The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-11-30
! AN : =
: INTERVENTION.

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The charity bazaar in aid of the fund
for st. Jude's church was in full swing.
The rector, chatty and smiling, as usual,
was beating the record in tea drinking,
while the organist, who had fulfilled his
duties for the evening, edged his way
through tie crowd toward a flower stall,
where decidedly pretty girl stood SELL
ing gay buttonholes.
'What is your opinion of bazaars, may
ask, Miss Lyall?" he said.
"Candidly?" she asked.
''Why, certainly" said the organist.
s'Well, then, l consider that as an op-
portunity for gossip, mild Irritation and
gross theft there is no organization to
compare with them. But, oh, 1 forgot,
the proceeds were partly to be devoted
to the choir fund! Please forgive me.
Now tell me your opinion, Mr.. Roberts,
unbiased by that fact"
strangely enough, mine comedies ex-
actly," said Henley Roberts. But
might add that they have one redeeming
feature, and that is the charming per-
sonalty of the stall holders"
GLOW very complimentary" smiled
Brenda Lyall. 'Now go and tell that to
MISS JONES, pledSe-l All sure she "Oulu
like to hear it-and buy something at her
stall at the same time"
''1'd rather stay and buy something
here if you don't mind" he said. "May
/ have that bunch of violets?'
care you willing to pay the proper
price,"
1.-THE proper price should be, think,
about penny. What do you make it?"
''SiXpence."
''Tll have it. It's worth that and more
if you will pin it on for me-"
Brenda Lyall said nothing, but rose and
quietly proceeded to earn her sixpence.
The organist breathed hard. He looked
down at the pleasing operation and al
tered his light tone to one Of sudden Sc
robustness.
Miss Lyall," he said, "was that ru-
NOR true which announced your depar-
ture from our little village?"
"Quite true" she answered quietly.
"And what do you think l am to do
when you have goneY
"Solace yourself with-with Miss Jones,
1 suppose" she said mischievously as she
turned away.
"Miss Jones?" echoed the organist. "Oh,
she's impossible; she is SO young and
crude and uninteresting."
"Must a girl be old to be Interestingly"
queried Miss Lyall, with uplifted brows.
you know what 1 mean"
"Oh, perfectly" was the severe answer.
"You mean to while away a few spare
hours by talking lot of stupid nonsense,
and please understand that that sort Of
thing may go down with the young and
uninteresting, but not so welr'-
with the charming and clever ones"
concluded Henley Roberts promptly.
Miss Lyall," he went on earnestly, Il
have been nourishing hopes that we
might become very great friends and
meet occasionally and exchange our
views of life in a fuller way than hither-
to, but when girl is engaged to another
fellow that sort of thing doesn't seem
allowable. People begin to gossip and
make things disagreeable. Tell me. am
to see nothing of you in the future"
81 think it would be just as WELL"
"Then we are to vanish out of one an
others life forever?'
Il suppose so,'' faltered Miss Lyal.
There was pause. Henley Roberts
regarded the floor intently.
"Mr. Roberts," she said, Il want to ask
your advice on a certain matter, the-the
case of friend of mine. Several years
ago when she was quite young she be-
came engaged to a man much older than
yourself. She thought she cared for him
until quite lately, when
Somebody else appeared upon the
scene?" said the organist, filling up the
pause. (Which altered the whole state
Of things"
Exactly" said Miss Lyall. "And she
doesn't know what she ought to do about
the matter"
sis she certain she cares more for the
other fellow?'
"Positiye."
"Then she ought to break off the en-
gagement without a moments hesita-
tom
But would it not be dishonorable?"
"Not nearly so dishonorable as the 9TH
er way would be-" said he with sudden
eagerness. Marriage is the most serious
step in a young woman's life. Believe
me, there is no happiness without true
affection"
'But suppose the other man loves her
very dearly? Suppose it were to break
his heart?"
MEMS hearts are not so easily bro
ken"
"Then suppose" she went on in a low
voice, "the girl was too cowardly to do
it?
"Ah, but she won't ber' cried the Or
ganist passionately, unable to restrain
himself any longer, and, starting up, he
caught both of the slim hands in his.
"She is going to be brave and kind and
will break off that other wretched en-
gagement while there is time and con-
tract another, truer, happier one, not
only for her own sake, but for his and
mine, Brenda"
For one instant Miss Lyall allowed her
hands to remain imprisoned, and sud
den rush of joy filed her heart. The
next moment she turned pale and cold
with fright.
"Hushw The organist stared at her
wonderingly and, turning suddenly, saw
the cause of her extraordinary change of
manner standing in the doorway.
"Alfred" said the girl, looking up in i'll
feigned surprise.
The newcomer looked from one to the
other suspiciously. Then he offered his
arm to the girl.
"Come," he said dryly, "you and have
had enough Of bazaars. There is a lot
more swindling going on than meets the
public eye."-Penny Pictorial Magazine.