The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-08-21
WHY IT NEVER CAME.

Dlcnt. i men, SlltlNeillSr MllLouO dPPAhNh4S
rhvme or reason, he went back to town,
and there was no talk of any engagement
Her sisters could not understand it any
better than did the gossips of the town, for
from hints she had let fall they felt sure
that she would not be unwilling to ex-
change her position of eldest daughter in
the large family of doctor whose prac-
tice was greater in dimensions than in lu-
crativeness for the position of wife to
rising young hwyer with expectations.
She was not very young, either; % is get
ting on, and four other grown up sisters
do not make one appear any younger
Besides, she hated helping in household
work and always having to tidy up after
tresome children" and openly declared
that she would do anything to get away
from it all.
The eossips of the town were very i'm
partial in their remarks. They said if he
had not proposed to her he ought to have
done so, after making such an obvious
fuss of her, and therefore he must be very
much to blame, for she certainly would
not have said NO. but they further
stated that if he had proposed to her and
she had refused him, then she was also
very much to blame for having encourag-
ed him to such an extent. One thing was
certainly clear, that there ought to have
been an engagement, and they shook their
heads and said they had always before
thought he was such an honorable young
man and no flirt, while they had also con-
sidered her very sensible girl, who knew
on which side her bread was buttered. And
there was u good deal of truth in these re-
Elections.
Yet hc-Roger Blake-was a young man
with right intentions, and he had been
very much in love with her and had wish
ed to marry her. and she-Julia Wears
was as fond of him as she could be of any
body, and was only waiting. somewhat
impaticntly, for the momentous question.
And this is how the little town was dis
appointed of its fashionable wedding.
They had been at the vicarage garden
party. and he had resolved to get n quiet
half hour with her there and put the
words to her which had lain for days ut
the tip of his tongue, and yet somehow he
never got n chance, though both were
willing parties Once they had really cs-
caped from the crowd and were strolling
toward a scquestered part of the shrub
berry when the wears second son, very
obtuso youth, espied them. He was anx-
iously looking for IL fourth to make up o
good tennis set and rushed up.
II say, Blake, make q fourth in this
set, will you?"
I'D rather not, thanks. I've just been
playing. Find some one else
II can't find any one good enough
Jones is playing on the other side, and we
have no one his equal but you. Do come,
there's good fellow. l am sure Miss
Viccars will spare you"
"Oh, certainly" said Julia, but if
tone could be frigid enough to freeze any
mortal the Wears son would have been
then and there turned into solid ice.
He persisted in his request, and they
were obliged to go back to the tennis
lawn
However, that evening as Roger Blake
escorted Julia and her sisters the short
distance home, he found opportunity to
say:
II suppose you will take your usual
constitutional tomorrow morning in the
park? Perhaps l may see you there. !"
Just lately Julia, usually so indolent,
had given out that she had headaches and
required Il brisk walk every day and had
carefully chosen time and place so that she
might be likely to accidentally meet Roger
Blake and have him for n companion.
The next morning she dressed herself
with unusual care, chose her most becom-
ing hat and went to the extravaganza OF
putting on her best gloves and shoes-''a
lady is always judged by her gloves and
shoes''-and borrowed her sisters crimson
parasol, for it was of newer fashion than
her own, and, moreover, it lent becOm-
ing pink shade to the whole effect. She
strolled along toward the park, expecting
every moment to hear a manly step behind
her and morning greeting in the well
known voice, and as she strolled visions
of her future grandeur occupied her
thoughts. She resolved that there should
be no unnecessary delay in fixing the we'd
ding day, though, of course, she must
show Il little girlish hesitation. Her we'd
ding dress should be white satin and-yes
her bridesmaid should Certainly wear
pink, and the children could come in, too
nothing was so pretty as children at
wedding, and simple little frocks could be
easily made as home. Ugh, how glad she
would be to get away from the little brats,
with their everlasting teasing and noise,
and from the endless contriving how TO
make sixpence do the work of a shilling!
The folks should soon see She knew how to
do the proper thing!
The town clock struck 12 and then the
quarter, and she began to wonder where
Roger was and to feel little apprehension,
and she mentally abused the wears son
for his tiresone interference the day before,
for she was certain that Roger would have
been brought to the point in the shrub
berry. Presently she looked back through
the trees in the park and to her great relief
SAW him coming. He had not seen her, and
she walked on unconcernedly, and her lit
tie start of surprise when he caught her up
was quite perfect
Il was halt afraid might miss you this
morning" he said MY aunt kept me
talking long while over her business
matters.
He was staying with the aunt, from
whom he had expectations. "
Julia knew that she was very rich and
had ascertained that he was her favoriUe
nephew
Il know you DO so much for her. She
has often told Inc what :; clear head yoR
have for business.
Julia threw glance of admiratinp al
him and at the same time noticed with
satisfaction that he was hot and flushed
and had evidently hurried to meet her.
"A man must not be muddle headed
these days if he means to do any good,
little compliment.
Il don't know what she will do when
you have to go away again. hope it will
not be yet. She will be quite lost without
you" and Julia gave little sigh, as if to
imply that his aunt would not be the only
one to miss him.
"Oh, she Will be all right L hope In
deed had Il letter this morning from my
firm saying that urgent business would
require me to return this week to town
tomorrow, if possible"
Not so soonP' Julia's tone of regret
and anxiety was really genuine.
I'm afraid So 1t is horrid nuisance.
shall hate to leave the country, and-and
the people here" Roger blushed. Il
think have never liked it so much be-
FORE Roger paused and went little
deeper crimson under his sunburn-
I've shall miss you dreadfully " fall
tered Julia, casting down her eyes.
They had arrived at the top of the long
avenue and began their walk back in ST.
lence. Roger was thinking. He hardly
knew how to begin, even with all Julia 5
help He was nervous young man, with
great ideas of woman's sweetness and
unselfishness, and he INDUCED in n chival-
rous reverence toward the weaker sex
which is fairly rare in these days. To him
women We're all ministering angels meet
to be cnshrined in secluded home circle
and whose proper vocation was to make
home happy and oil the wheels of life for
men. He had got his notions from his moth
ser, who was all this and mora veri-
Sic pearl among women, and it was an apt
Grafton of the blindness of love that
= ~ baye selected Julia Viccars as
post nearly approached
sed. Only an odd desul-