Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-08-23
A Matter Of Expression.
A SHORT STORY.
BY J. NJ. B.


pair of laughing blue eyes whose
only other expression was one of ten
derness; ne would approach you with
business proposition or some serious
statement, and while he was going
over the ground his eyes would twin
kle and dance till serious attention
was impossible, and the conference
end in a laugh.
OF course he was engaged, and to
the dearest girl in the world: he had
looked her heart away in her first sea-
son. and equally. CT course. there was
no prospect of their being r>arried
because even the most unexacting
mamma in town, as the dearest girls
mother certainly was. stood out for
definite something be it ever so
small, in the way of income before
letting the young people fix a date.
II had been very nice to have Meta
engaged in her first season. especially
to such winsome fellow as young
Hayes. vino had nice, caresS.ng. re-
spectful ways with the dowagers. paid
them the little attentions the other
y
women, AMI was a good fellow gener-
ally. But now the engag cement was
an cid story, and half dozen girls
VINO had not become engaged till the
season after Meta were calling them
selves 'old married women" already.
Now. Meta was the mos sensible.
--as-weil as the dearest girl in the
h. hOf IN ND
be loved by Charley Hayes. who had
neither money nor vices. was ever so
much better than to marry some fell
low with plenty of both. Still. she
was a soft-hearted little soul. and
dropped a small tear now and then af-
ter an expedition in search of a we'd
ding present for some more fortunate
couple.
The spring and fall weddings went
as far as anything else to keep young
Hayes poor, for no one gives silver
any more. and those old things that
clerks bring out and show you conf
ientially are dearer than diamonds.
She would have made. she was sure.
very ereditable housekeeper. and. TO
quote one Of her aunts. who always
brushed her hair smoothly back and
turned ner gowns. kept strictly
within her income" There wasn't
any income TO keep within.
OF course, young Hayes had enough
10 buy coats that were cut right. and
never wore ready-made shoes, and of
course. the dearest girls mother
would nave the third story done over
and give il to them If il came to that.
but Charley Hayes didn't think it
would be the thing for fellow who
had wife to let her so to her moth
er every time she wanted a gown.
So. even though his eyes twinklei
and laughed. his heart was heavy.
He knew fellow at New Rochelle
stwho had been engaged to a girl
seven years. He had seen them spend
whole afternoon on yacht once
never say a word to each other.
he didn'; want things to get like
I between MIN ana Meta. He was
liking of this in . sunny wir.inw
he Athletic club, and turning over
lir mird two or three ideas no had
oh struck him as rather good. when
heard man ne knew telling ahnut
tile box he had taken a, Mamaro-
k ami what good times he and his
wife were going to have.
Iayes determined TO do something
and there and made his way as
as possible down to a number on
AL street. where a clever business
had an Office. He put the two
positions before him concisely. and
ed down the figures with a pen
on a MANILA pad that lay on the
K The business man followed the
nment with attention. till looking
in interest at a clever point he
Hayes blue eyes twinkling and
lghing as if it was the best joke in
world.
Well" he said before looked at
u, thought you meant it,"
they started for Maiden Lane 10
man who had some lovely uncut
amonds. The ceiling of the mans
ace was being repaired. ami as they
ssed through to the back Office
elere the safe was some OF the liney
stuff the men were using spiashed.
somehow. into Hayes right eye and
burnt like fire.
They got him into a hanson and
round TO the hospital as fast as posi-
BILE, and of course everything was
one. but the lime worked quicker
an the doctors, and when the dear
girls mother let him see her there
doleful black silk patch lined
/ green fastened round his mead
A.with a thin black elastic.
Her mother was very kind. and
would always be a friend to him. but
as there was now even less prospect
than ever of marriage, she was sure
Mr.. Hayes would see" But here
Meta managed to get between ther
and got her arms around his neck and
kissed the patch and tnen the vel
I dye. and said she loved him twice as
much as il he had two
And he kissed her and cnoked q
4 little. and asked her please to go away
row. and she went and got out a pic
kture of him she never used TO like and
took a girl out of a silver frame and
fastened him in, and put him opposite
me other one on her desk. and tnCr
went down toward Union square ard
looked at the silver things, and want