The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-10-28
miscellaneous
CONSOLED.

IT was the winter before Will and l
were married that Richard Deering
became engaged to Miss Rhoades.
Will and Richard had been almost in
seDarable from childhood, and the
latter was an old friend of mine also.
We did not Know Miss Rhoades, but
Richard assured lis we could not fail
to like her, and Will said his opinion
as to be CT nsidered, for OF course 1t
was quite lm partial.
To tell the truth, on meeting Miss
Rhoades we aid not share Richards
enthusiasm. She had areserved man
ner and was no particularly pleasing
in auv way. And she did not seem
sufficiently in love with Richard to
suit me Indeed | went SO far as to
saw thgt.I did not believe that she
cared tDr hiin at all. had to admit
that she was Eue looking, though not
handsome. and she was older than
Richard. He coniiaed to Will that he
was past the age to be attracted sim
p by Il pretty face, an& he had no
| fancy for girls in their teens. Richard
was %.
Our worst fears were soOa realized.
| One night my betrothed did not come
| TO gee me, which surprised me much,
| for it was important that 1 should
consult with him about the new house
! The next morning | received tele-
| gram from Will:
| Gould not come last night, Rich
ard in trouble. Engagement broken"
! IT was two or three days before
| saw Will, and then he came in at noon
| for a hurried call. He looked worn
and harassed, but patiently replied to
( the countless questions l asked in re-
4 ,-ard to Richards affair. 1t seemed
Z, at Miss Rhoades had been mistaken
tfn$,Ie nature of her regard for him, as
| Abe expressed it. In other words, she
Ihad aat really cared for him, but tried
to do SO urged by her family and
tempted, by his wealth. Willithought
! there was another lover in the back
/ Ground, bus Richard did not suspect it..
| NE poor fellow was a complete wreck,
nnd for the Dect few days Will was
| constantly with, Ills distracted friend
/ ana had no time to give to me. When
ne did come, it was to say that he
mad prevailed upon Richard to go
awav for d while, the latter consent
ing on condition that will would ac'
R,company him.
NV lover could i'll afford to leave at
this time, and his absence would be
most trying to re, as wanted MS az
vice coneerpingttheh house. However
neither of us felt that we would urge
any claims Of our own IN the lace OF
Richards dire need. SO We reluctant
Nv babe each other good-by. Phe trlE
Senefitted the heart broken iG% er, anc
on his return he consented to take w
his residence at home, and after tiInt
rasumed his customary visits to oul
house. though he scarcely spoke anc
LOOK cd the picture of despair 1t wal
I little wearing for Will and me, fol
! t of courtesy to poor Richard We
va va, not like to speak Of the wedding
" of the arrangements when III
resent, aud az our minds were
"otnra lily occupied with the topic IL
; Ht.t;-,,r our conversation was some
times RAJ her forced.
! W. had expected him to act as bes
OF ON wedding, but it seemed
nc nc than doubtful that he woul'
Faoi anual to the position in his pres
~ statn of III ind. We were anXiou
:. 80 Lnoyv how he felt about the matte
ma at last Will touched upon tn
=" IF ~ evident that you know mott
IN, Of my feelings .aid Richard !
~. injured zone. Il shall probabi
So attend wedding again as lon
,C,v live Ii would De torture, agon!
i,~,,iv ufhearable. | would 90
veg deal for you, but don't ask II
lylr;ar so nI-crly impossible
" nu.uh!" anniogizet aud haste
to X h5s nDn5in 20 act as be
d 4 70 accepted 7tlth alacrity.
"a IA sister Dorothy. "a girl OF l
" VcIeIav maid Of lios.ar. She ii.
a. 4