The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-09-07
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; A SLIGHT COMPLICATION;
How Chicago Man Saved Girl From Z
an Unfortunate Marriage. =


hOLiS hC "OuiN WIN hlG. L "uS SOln5
to walk, as always do on nice days, but
/ was not anxious for his company. l
could not think of anything that would
turn him off, however, so | replied, with
what heartiness | could summon: "All
right. Come along"
The reason for my not wanting him or
any one else with me was an absurd one,
and l had the grace to be ashamed Of
myself even while acknowledging its
weight. For the last month l had be-
come foolishly in love with girl l did
not know, and the only time l saw her
was in the afternoon on Michigan avenue,
when l was going back from town and
she was coming down. l did not always
meet her, but l always hoped to when
left the Office, and | liked to be alone
when | passed her. Absurd as it may
seem, another person always seemed in
truding. Therefore | cursed Baxter in
wardly and talked business outwardly
as we left Jackson boulevard and turned
into Michigan avenue.
It was a beautiful autumn afternoon.
The grass in the park was still green, and
Q fresh, exhilarating breeze blew in from
the lake. She could certainly not miss
such a day for her walk, / argued, and
fixed my eyes on the stream Of people
flowing steadily past me on the walk. try
ing to catch glimpse of trim figure in
q gray walking suit.
had often wondered where she went
every afternoon and even planned to fol.
low her, but l was positively timid for
once and afraid to make an advance
which would give me information about
my unknown. Possibly she went to meet
and walk back with a lover, brother or
q husband. l was rather inclined to the
brother idea, though l don't know why.
She did not look married, and why should
such a girl care enough for any man to
meet him and walk home with him? No,
/ was convinced that no such fortunate
creature existed.
She wore a black hat. tilted over her
forehead, and she always gave me a
quick, comprehensive look from under it,
as we passed. As for me, fixed my
eyes on her, and never took them off I'M
til she had gone by; it was only by SUI
perhuman effort of will power that I did
not turn and stare after her.
We usually met near Twelfth street,
but today we had reached Sixteenth and
! had given up hope, when l saw her
coming toward us. Baxter was telling
me some troubles of his, for / believe he
mistook my silence for sympathy.
We were nearly opposite to her before
Baxter saw her, at the same moment
that she saw him. She bowed and smiled
Il had never seen her smile beforehand
Just one little corner of that one belonged
to me and with it the swiftest of glances
that set my heart beating idiotically.
Suddenly l realized that my talkative
companion had not spoken a word since
his muttered How do you do?" 1 look
ed at him. His face was profoundly
gloomy.
"What's the matter" I asked. / felt
good natured enough to talk to any one,
and suddenly conceived great interest
In Baxter. He could tell me who she was
perhaps be the means in time of my
meeting her.
ibid you see that girl bowed to just
now?" he said.
1.-THE one in gray? Yes, I noticed her"
"Well, that's she. She's the one"
''What one? Whom are you talking
about" I was at loss to account for
his tone Of gloomy emphasis.
1.-THE girl was telling you about. FuD-
ny we should have met her just as fr-
ished. Well, you can see for yourself
that she is pretty"
looked at Jim Baxter in absolute
amazement.
when did you tell me this history Yet.
are abiding to-" I spoke calmly, but
was agitated. There was something the
matter with one of US, and the effect Of
my question on Jim showed that there
was no question in his mind as to which
Of US it was.
when did I tell you? For heavens
sake, Ray. do you mean to tell me that
you haven't heard what I've been saying
for the last mile? You had better con-
suit a specialist if you are subject to such
attacks of mental alteration"
81 didn't hear word" said humbly.
'"To tell the truth. I was thinking so
hard on a certain subject that my mind
was incapable of taking anything else.
Tell me again, and | swear you'll have
my undivided attention"
"Thanks, but / won't trouble !rn.
That isn't the sort of story a man c:Gps
about dwelling on, you know. And, crme
to think of it, it's better that no one
should know about the business anyway"
In vain l assured him of my interest in
his affairs, of my desire and ability to
help him n he needed help. He would
tell me nothing. What IN unmitigated
fool I had been! I had missed a chance
to learn all about her, and l might never
get another.
AT least tell me her name." l said
finally in desperation.
Miss Norwood-Ethel Norwood. Why
do you want to know her name?"
"Oh, nothing" | said indifferently. II
suppose she goes down town to meet
somebody, doesn't sheT'
Eyes"
"Her brother. l supposeF
"Hasn't any brother"
had gone too far to back out. "Who
does she go TO meet. then?"
"She goes to walk home with her sis
ter, who studies at the Art institute.
And now | should like very much to
know if Miss Norwood has aroused your
interest merely through her being an ac-
quaintance of mine. That conclusion is
fattering. but doubtful"
To walk home with her sister? In Il
sudden burst of joyful confidence | told
him what had been going on inside Of me
for the last month. | used extravagant
language to describe my state Of mind
l colored every trivial incident to produce
the rose colnred effect of romance
stopped on the corner where ways
divided. looked at Baxter and saw that
he was amazed, as had been few mo-
ments before.
That's why I wanted to hear your
story and also why l didn't hear it-be-
cause I've lost the little head l ever had
over your Miss Norwood
sand so it's your exclaimed Jim.
'Well. ncycr"'
you seem to enjoy being mysterious. -
mark from him. rs that connected with
story which | am not to be allowed to
hear"
IN walk along with you. i suppose
you ought to know" We turned into
Twentieth street. What told you be-
fore was simply this: Ethel Norwood is
the most ungrateful girl in the world.
We've always known each other, went
to school together in the beginning. and
all that. | never cared for any other
girl Well. last summer she told ME that
she was engaged to Tom Camp. Know
him? He lives in Boston and visited
some people here last spring. If there
ever was villain in these commonplace
times, he is one. / told Ethel so. and
she dared me to prove it. | was in col
lcge with him, and ! proved something
about him even to her satisfaction. She
broke her engagement and told me she
never could be grateful enough to me.
She continued to treat me as though /
were the one thing necessary to her hap
piness until | became convinced that |
had only to declare myself to receive my
reward for saving her from that follow.
] spoke last night. and she turned me
down without asking for time to consider
even; said she liked me, though, and
thought we were just good friends"
? tried to feel sorry for Jim and say
something appropriate. but couldn't