The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-11-23
Ihs 1Eeis and lptelltsepcer
BEL AIR, MD. NOVEMBER 20 1900.
hON SHE BECAME engaged.

She didn't intend to become engaged,
and it really wasn't her fault. Indeed, it
may be said he never had asked her to
marry him, and likely she would have
refused if he had. Still, to all intents
and purposes she might as we'll have had
n diamond ring on the third finger of
her left hand. These things will hap
pen, especially in small town where
there are many gossips.
He had merely escorted her to church
and had sat with her in the family pew.
There really was nothing wrong in this,
and nothing would have been thought of
it if they had not been seen by Mrs.
Higgins. Other young men have taken
other young women to church and have
escaped without even the intimation of
breach of promise suit, but in those in
stances both We're known to the towns
people. In this instance the young man
was a stranger, Tud Mrs. Higgins felt
it called for commHht.
Il wonder who that young man was
who came to church with Miss Smith"
she said.
"Dear me! 1 didn't see him. exclaim-
ed Mrs. Virgins. WAS there stranger
with her?''
Eyes, indeed" answered Mrs. Hig-
gins, land a handsome one too. think
he's from the east, but I'm not sure
That was the start. Mrs. Virgins
pondered the subject in her leisure mo-
ments and later met Mrs. Muggins.
"Have you heard about the gentleman
who took Miss Smith to church last Sun
day?" she asked.
mot word" answered Mrs. Mug
gins. "Tell me all about it."
Hes mighty handsome young fell
low from the east-New York, think
and they say he was most attentive to
her."
"Oh. she's a sly one," asserted Mrs.
Muggins. 81 remember she spent month
In New York last winter, but it's won
der she never told anything about it. 1
suppose he's worth a good deal of
money"
Surely" replied Mrs. Virgins. 81 i'm
aeine he must be a millionaire at the very
least. She wouldn't look at any one with
less
Naturally not
This being q fair start, the rumor
straightway developed wings. Mrs. Mug
gins dropped in to see Mrs. Wilkins and
could not refrain from broaching the SUBJ
ject.
"Did you see that New York million
aire who is so attentive to Miss Smith,"
she asked.
NO. Who is hep" demanded Mrs.
Wilkins.
81 don't know his NAME" answered
Mrs. Muggins. but he's fine looking
man and fahulously rich. Belongs to one
of the old families and made his money
in real estate. l think. He has been
most devoted to Miss Smith ever since
he's been here"
Engaged to her, l suppose"
81 shouldn't wonder, but it hasn't been
announced yet. Perhaps it will be before
he leaves
OF course this was too much for Mrs.
Wilkins to keep to herself, and she
straishtway hunted up Mrs. Billiins.
"Have you heard about the engage
ment?" asked Mrs. Wilkins.
Not a word" replied Mrs. Bilkins.
"Whose is it?'
Miss Smiths"
81 might have guessed it if had stop
ped to think. l heard she had been to
the city shopping"
Getting her bridal trousseau, I sup
pose"
"Oh, of course. Who's the MANI"
Zone of New York's -Four Hundred
I'm told. A millionaire and all that, you
know. l guess he owns a good bit of
Manhattan Island"
"And when are they to be marriedT
am sure l don't know; but if she's
been getting her trousseau l shouldn't
wonder if he intended to take her back to
New York with him."
Naturally in these circumstances it was
easy to fix date for the wedding. Mrs.
Il - ,bnY ba hol hor
versation with Mrs. Stubbins.
II suppose you know we are going to
lose one of our brightest and most at
tractive girls" she suggested.
"Who?' inquired Mrs. Stubbins.
"Mercy me, haven't you heard?" ex-
claimed Mrs. Bilkins in establishment.
"Why, Miss Smith, of course. she be-
came engaged to a New York millionaire
when she was away last winter, and he
has come on to marry her and take her
back home again. It's been kept secret
because he wants the wedding to be a
quiet affair, but she has her trousseau
all ready, and when the time comes
they'll just quietly drop in at the par
sonage and then catch the train for the
east"
"Has the date been settled?"
"Oh, I suppose so, but they're keeping
it quiet Family bereavement on his
side makes it necessary, believe, but it
will surely take place within n fortnight.
She's a mighty lucky girl, though. I'M
derstand the treasury reserve is pauper
fund beside his wealth"
Mrs. Stubbins being one Of those curl
Gus people who like to have their infor-
nation from headquarters, she immedi-
ately hunted up Miss Smith.
fn ofi1la 70 @
said
"On what?. asked Miss Smith.
"On your engagement" answered Mrs.
Stubbins.
"To whomT' demanded Miss Smith,
evinciDg some surprise.
"Why, to that millionaire who was at
church with you last Sunday"
'Millionairew exclaimed Miss Smith.
"Why, he's a cousin from Arizona, and
he hasn't hundred dollars to his name.
He left last night for Chicago to take
SIS a week job in a wholesale grocery
house, and 1 wouldn't marry him if he
were the only man in the world"
Nevertheless, to all intents and pur-
poses, Miss Smiths future is settled.
She is engaged to be married. She may
not know it, but that cannot be helped.
When these affairs are thus arranged, it
takes time to make change, and the
man who actually claims Miss Smiths
hand in marriage doubtless will suffer
many a jealous pang when he hears Of
the stranger from New York to whom
she was once engaged.-Chicago Even
Ing Post.
Tricks of His Trade.
A visitor at one of the local prisons be-
came interested in one of the prisoners,