Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-05-14

worthy's house perhaps oftener tha
l, and was very fond of seekin
Lillian o advice on questions relai
ing to music.
There is no need to 60 into tn
history Of my courtship, and shall
therefore, only tell you that within
SIX months of my first meeting will
Lillian Rexworthy I had proposed {,
her and been accepted. Filled will
JOY, lost no time in obtaining he
fathers sanction, and the sam,
night which saw me accepted b,
Lillian also saw me solemnly recei
we'd as future son-in- law by the Gen
eral. I vent home considsrabl,
elated--General Rexworthy had
been kindness itself, and the re,
membrance Of my sweetheart
bright eyes and the anticipation OF
all the joys to come made me fee
in very high spirits. l ran mp tt
the room which Montero and my.
self used as study. My partner
was there, burning the midnight
oil, and, as usual, deep in bis an.
cient books. He looked up as
entered.
Congratulate me, Ferdinand ?
cried, Il am going to be married.
Married p said he. Il did not
even know you were engaged. And
who is the lady?'
Miss Rexworth.'
Il cannot describe to you the
change which came over him as
uttered the words. He started
from his chair and leaned over the
desk, glaring at me. For an in
slant all the refinement seemed to
die away out of his face, and | saw
before me nothing but the features
Of savage, dark, passionate, with
awful feeling blazing from the gilt
tering eyes. ! started back.
Great heavens = / cried ARE you
ill, Ferdinand p
HE sank back in the chair and
passed his hand across his forehead, i,
as if awaking from a dream.
When he looked up again his face
had resumed its usual appearance,
but the color was gone from it, and
his lips looked strangely drawn
and pale.
No. he said, hoarsely. No: l
am all right again. And you are
going to marry Miss Rexworthy:'
Something In his voice made me
observe him more closely. Then it
suddenly flashed upon me-he loved
her himself. l went up and laid
my hand on his shoulder.
'Ferdinand,' said, Il see how it
is. 1 am very sorry, but she has
accepted me. You must fight it
down, my boy
'He shook off my hand with an
impatient gesture.
She couldn't marry both of u.s.
he said. Il congratulate you.'
with that he turned to his books
again. and presently left the room.
AS opened the door I looked at
him and saw that the same awful
expression had come into his face
again. / went downstairs feeling
strangely uncomfortable. 1t was
not pleasant to think that Ferdi-
nand Montero was in love with my
future wife.
Time went on. From that night
my partner made no further re-
ference to his feelings with regard to
Miss Rexworthy. He did his work,
pursued his studies, went into So
ciety as usual, and gave no sign.
But at times / saw him filled with
thoughts which obviously did not
refer to work he had in hand, for
there was a far-off look in his eyes
which betokened other ideas. And
very often when we were reading or
writing ut midnight in our work
room j looked up to find him ga
zing into vacancy with that savage
look on his features which had
alarmed me 80 much when ! broke
the news of my engagement to him.
At these times 1 seriously began to
the advisability of bring.
ing our partnership to an end.
Ferdinand was q model business as
sociate, and we had alway been on |
the very best of terms, but it SEEM
ed to me that it would be impossible
for us to remain on our former |
footing after my marriage. l could
see that his love for Lillian |
Rexworthy was stronger than ever,