The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-08-26


Her thoughts were interrupted by
| Louic's voice 1T the door. Aunt Janet,
{ re you there :" And Louie rushed I'M
petuously i'll. "0h, Aunt. has he gone :"
What he :" asked Aunt Janet.
"Why. Bernard, of course ooh, aunt,
am SO unhappy" And the girl sank
into "a chair and began to cry.
Lady Janet flew o her side What is
the matter, dear? And why are YOU so
unhappy"
Bernard is going away from England
and all on account of me-
II understood something Of this from
the hoy. have just seen him. He told
me that he asked you to he his wife, and
that YOU gave him no answer"
But that's just it, He didn't ask ME.
So how could answer him -
Listen to me for minute. What
answer are you going to make Lord
Clayton? He can give YOU home, name
and position And have very little to
give YOU"
ooh, Aunt Janet, but don't love him.
cannot be his wife. And | do love Ber-
nard, though lie is SO stupid. And can
be his wife, if he asks me. And now he'll
go away, and never know. Aunt Janet,
will you let me go and stay with my cou.
sins in South Africa? | want to go
away, SO that Bernard will remain in
England"
"PerhaLs it is better that you should"
answered her aunt. I'm sorry youcaa't
marry Lord Clayton, but | won't stand
III your way if Bernard should ask you"
Gle will never ask HE now" said the
girl.
"You needn't be afraid of that, my
dear. He is sure to do it sooner or later.
And when he does, tell him that have
no plans, except for your happiness.
love the boy, if fer nothing else, for his
fathers sake" She stopped and kissed
the girl, ard then went quietly out of the
room.
Louie sat upright in her chair, her face
flushed and her hair slightly dishevelled,
but looking very pretty withal. Was
there ever such 4 complication? Here is
Bernard, whom | love, marching out OF
England because won't be his wife as
he hasn't asked me; and here am |, whom
Bernard loves. marching out of England
because he won't ask me-" And she went
again to look at the picture on the easel.
Its very like me, but much more beau
tiful than l could be-
As she was thinking this, Bernard came
back into the room. Louie looked at him
from behind the easel. "Oh, is that you :"
she said in 4 lame kind of way.
81 have come for the picture" he an
swered.
81 have seen Aunt Janet, and you
needn't leave England, because I'm going
to do So
ooh, really I'm glad. OF course. |
don't mean that. But I'm tie right per-
son to go"
"Oh, no. only came to look at the
picture. It's very nice"
ooh, yes. And came to take it away"
Then We can only say good-by again.
Good, by, Bernard"
"Oh, good-by." They claspcd hands,
so nervously that they didn't know what
they were saying or doing. "Good-by,
God bless YOU" His arms were open.
She sanl; against his side, and he kissed
her. In another moment they were sepa-
rated, as they thought, forever.
One week later, and there was a great
hustle at the London docks, for one of
the royal mail steamers was leaving tor
South Africa. Among the passengers
was Louie MAYNARD, who had gone on
board in company with hcr Aunt Janet.
! That lady wished TO see the last of her
| muchlovcd niece before leaving her in the
care of an old friend, Il Mrs. Robinson,
who was going out to South Africa to
| Join her husband, and was delighted to
have so charming 4 companion on the
voyage. Louie had not gone to her cabin
| to arrange her things, as she wished to
spend her last minutes in England with
her aunt. The poor girl felt very discon-
ISOLATE as she chung to her, and the first
bell sounded for the passengers to go
ashore.
Now, my dear, Try and cheer up"
said Aunt Janet. as she chung to her.
"Good-by. And if you see BERNARD, tell
him he's very stupid, and how happy
am to be going away"
ANY one for the shore :" called out an
imperative tone.
"Yes, yes" said Lady Janet.
This way, madam" And Lady Janet
hurried to the gangway and went ashore.
Louie, instead of going to the cabin,
watched from the side of the ship till her
aunt was on the quay, and waved last
adieu as Lady Janet got into her carri-
age and drove away. Then the second
bell rang for the visitors to go ashore.
Louie still remained at the side of the
ship, interested i'll all that was going on
baggage, driven hastily up to the vessel,
out of which dashed young man. He
was soon surrounded by helpers, and
was quickly on board. There seemed
something familiar to her in the figure,
and as the Young man stepped from the
gangway on to the deck she moved to-
ward her cabin, and the two came face
to face.
Louis" BERNARD" And they looked
at each other with the irankest astoniSh-
ment.
What are you doing on board this
ship" asked the girl
"Tmgoing to South Africa. And you?'
going to South Africa. Itoldyou