The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-11-25

~ ,s4.at Il ~IrIt.:tv i5Iy ,uanu IVI .4~. 49, -
,,u,luuel She loved mo only tho more ten
tlcrIy.
on, INV dear Thnvcnet, If | had ten legs to
lose I would give Them up without murEur
FOR Erf,lyl - lvug Us | live shall he thank
gul to YOU Como to London and make US Il
visit. Learn to know my glorious wife and
thqn say il you can, am fool!
CHARLES TEMPLE.
Ihuvcncr told the anecdOte and read the
letter To various friends and laughed up
ruariously every time, crying, TO my
mind he is still foolr'
This WAS his answer to the letter:
SGR-I thank you for your valuable gift.
must call it 50 since it is far beyond adequate
compensation for my trouble. wish you JOY
in your marriage with the lovely English
woman. II is true leg is much to give Tor
4 beautiful, virtuous and tender wife, yet
not too much if one is not deceived in the bar
gain.
Adam paid for his spouse with a rib, and the
possession Of beauty has cost many another
man 4 rib and some of them 4 head INTO the
bargain.
Nevertheless allow me with all modcSty 10
remain Of my old opinion. Certainly you are
right for the moment. You dwell now IN the
paradise of the honeymoon. But l am right
too, with this difference, that NY right VIII
riucn slowly, like every truth that one long
hesitatcs TO accept
Sir take care fear that after two years
you will regret that you had your les taken oil
above the knee.
After three years you will be CONVINCED That
the loss OF u foot woUlG have been enough,
after four you will believe that the sacrifice
If YOUR great toe and after five that the ",npu
tation of the little toe would have boon To-"
much. After six you will admit that the re
moval of the toe nail would have been sum
cicnt.
All this without disparascmcat to yp-.r
charming cousCrt. Ladies can preserve ,.. -
beauty and virtue less altered tLau men tE rr
opinions Inmy youth Iwould har" given I--y
life for the loved one any day; never ;ly.l,s
For the ono l should have had 10 regret, io:'
the other a lifelong regret. Had done so !
should he saying today, 'ThCvcuet, you ~" a
fuull" With which l have the honor to remain
sir your obedicnt servant,
Louis THEvENET.
In 1898, during the reign of terror, NJ.
Tnevenct, whom younger physician had
cast under suspicion OF being an aristOCr;tJ,
fed to London TO save his head from the
rank leveling guillotine He inquired
after Sir Charles Temple and was directed
to his mansion. His name WIS announced
and he was received at once.
In an armchair by the firGSide, surround
cd by newspapers and with jug OF ioaln-
ing porter at his elbow sat stout gentle
man
He was so heavy he could scarcely rise.
''Wclcome, NJ. ThcVenet, cried the fat
gentleman "Do not take it amiss that
keen my seat This cursed wooden leg
binders me in everything. My friend, you
have come to see whether your right has
riEened?'
Il come as a refuge and seek protection
from you.
''You must live with me, for truly you
are wise man. You must console me.
On my word, ThevenCt, l should be today
perhaps admiral of the blue if it were not
for this goddess leg, which makes me in
competent for the service of my country,
Here sit reading papers and cursing my
self to think I'm not fit for it. Come and
console me.
Your lady wife will know how to con
sole you better than l. "
Not so! Her wooden leg keeps her
from dancing, so she has given herself up
to cards There's no getting along with
her-othorwiso an agreeable wife,
What SO was right after ALI"
"Pcrfectly, my dear Thcvenet. But nc
more on that point. 1t was a stupid
prank. If had my leg again, 1 wouldn't
give the pairing of II nail from 1t. Between
you and me, l was fool But keep that
to yourself From the German Fol
Short Stories