The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-10-11
5elrft MisfellunlI.
By MUTUAL CONSENT.

There was no doubt that the Messengers
were fortunate in possessing SO charming
a house as the Ness. 1t was built at the
head of a narrow valley shut in by two
hills, and beyond the sloping lawns stretch
ed wide expanse of sea.
Mr.. and Mrs. Messenger were simple,
unaffected people, devoted to their child
rem, and to Nancy, Mrs Messengers young
step sister. They treated her with kind
of reverential tenderness chiefly due to
the fact that she was entirely dependent
on them. And in her turn Nancy filled the
place of a loving elder sister to the tribe
of little ones, and of friend-in-c chief to her
gentle step-sister.
One sunny afternoon in early summer
Mr. Messenger sat at the open bay window
of the open drawing room reading. She
was a placid little lady, seldom rutfied in
mind or temper, and her sweet face and
soft blue eyes were pleasant to contem-
plate. The door opened presently, and
Nancy came in very slowly. Her express
ion was as sweet and gentle as her sisters,
but her great dark eyes and her firmly cut
mouth and chin bore evidence of much
greater strength and individuality of char
acter. She came over to the window and
seated herself in low basket chair with
an air of constraint.
Il have had letter from JIM she said.
Yes; l saw it on the hall table," re-
piled Mary laying down her book. docs
he say when he is coming?'
Eyes; he came by the same steamship as
suppose"
Nancy! really" asked Mary, looking
almost excited. Are you not delighted?'
IL have confession to make" said
Nancy, nervously, looking over the sea.
II thought loved Jim when he went out
to India five years ago, but | was only
seventeen then, and did not realize what
love meant We had known each other
for love-
when did you make this terrible dis
covery?" asked Mary in distress.
Il have felt it dimly for year or two,
but what made it more clear to me was
Jim's last letter, saying that he was COM
ing home 1t filled me with dismay and
fear. felt that l simply could not meet
him as his betrothed wife, so | wrote by
last mail, and asked him to release me
from my engagement
He is delighted" said Nancy, brighten
ing He says that his feelings have
changed too
II always think of you in the future as
his wife. Are you sure your feelings have
changed?' sighed Mrs. Messenger, whose
mind was slow to welcome new ideas
Quite sure Nancy answered firmly.
"And you will break the news gently to
Ned won't your" And please get recon-
ciled to the arrangement soon. | feel so
delightfully."- airy and free.''
you never limited at any change be-
FORE said Mary, little reproachfully.
II only knew it dimly, or l might have
done So" replied Nancy, gently. And
since | wrot to him | have been silent, to
spare you any anxiety have felt it for
the last three years i'll writing to him
My letters have never been from the pres
ent Nancy, but from the Nancy as l could
remember her at seventeen. In fact,
have been writing down to the level of
his intelligence as shown in his letters, and
that level is painfully low. But happily,
you see, he is as pleased to end the engage
ment as | am"
He would be much more likely to OBJ
ject if he once saw you" said Mary, frank
ly, ''for these five years have done won
ders with you in every way
'Oh he is SO bovish that he will think
me strong minded, and therefore dislike
me. said Nancy, laughingly. And did
send him my last photograph, you know"
Did you send that hideous thing" ask
ed Mary i'll surprise.
Well " confes 3ed Nancy, rather reluct-
antly, II believe had some secret, uncon-
fessed hope that he would offer to break
off the engagement if he once saw that
hideous caricature. But here comes Ned;
| shall leave you to explain things to him "
A day or two later Nancy started for
her usual afternoon walk along the cliffs