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

not realizing the change that IA year
or two can make at her age we were
surprised to receive a photograph
showing her to be a pretty and pre-
possessing young lady, with quite the
air, rs we imagined from her pose, of
u society woman.
1t was two or three weeks after
Wills conversation with Richard in
regard to the matter of best man that
one evening our afflicted friend seemed
II little less norose than usual. He
picked up Dorothy's picture, which
was living on the table.
What Il pretty girl!' he exclaimed.
"WhO is sheY'
You ought to know her. replied
Will. You and she was fast friends
once. Shes no other than my sister
Dorothy.'
That handsome girl, my little friend
Dorothy Whv, | thought of her as
still a child. BY Jove, but she's a
beauty" said Richard, with more
animation than lie had displayed
since his engagement was broken.
1t was relief to see him something
like his old self, if only for a moment,
but he surprised us by conversing
quite cheerfully the rest of the even
ing.
\ few days later Will appeared in
| a most excited frame of mind. Rich
ard was at the house at the time, but
Will did not notice him as he rushed
in enchanting:
such i'll luck. Cousin Henry is
down with the mumps. Did you ever
hear of anything so ridiculous, and
the wedding next week."
What is to be done" l asked
| blankly.
That is more than know, nreplied
Will Il dashed over to see Sylvester,
| but he's off to Florida next week. and
then | asked Tom Flanders. He
thanked me politely for my courtesy
! and said he hardly cared to act as
stop gap. Agreeable chap, Tom, but
| that was always his way-must be
| first or nowhere. | think l will tele-
graph my cousin Herbert in Philadel-
phia. | never fancied him much, but
| must have some one, l suppose"
At this juncture Richard, who had
been looking at Dorothy's picture,
spoke rather hesitatingly:
well. old fellow, since you are in
such tight place, I'll help you out.
, | will act as best man.
Will started with amaZement at this
unexpected offer, but slapped Rich
ard heartily on the back.
Twill you really, though? You're
an old brickn
l wonder how men always use the
word "old" rs term of endearment
with each other? | suppose it is a
substitute for dear" and darling
and all the tender terms of woman's
vocabulary.
! Richard seemed embarrassed at
! wills gratitude, and added some
! what alphabetically.
"If can accommodate a friend, |
want to. That's absut the only thing
in the way OF pleasure | can ever hope
to have
Dorothy arrived a day or two before
| the wedding. We found her even
more charming than her picture, and
we were all delighted with her.
was almost too busy to breathe in
| these last few days, but everything
was over at last, The reh earsal pass
| ed off satisfactorily,a and so, my friends
assured me, did the wedding. | am
not authority on that subject, but at
any rate everything went off &C
according to programme. Then Will
and | started away for Il six weeks
| trip.
After travelling about for fortnight
we settled down in spot which was
most restful and delightful. There
was nothing in the way OF excitement
| but we thoroughly enjoyed the print
| tive and idyllic life of the little town.
| Toward the close of our month there,
| however, we we're glad to receive
| letters from our home friends. We
had not encouraged them to write us
earlier ia our stay, and we haG heard
| almost nothing from home.
We were not getting dull, of course,
but when said one day that should
like long, newsy letter from one of
| the girls Will echoed my wish heart
ly.
That afternoon came Il letter, not
| from one of the girls and not long, but
| decidedly "newsy," so much so that
it fairly took away my breath. 1t
ran AZ follows:
| DEAR WILLE-Congratulate me.
| ain the happiest man alive. Your
| sister Dorothy. the dearest girl i'll the
world, has promised to marry me:
No time to write more now. Your
| friend and brother to be.
RICHARD DEERING.
p. S.-Perhaps it would be just as
we'll not to mention that little affair
! last winter to Dorothy. She might
not understand it. In fact. don't
understand it myself. X.
1t was long before Will spoke. When
| he did. 1t was to say:
And he calls it that little affair,
after all the sleep lost for the rascal.
That little affair, indeed. y |acerly
| Wag0ziHe.