Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-12-23
CONSOLED.

lt was the winter before VIII n
l were married that Richard Deering
became engaged to Miss Rhoades. Will
and Richard had been almost insep-
arabic from childhood, and the latter
was an old friend of mine also.
We did not know Miss Rhoades, but
Richard assured us We could not fail to
like her. and win said his opinion was
to DO considered. for of course it was
quite impartial
To tell tho truth, on meeting Miss
Rhoades we did not share Richards en-
thusiasm. She had a reserved ann
and was not particularly pleasing in
any way. And she did not seem sufl-
GENTLY in love with Richard to suit me.
Indeed 1 went so far as to say that l
did not believe she cared for him at all.
/ had to admit that she was fine look
ing, though not handsome, an. she was
older than Richard. lie confded to
Will that no was past the age to be at
traoted simply by a pretty face, and 10
had no fancy for girls in their teens.
Richard was %
Our worst fears were soon realized.
One tight my betrothed did not come
to see me, which surprised me much,
fer it was important | should consult
with him about the new house.
The next morning l received a tele-
gram from Will:
Could not come lest rirht Richard in
trouble. Engagement broken.
It was two or three days before l saw
UsfT ,.I shoe. -. 49,. - ---. E..
q hurried call. He looked worn and
harassed, bat patiently replied to the
countless questions / asked in regard to
Richards affair. 1t seemed that Miss
Rhoadas had been mistaken in the ma
turo Of Der regard for him, as she ex-
pressed it. In other words, she had not
really cared for him, but tried to do 30,
urged by Ler family and tempted by
his wealth. Will thought there was an
other lover IN tho background, but
Richard did not suspect it. The poor
fellow was q complete wreck, and for
tho next few days VIII was constantly
with his distracted friend and had no
time to give to ine. When he did come,
it was to say that he had prevailed upon
Richard to go away for awhile, the lat
tor %consenting on condition that Will
would accompany him.
My lover could i'll afford to leave at
this time, and his absence would be
most trying to me, as l wanted his ad-
VITO concerning the house. However,
neither of us felt that we could urge
any claims Of our own in the face Of
Richards dire need. So VIC reluctantly
bado each other goodhy. The trip bene.
dted tho beartbrolIen lover, and on his
return be consented to take up his resi-.
dence ct home, and after a time resumed
his customary visits to our house,
though he scarcely spoke and looked
the picture Of despair. 1t was q little
wearing for Will and me, for out Of
courtesy to poor Richard we did not
like to speak OF tho wedding or any of
the arrangements when he was present,
and as our minds were naturally occu.
pied with the topic in question our con
~versation was sometimes rather forced.
W. had expected him to act as best
man at our wedding, but it seemed
more than doubtful that he would feel
equal to tho position in his present
state Of mind. We were anxious to
know how he felt about the matter, and
at last Will touched upon the subject
1T is evident that you know nothing
of my feelings" said Richard in an in
jured tone. Il shall probably never at
tend n wedding again as long as l live
1t would be torture, agony, simply un-
bearable. l would do a great deal for
you, but don't ask me anything so ut.
terly impossible"
Will humbly apologized and hasten.
cd to ask his cousin to act as best man
He accepted with alacrity.
wins sister Dorothy, a girl Of IS,
was to be my maid Of honor. She had
been abroad for the last three years
finishing her education. When she went
away, she was a schoolgirl. and not
realizing the change that a year or two
can make at her age We were surprised
20 receive a photograph showing her to
be a pretty and prepossessing young
lady, with quite the air, as We imagined
from her pose, Of a society woman.
IL was two or three weeks after
Wills conversation with Richard in re-
gard to tho matter of best man that one
evening our afflicted friend seemed a
HUN ACen mNAO40 AAAh hnhAAf Ao pun
ed up Dorothy's picture. which was
lying on the table.
"What q pretty grill" he exclaimed
"Who is she?"
"You ought TO know her, " replied
Will. lyon and she were fast friends
once. She's no other than my sister
Dorothy"
''That handsome girl my little friend
Dorothyl Why, / thought of her as
still a child. BY Jove, but she's a
beautyr' said Richard. with more ami.
nation than no had displayed since his
engagement was broken.
Il was a relief to SEQ him something
like his old self, IL only for a moment,
but no surprised us by conversing quite
cheerfully tue rest of the evening.
A few days later viii appeared in a
most excited frame of mind. Richard
was at the house at the time, but Win
did not notice him as no rushed in ex
claiming:
"spch in lucki Cousin Henry is