The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-08-31
Selett Storp.
THERE'S MANY A SLIP

II am very sorry to have to cause you
this disappointment, Mr.. Neal. | esteem
and thank you for your offer, bnt my
pledge is already given to another,
"And that other is exclaimed the
young man. almost involuntarily, and with
out removing his intent gaze from the
girl s beautiful face.
A vivid blush sufinsed Rennie' fair
cheeks for a moment; then her lips parted
in frank, happy laugh.
II do not mind telling you, Mr.. Neal,
since you will know soon. | am engaged
to Roscoe Farnham.
For the first time Meals eyes dropped
away from hers; but the look that flashed
through them during that brief interval
was as quickly yelled as he said, in tones
whose slightly tremulous accent seemed
quite natural under the circumstances
"Accept my sincere congratulations,
Miss Lawrence =
Then, with pressure of the hand, he
was gone.
Once outside of the house, however,
the mask fell from his countenance.
$50" he hissed between his teeth,
s'Roscoe Farnham, the only rival feared
has supplanted me ! But let him beware
his apparent success in no way weakens
the force of my determination to win Rem
ME Lawrence for my wife. He mas not
yet the lady; and the old adage holds
good, that there's many 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 time.
The young men met each other on ap-
parently the most friendly terms, and Neal
had promised to be best man at the pros
pective ceremony.
Calling on Mr.. Lawrence one evening,
Neal desired private interview, at the
close of which Rennie was summoned to
the library.
"My child, said her father, with man
ifest excitement, you have bestowed your
affections upon Il man devoid of honor or
principle Tell her, Neal. =
s'Spare me, Mr. Lawrence, said Neal,
averting his face. "You tell her. will
assist you if necessary.
Between them the story was told
How Neal, in consequence of alleged
suspicious, had been investigating Mr..
Farnham 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 investigating grave charges
against him, which were likely to lead to
his dismissal from the firm.
Now, my daughter, said Mr.. Law
renee, in conclusion, twill you wait to be
publicly involved in this inevitable dis
grace, or will you act the part of wisdom
by dismissing him at once p
Rennie had listened without word or
sigh, but now she raised her beautiful head
proudly.
''I will do this, she answered quietly,
Il will send him letter by James this
very night, and by his own answer | will
Judge him. If he is indeed dishonorable
and unworthy. no letter that he can write,
no matter how skillfully worded, can hide
or disguise it from me 7
And without another word she left the
room.
Twenty minutes later William Neal took
his leave, walked few PAGES away from
the house, then returning, concealed him
self at IA convenient point and waited.
Presently a serving man emerged from
the lower part of MIR. Lawrence S house,
followed by rosy checked chambermaid
1T is too bad sending you all the way
down there tonight the girl was saying.
''You could have dropped it in the post
box just as well -
"Miss Rennie says it 8 to go straight to
his lodgings; and if you had seen the look
on her face you would have known she
meant it, answered James. "Fll be
back before long, for | haven't got to wait
for an answer
He moved reluctantly off, notwithstand
ing and in another moment Neal touched
him on the shoulder.
SIS that you, james p he called,