Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-02-28
A Regretted Refusal
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LorigInal.l

tive and the soul Of honor. His mother
died while he was child, but he had
never entirely recovered from her loss.
His father he had seldom seen. Wheth-
er this was because his business neces-
STATED his absence Arnold did not
know. At his mothers death the boy
had hevn placed under the care Of his
fathers sister, where he had remained
till he had entered the army. His IA
ther. who was rich, supplied him liber-
ally with money.
At twenty-five Lieutenant Withers,
while serving at Fortress Monroe, met
among the visitors at Old Point Com
fort Miss Luella Thorndyke. Withers,
who had given but little attention to
the opposite sex and had been rather
displeased than otherwise at the an
Cling they had honored him with, gave
way 10 Miss Thorndyke. 1t Is said tnat
opposites are usually most likely to at
tract. but In this case certain similar
psychological traits drew the two to-
gether. They were both conscientious,
both honorable Miss Thorndyke was
not sure of her heart in the matter and,
fearing to wrong the man she both adj
mired and respected, refused him. She
had scarcely done so before she regret
ted her action. "But If he loves me as
he thinks he does" she argued, "he Will
come again" But Withers was not
man to look back He was stoical fell
low, and not even his most intimate
friends knew Of his wound.
Ten years passed. Withers had be-
come captain and was one OF the
most promising officers in the army.
He had been sent abroad to study ana
report on certain ordnance problems and
was considered an authority in his de-
partment. Nothing prevented his be
ing O favorlte socially except dis
taste for society. Occasionally to
| freshen a too serious disposition he
would attend ball, but he seemed to
see under the polite attentions OF the
jewellers their real selfishness. so
ciety," he said, ''is a masquerade, the
gay costumes and engaging manners
being masks to conceal the hollowness
underneath" After an hours at
| tendance he would withdraw and was
not likely to feel the need Of another
social refreshment for months.
When Withers was approaching his
thirty-sixth birthday two important
events happened He was promoted
to be major and his father died. Dur
ing his fathers last illness the son
went to him and remained with him
till he died. After the funeral he re-
turned to his post, but 1t was plain to
all his friends that he was changed
man. He had inherited nearly a mil
lion dollars, but 1t was supposed that
this would not deter one so prominent
! In his profession from remaining In the
army. Withers had no sooner return
ed than he sent his resignation to
washington, and soon after his brother
officers were electrified by the news
that he was O citizen. Then 1t was
surmised that he would take the presi-
dency of some large corporation. What
he would do no one knew, for he told
no one of his plans. His father had
left him handsome residence on the
outskirts of a large city. There With
ers went. settled himself, and the world
without its walls knew him no more.
When Arnold Withers shut himself
I'D In his castle Luella Thorndyke waf
In Europe. The first news she receiv'
ed was that her former lover had In
herited a fortune. She rather hoped
that. since she was wealthy, Withers
might have kept away from her, feel
ing that he could not match her for
tune, and now this objection being re
moved he might again ask for hel
hand. But when she returned ano
heard the rest Of the story she was pu2
zled. There is something in the MIND
Of a woman for divining the troubles
Of those they love-a sort Of wireless
telegraphy.
Luella was sure that Withers had re
ceived some great blow. Now was thu
time for her to comfort him. But how
Between them flowed a stream that sh'
was not permitted to cross. He coult
come to her if he would, but be woul'
not. If she but knew that he was o.
the same mind as the night he told hel
OF his love on one Of the classmates O
Fortress Monroe when the moon wal
scattering fantastic ribbons on the wa
ter. she would have written him. Blu
that was ten years ago, and how dl'
she know but that he had gone into re
treat for another disappointment n
lover
Assuming that he had received
blow-and she was sure OF this-sh
felt at least permitted to offer sympa
thy. She wrote him friendly letter
A reply came thanking her. 1t ais
said. among other things: "When, tel
years ago, found that you could no
return nv love felt that wedloc
would never be for me. Now that ha
happened which renders this resolution
inevitable"
Oh. that her answer to him had bee
different! Had she become his wifi
she would now be in position to con
fort him. AS it was, his sensitivenesi
o his high sense Of honor, would not pei
, NIT her to share his burden.
, The years rolled on. Once In grea
|, while she would receive a short lettC
from him, to which she would repl
= without revealing what she felt exceT
i sympathy.
!. At last the recluse died. There ws
. no will, and the estate was admini
|, tered by the state. Thus 1t came Of
q that Withers was an illegitimate chill
n He had beeIs ignorant Of the fact unit
n his fathers death.
When Luella Wlthers learned II
a truth she regretted far more than b
. fore Che irrctrievable step she had tai
On In speaking that one word mo"
f. A. MITCHELL