The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-12-01
A Decisive Note
Eliza beth Strong Worthinston,
Author of "i;ov TO Cock Husbands"
, Copyright, 1915, By l. D. Marshall !
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

4 NbIUi tytt, rug, ~ 4. ~. VA SftIlt z
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Ii was the last of July, and Harry
Reynolds trunks and bags were pack
cd for home. Right glad he was of it,
too, although everything had been done
TO make his visit to his college friend
pleasant He had yachted, played golf,
polo and tennis; he had danced and
flirtcd until satiatcd. Now he was
tired and restless, and he was going
home to loll around and refuse invita-
tons until his present host, Bert Fern
by, was ready to join him in n Rocky
mountain hunt.
The girls had all but wept over his
departure.
You take the season with you, Mr..
Reynolds" said one.
But | leave its faircst blossoms" he
replied.
More than enc girl had flung herself
at him. to be gently and flatteringly de-
clincd. They had one and all given
him occasion to know his power, and
lie was no dullard. He fully realized
his attractions and was we'll pleased
with himself.
Whats that-the mailT' he asked,
running down the stairway to meet tie
footman, whose hands We're full of let
JcrS.
On the way to his room, absorbed In
his mail, he stumbled into Miss Leland,
the plain little goVerncss of the Fernby
children.
Il beg pardon, Miss
But there he had recourse to mum
bling, for he had seen so little of her
that he had forgotten her name.
There were all sorts of letters in the
bunch he held in his hand, both gOssipy
and tiirtatious. One was an adorinG,
pleading note from a society girl that
made his face crimson with pity and
shame There were Invitations, and
was that all? No. He picked up lit
tie note in Il woman's hand that had
fallen to the floor and opened it. There
was no address inside, no signature,
1t read;
"Will you ever be a man, or Will you
always content yourself with the shall
low praise of shallow people? God made
you handsome; your parents made you
wealthy; ease made you good natured.
You Yourself have done nothing but
shirk your responsibilities in world
that calls for workers. What right
have you to self satisfaction? Shame
belongs to you instead. Be man! You
can. with Gods help, if you will"
REYNOLDS let the note fall and leaned
back i'll his chair.
1t was the first time any one ever
had addressed such words to him.
Something within him began to Vi
bratc. He felt priclilcs throughout his
| entire being. and the sensation was
we'll nigh as painful as when sleeping
| foot is being slapped into action.
For an hour he sat almost motionleSS;
| then he rose, Il new light in his face, a
new thrill il every tibc".
Picking up tie letter. he rcau aloud:
BE 4 man! You can, with Gods help,
| if you Will"
with Gods help, l WILL" he muir
INJURED in Il low, rcsolute voice.
There was a knock at his door. IAN
| exprCssman for your luggage, sir" said
| the f0otman.
Send him away" answered Harry
impulsively. I've changed my mind.
I'm not going today"
Aha exclaimed Bert Fcrnhy, who
| just then ran upstairs and overheard.
80 you've come II your senses. Moth
or didn't talk in vain after all. Come
on. now, and well have a sail instead
OF Il ride to the station"
But all through Bcrt's chatter quite
| different thoughts We're repeating
themselves in various forms in his
| guests brain.
II must learn who wrote that note,
Ny very sou. goes out to her"
A month of search was ended, and
Harry's fair inspircr was still un-
known. For awhile all the family won
dercd what had come over Tie boy He
went eagerly to every gathering, but
always came away detected. But fOl
two weeks now he had seemed less
restless. Indeed, his host complained
he had become Il stupid old bachelor
wanting nothing better than chance
to stay about the house and chat with
Mrs. Fernby or with Miss Leland, the
quiet little governess,
Again he was packing his trunks fol
home when, putting his letter paper