The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-01
THERE'S MANY A SLIP

THERE'S MANY A SLIP"
''I am very sorry to have to cause
you this disappointment, Mr.. Neal.
1 esteem and thank you for your
offer, but my pledge is already given
to another"
"And that other is" exclaimed
the young man, almost involuntarily,
and without removing his intent gaze
from the girls beautiful face.
A vivid blush suffused Rennie' S
fair cheeks for moment then her
lips parted in frank, happy laugh.
81 do not mind telling you, Mr..
Neal, since you will know soon. /
am engaged to Roscoe Farnham.'
For the first time Meals eyes drop
ped away from hers but the look
that flashed through them during that
brief interval was as quickly veiled as
he said, in tones whose slightly trem-
ulous accent seemed quite natural
under the circumstances
Accept my sincere congratula-
tions, Miss Lawrence ~
Then, with pressure of the hand,
he was gone.
Once outside of the house, however,
the mask fell from his countenance.
49," he hissed between his teeth,
Roscoe Farnham, the only rival l
feared, has supplanted me But let
him beware his apparent success in
no way weakens the force of my de-
termination to win Rennie Lawrence
for my wife. He has not yet the
lady and the old adage holds good,
that there's many a slip 'twixt the
cup and the lip What luck has won
craft may dispoil him of.
But no threatening of the secretly
vowed revenge was apparent for a
time.
The young men met each other on
apparently the most friendly terms,
and Neal had promised to be best man
at the prospective ceremony.
Calling on Mr.. Lawrence one eve
ming, Neal desired a private inter-
view, at the close of which Rennie
was summoned to the library.
"My child" said her father, with
manifest excitement, "you have be-
slowed your affections upon man de-
void of honor or principle. Tell her,
Neal"
"Spare me, Mr.. Lawrence" said
Neal, averting his face. "You tell
her. l will assist you if necessary"
Between them the story was told.
How Neal, in consequence of alleg-
ed suspicious, had been investigating
Mr.. Farnham's antecedents, and had
learned that his love affairs in various
places were quite notorious.
That just prior to his engagement
to Rennie he had cruelty broken a
previous betrothal, and finally, that
his employers were even then investi-
eating grave charges against him,
which were likely to lead to his dis
missal from the firm.
''Now, my daughter" said Mr..
Lawrence, in conclusion, will you
wait to be publicly involved in this
inevitable disgrace, or will you act
the part of wisdom by dismissing him
at once?"
Rennie had listened without word
or sign, but now she raised her beau-
tiful head proudly.
II will do this" she answered
quietly. II will send him letter by
James this very night, and by his
own answer 1 will judge him. If he
is indeed dishonorable and unworthy,
no letter that he can write, no matter
how skillfullv worded, can hide or
disguise it from me p
And without another word she left
the room.
Twenty minutes later William Neal
took his leave, walked a few PAGES
away from the house, then returning
concealed himself at a convenient
point and waited.
Presently serving man emerged
from the lower part of Mr. Lawrence S
house, followed by a rosy-cheeked
chambermaid.
''It is too bad sending you all the
way down there tonight. the girl
was saying. "You could have drop
ped it in the post-box just as well" "
"Miss Rennie says it's to &C
straight to his lodgings and if you
had seen the look on her face you
would have known she meant il" an.
swered James. "I'll be back before
long, for 1 haven't got to wait for an
answer"
He moved reluctantly off, notwith
standing and in another moment
Neal touched him on the shoulder.
Is that you, James - he called
cheerily. "Did hear you say yuc
had letter to take to Mr.. Farnham'
lodgings? 1 am going that way, anc
I'll take it if you say so, and so spare
you the walk-and leave you that
much longer for courting !" he added
significantly.
Much obliged to you, sir" sale
James.
And, resigning his trust with alac-
rity, he quickly retraced his steps tC
the house knowing we'll that he rar
no risk Of betrayal from his pretty
inamorata.