The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-12-18

was equally, of course, provoking
And Alice Baines might well have
been excused any ordinary exhibition
of jealousy. There was, however, nc
occasion for her to behave with such
exceptional meanness as she did.
Her meanness was twofold. She
tried the effect of one sort first, and
upon that proving a failure she had
recourse to the other. Her first mean
ness was malicious attempt, worked
by an insidious process of suggestions
and innuendos, to blacken Armleigh's
character in her sisters eyes.
Armleigh had not actually proposed
to Bob, and Alice wished to bring it
about that when he did propose to
her, as he was sure soon to do, her sis
ter should refuse him.
But this plan-very deservedly, the
neighbors said, considering its spiteful
and dog-in-th emanger characterize
together failed. Bob began by indig-
nantly repelling all insinuations
against her lover, and went on by re-
fusing to listen to them at all. Alice
then took a bolder course. She stoop-
ed to a design of unparalleled mean
ness. She strained every nerve, used
every artitice, every charm, every sub
terfuge to win Ronald Armleigh back
from her sister to herself. Nobody
had ever seen Alice Baines really exer-
else her charms upon a man before
And all who witnessed this attempt of
hers were wonder-struck by the extra
ordinary powers of fascination which
she could discover at will. Poor little
Bob's simple, commonplace talk stood
no chance against the new and attrac-
tive brilliancy of Alice's conversation.
Armleigh listened to her with delight.
He was clearly impressed. An intel
lectual man himself, he could appre-
ciate intellectual talk, especially when
it was set off by q sweet and musical
voice. Then, too, the whole express
sion of her face seemed changed. The
calm immobility, which usually had
graced it, was there no longer. 1t had
given way to a new and radiant viva
city. In her eyes, when she addressed
| Armleigh, shone brilliant something,
which almost looked like a chal lenge
| To meet that look from such a quarter,
and not to feel the pulse quicken and
the heart leap, would have demanded
superhuman restraint. Ronald Arm
leigh had many fine qualities, but re-
among them. He was clearly being
fascinated by this new development
in Alice's charms.
What people say is not always of
much moment. They are given to
speaking without knowledge and criti-
cising without judgment. But what
people, said upon this particular
matter did have some groundwork of
reason and good sense. They asserted
that if Alice Baines had taken this
line in the first instance. nobody could
have found fault with her. 1t would
then have resolv ed itself into a contest
between two sisters for a prize to
which neither had greater claim than
the other But to have acted as she
had done, to have taken no pains
originally to strengthen her hold upon
| Armleigh, to have let her childish sis
ter's affections become deeply engag-
ed with him, and then, when he was
on the point of making that childish
sister happy by a declaration, to use
| every effort to draw him back to her
self-at the risk of wrecking poor
| Bob's happiness, and, perhaps, break
ing her heart-why, this was as cruel
a thing as jealousy, in its most eX-
IRENE form, could devise. Such con-
duct toward a friend would have been
odious; toward sister it was shame
full, objectionable. Heaven grant the
effect might meet with that failure
which il handsomely merited!
Heaven, however, did not grant it.
The effort proved successful. Bob's
white face and miserable expression
| betrayed that before Armleigh's Ell
gagement to Alice was announced,
Bob's little dream of happiness was
over. Alice had dissipated it finally
and forever But twas not merely
the loss of her lover, though this was
chief, but also her sisters conduct in
the matter, which cut Bob to the
heart. Until this unhappy affair, Bob
had experienced nothing save the
tenderest kindness, the most caressing
care, from Alice And then-on Il
sudden--to be so treated by her, it
was as incomprehensible as it was I'M
natural and cruel.
Only once had Bob ventured on a
timid remonstrance. Alice had
answered her thus, hardly, and al
most with scorn.
why, were you not happy and
content with Gerald? Gerald is far
more suited to you than Ronald Arm
leigh. You would never have ma de
Ronald happy"
Bob had burst into tears at this I'M
feeling retort, and, without apology
or any attempt at solace. Alice had
left the room. No other word on the
subject passed between them.
The Gerald of whom Alice had
spoken was an old admirer of childish
Bob's, and, until Armleigh's appear
ance, had been that young lady's
first favorite. He lacked Armleighs
brilliance of manner and distinctions
of bearing. As lovemaker he was
his hopeless inferior. Many people
called him stupid. That he was not.
If rather slow of speech and silent of
temperament he had plenty of good,
sound sense, and, withal, possessed a
kind, true heart and loyal disposition
which far outweighed his external
Disqualification. Everyone could
see that he was devoted to Bob. Bob
had liked and even been very fond of
him. She might, perhaps, have
thought she loved him had not Ronald
Armleigh taught her what love really
was. But now her eyes were opened.
She knew love now. She knew, also,
how many have known it thus?-
that with the loss of her beloved had
gone from her the capacity of that
first sweet sentiment; thatits sublime