,
Charley Dresden. had heard her blue
eyes and peach blossom checks ravcd
about until even my much-cnduring
patience had failed.
She was pretty. slight, round and
rosy, with chinub blue eyes, Il dimplc in
either check and golden brown hair
worn i'll long, loose curis, with none OF
the fashionable denominations of
criinrs. fri1Ecs and artificial hvaids
about her
Hardened old bachelor though l was,
felt as if could have fallen in love
with her on the spot if hadn't known
so we'll that Charley had the first inn
ing
We rowcd home together, or at least
rs far on our way home as the Thames
would take us. Sophy sung little boat
ballads. Charley roarcd out tenor
ba.carollcs. ! even cssaycd n German
student song, which learned at
llcidclburg nobody knows how long
ago, and we parted the best of friends.
week aftcrward Dresden and l
met face to face in st. James street.
''lIallo, Mortimorc." said Charley,
his honest visage lighting up. "What
do you think of her?"
Il think she is Il pcarl--a icwcl-a
princess among womcn!" i answered
with perfect sincerity.
Congratulate me, thcn!" cried Char
ley, beaming all over ''for I am en-
gagged 10 her. Only last night! Look
hcrc!' opening Il mysterious silver
ease which he took from his, inner vest
pocket. "What do You think OF that
for an engagement ring?"
"a fine diamond" said 7, critically
putting my head to one side, land
fancifully set"
We're to be married in October"
said Charley, lowering his voice to the
most confidential tones. at might
have been sooner if / hadn't under
taken that business in Franco for our
firm. But l shall be sure to be back by
October"
So we parted with rcciprocating
squeeze OF the hand, and Charlcy's
bright face haunted me all day with a
sort of reminiscencc of what might
have happened to Inc if l hadn't been
tive-and-forty, with n bald spot on the
back of my head.
| spent an evening with her after
ward ut the West end house, where she
and her mothcr--a nice, bright-cycd
little woman, the full-blown rose to
correspond with Sophy's budding love-
lincss-dwelt in the cosicst of apart
mcnts, furnished in dark blue reps,
and with canaries and gcraniums in the
windows.
1T is so kind of you to come" said
Sophy, with a gentle pressure of the
hand, when went away. I'm SO glad
to welcome Charlcys friends
And thought that could sit through
another evening of commonplace chit
chat and photograph albums for such Il
reward rs that.
Well, Charley Dresden went away,
and, rs he didn't particularly leave
Sophy Adriancc in my charge, didn't
feel called upon to present myself at
the lodging house where the blue reps
figured and the canarics sang in the
south windows.
l supposed naturally enough that
all was going right, until one day re-
ceivcd n note from my old friend Bill
lion, the banker, a man OF sixty, who
wears Il wig and spcctacles, and counts
his income upon the double figures.
Bullion wrote from Brighton, where
he mad gone because lie didn't know
what else to do with himself in the
dnll season. lie asked me to be his
best man. Bullion was going to be
married!
"Of course you'll think it'a foolish
thing for me to do wrote Bullion;
"cvcn at sixty n man has not entirely
.outlivcd the age of sentiment; and
when once you sec Sophy Adriancc you
will forgive any seeming inconsistency
on my part"
"Sophy Adriancc." Was this the way
poor Charlcy's iianccc was serving him