Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-10-16
LOOKING FOR RICHES

Wilson ShArdolo0 nAd performed the
duties Of host He had given hts
friend the best chair and himself had
taken tho one whose wicker had cracked
at the back no az to make II little
creaky, little dangerous and little
uncomfortable He had passed the Gig
arettes aud tho whisky and had UNI
wired the soda water. 1t was 1 1 pollock.
The temple is very quiet at that hour.
Even tho rumble of the hurrying han
som in Fleet street or the Strand only
comes with soft murmur as Of green
woods In summer time.
The hour and its stiffness. the soli-
tude deux, all invited condolences
Yet the men rat silently smoking. jack
ryrwhitt spoke first.
YOU'RE u poor host. Shardeloe. You
care for the vile body with cigars and
things. but you leave my intellect I'M
fed. For goodness sake, man. talk of
something, il it is only tho odds about
the Leger.
Shardeloe heayed a sigh and came
out of his absorption with ali obvious
effort.
IL WIZ uhlh iu
said, reproachfully. "You have grown
az silent as nm owl, Jack. lately. don't
know what's the matter with you.
Have you been committing murder, or
getting married, or running away with
your neighbours wife, or what IL iii
I'm sure you have some guilty secret. "
Tho other laughed with little en-
barrassment,
"I'm az innocent AZ the babe UNI
born" he said. But, seriously, there
is something should like to tell you.
only promised not to mention 1t to
any one.
''Holy Mosesl" cried the host, with
sudden and complete enlightenment %
see it all now---you're engaged
Its true, said Jack, after q mo
ment's hesitation. "There can't be an,
harm in my telling you that much. Tit
fnot ia. she doesn't want tho engagement
talked of at present for family reasons ,
Eyes, know" said Wilson, enoour
agingly; "they are like that sometimes.
don t believe it's really family reasons
It's only because they like to mako 9
fuss about nothing. We must humoi
them. you know. La she pretty2"
"She's diviner"
ANY money!"
''Oh, yes, ] should think sol Hei
people arc very well off. But | ought
not to he talking about her -
$50 You're caught at lastl'
II wish you wouldn't ohaf about
IL, said his friend. T'm sorry said
nything about it. "
"I'm not chatting. In fact"--the
need Of confidnnt was strong within
him--'Im engaged. too. and mine IL
| lust tho same as yours She will have
this stupid little mystery. Only 1t isn't
family reasons with her. It's because
He pulled himself up short on the brink
of repeating her words. which had been
to the effect that she must got used To
her strange new happiness before she
could share her holy secret with the
hard, unsympathetic world.
And il she beautiful too2"
my dear boy" said shardeloe
warmly, "she's an angel-so clever.
too, and so noble and high minded.
never feel that / can live up to her. She
makes Inc feel q low, base, sordid crea.
,ure, sometimes. / assure you, when
have been spending the evening with
her, | come home qnite worn out The
moral atmosphere IL SOL He paused.
II mean, he added, "it's 80 difficult
to keep up---that sort OF high pressure
business. "
IL know" said his friend. with sym.
pathy "Mine's just the same ] know
what you ipenn. I'm glad We have told
each other, old man," Tyrwhitt went
on after another pause, because was
beginning to wonder what had come
over you, and now, Of course, under
stand II"
II only wish could tell you hen
name. You'll be best man, won't your
"Of course l will. If am not put on
the shelf before you. -
"Oh. Tyrwhitt, when think OF that
girl you don't know how terrible all
sorts Of things look that l never saw
any harm IN beforel Hello, we arc get.
ting sentimental Have another go Oh
whisky"
Tho next day Shardeloo went out Of
town, and the two men did not meet
for nearly three weeks. Then, aS be
fore, they sat drinking whisky and soda
and silence was between them.
You're looking rather chippy. ole
man, " said the host
IL dare say do. The fact IL don 7
know what to do with myself. l daren'I
look in at ball or take any ono ont u
dinner or do anything amusing because
she--you know who l mean--is 81