Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-06-03

'IolnH OUT. ucar
only To the village to post ;
note.
"Gilbcrt is coming To morrow
at ) with an old college friend
who, it seems, has just turne'
up in New York "
II am glad" said Mona
quietly. Gilbert arrived il
high spirits with his friend, j.;
Major Laurie, just rcturne,
from Puerto Rico. As soon a.
they were alone the genera
poured out his Indignation ano
woe To his son, who was nIucl
inccnscd ut the behavior oil
Mona $ fiancc.
by George" exclaimed Ma
ior Laurie. taftcr cXcusing her
self early in the evening, Mona
had left the three men in tn,
billiard room smokingl, but
Miss Mona is stunning. If
were not engaged to the dear
est girl in the world, | should
lose my heart To your sister.
Il didn't know we had To con
gratulatc You. young fellow.
"Whcn does the happy event
come oil :"
Very soon; you'll be invi-
ted. "
"Who is she :" asked Gilbert,
interested.
"AMissSterling whose nature
vcriiics her name have known
her since She was girl.
Rather anxious time for her
when you were wounded,
suggested the general.
"Oh. but was not in much
danger, You know now some
fellows got so cut up You would
hardly recognize them. There
was poor Lawrence doth his
listeners startcdN-leg clean
gone, the other up to the knee,
one arm Off. and a scar across
his face and the plucky chap
just smiled through it ALL"
Father and son exchanged
chances.
lie pulled through thank
to the devoted nursing he got,
continued Laurie, unconscious
of the interest his words
aroused. Il never saw that
man down until yesterday
when he collapsed as though
shot.
How was that :" asked Gill
bert, in constrained voice.
"Wcll. YOU see, it was this
way he's very rcticcnt, still,
we all knew he was devoted to
some girl at home, though he
never mentioned her name or
spoke about her couldn't get
him into the slightest Irritation
with anyone. When we came
back together he spoke for the
first time 10 me about his
affair. You see, Laurie, ! am
such Il wreck, should | marry Il
girl when she might have /"
nurse me and then, at best
I'm not 4 whole man Will
have but one sound arm and
only part of one leg to offer
her. BY George, | felt for the
poor devil when he talked like
that. Well, suggested to try
her and see what she thought
about it. Write and offer To
release her. He caught at the
idea. But | wouldn't write as
though pleading with her |
would not want To be married
out of pity, but would just
state the facts and leave her
free to decide, said he. And
what do You think she'll write,
asked him. i think that she
is too faithful To give me up,
he answered, and pom word
scar To scar-hc looked so proud
and handsome as he spoke, |
only wished his sweetheart
could have seen him.
And then :" asked Gilbert,
as Laurie paused i'll his MARIA
tive.
"On, then he wrote. abiding
to his being Il wreck, and refer
ring To the account in the
papers, and yesterday her
answer came | was in his
rooms when he got her note
Just short one, but he turned
white, ana said bitterly, She
writes that my views upon the
subject of our engagement
ending meets her own She
releases me. evidently without
regret, thankful To be free from
what might have been Il burden
to her. tried To cheer him
up he gave me one look such
as YOU see i'll Il hunted beast as