The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-07-28

perleIlcrn n mad impulse IL east an CON
vCntionaiitr aside and throw herself ut
his feet ard cry: oh, IL? love. M love,
l wrongcd You iuLGcrnily! II is Ell
hidanus mistake. Won't you forgive
only forgive!
The impulse died away, however, as
she glunced ut Eandeleur and saw the
hard line of his mouth.
He will never forgive, she thought
never.
Neither spoke for some minutes. and
the parIsc was becoming awkward, when
a huff of wind diSarran@cd Nandclcur
rug. I!r fcchly rs'Saycd to reach for ii,
bat Miss Sinclair forcstallrd him. and
with "PIca&c allow me-" arranged it.
Willie doing 50 her hand slightly touch
ed that of Nandrieur, causing the blood
to jump madly through his veins, while
the color tInutlcd her own face.
Presently Miss Sinclair said hesitating-
": Il have been trying for the last few
minutes toto say something. Will you
listen? | want to ask your pardon. Some
time ago wei quarreled with you, APP
parently without any ostensiblc cause
whatever. Three months ago discovered
the fact that had done you Il gricvous
wrong
"Took YOU some time, didn't it," sar-
castically intcriectcd Nandclcur. Il was
acquainted with the fact exactly Is
months ago
The venom of his remark almost
scorched the words on her lips, but she
quietly proceeded:
please reserve your sarcasm until you
have heard me. Not even the fear Of
YOUR misunderstanding shall deter me
from performing what | consider to be
right and my duty to do. 1t is right you
should know that | had some slight eN-
cuse for my apparent wanton capricious-
ness"
She paused a moment, resting her chin
on her hand, and Vandeleur stole Il
glance at her.
She had changed somewhat, he thought
grown gentler and more subdued, and
the passionate desire drew on him to open
his arms and say:
81 forgive all, forgive all! Only love
me"',
please go on" he said.
"Thank YOU" she replied quietly, 81
will. The Story of Man and Wons-
an is an old title and has been used
many times, yet l purpose using it once
again us IL lltiltlilE lOl NY
She paused n moment TO collect her
thoughts and glanced at Nandcleur. who
continued to gaze sternly seaward. Then
she continued:
1.-The man in this particular case APP
peared to love the woman very dearly,
and shc-wcll, she rcquited his affection"
Vandeleur started and shifted his posi-
ton slightly.
clio
tinued, "and on her twenty-third birth
day he presented her with the first
proof of the book that had made his
name 1t was unique present, and she
appreciated it accordingly until on turn
ing over the leaves she found between
the pages letter.
ut was love letter, written in the
mans handwriting on Il large sheet OF
paper and signed with his Christian
name, but not meant for her. The name
of the woman for whom it was designed
was Gladys"
Heavens" cried Vandeleur hoarsely.
THE Hand on the Whecl'-it was the
page of manuscript that ! could never
find"
Yes" she said quietly, ''it was page
of manuscript that you had lost. She
however, Glu Eul discover lnlS ultli ItteT,
but i'll her misery at what she imagined
to be the mans falseness never answered
his demands for an explanation, never
spoke to him again"
She paused for Il moment, overcome
with emotion. Nandclcur gazcd at hel
dunlbly
Some time later" she proceeded with
difficulty. "a hook was published by 4
man, entitled The Hand on the Wheel.
His heroine was called Gladys. and the
love letter that had destroyed the wo-
mans happiness was reproduced almost
word for word in its pages.
Then she understood, AMI for the first
time discovered the awful mistake she
had made. 1t was too late, however, t.
rci,;ir the error. lie had gone abroad.
Then nj last one day the news came
that he had been killed, and it nearly
broke her heart"
Nandrrur could not speak. The joy in
his heart was supreme enough to preclude
all uttcrancc. He merely held her hand
as if he could never let it go.
Presently nc drew her gently toward
him and rested his cheek against hers.
you fnrgivc?" she whispered.
my dear. My darling"' was all lie
said 6 cago Herald.