The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-01-26

L axe her, Ronald SAID. III She love:
you, her old mother will give her up.
would rather give her to you than any
body"
With sigh the girl turned over half q
dozen pages-the first skip she had made
She could not read of that happy time
without endangering her purpose and
peace of mind. The happiest women's
lives have no history, it is said, and the
six pages Constance passed by sufficed
for the six happy months of her engage
mcnt to Ronald. She found herself at the
day following her quarrel with him. The
mother was mystifed, distressed:
Constance will not talk about it, but
l am dreadfully afraid this is serious
quarrel. She eats nothing and looks
white and miserable. suppose it was
that foolish escapade of hers in going
driving with Mr.. Benson. think Ronald
is particularly jealous of him because he
is so wealthy and successful-as if Connie
cared for that! She only encouraged him
out of caprice, and would have explained
if Ronald had given her a chance. He
probably took high hand with her, and
so she rebelled. But she is too naughty,
fear, and hope Ronald will not give in
to her too soon, or they will never be
happy together. Connie does not know
that old Mr.. Freemen's money will not
go to Ronald if he does not marry with
in two years. He would not let me tell
her"
Constance sat up straight. Here was
news that startled her. Was this the
reason Ronald had proposed to her !?
Was it to insure his income that he
wanted to marry? She had known his
old father was eccentric, but this new
proof of it was amazing. A rage took
possession of her that Ronald should
have made, or tried to make, use of her
for his mercenary ends. But she read
further, and found the folio wing day thus
recorded:
Ronald came to see HE tonight. Con
stance was out at Mrs. Bryan's at re-
hearsal of her play. AS R resigned
from it yesterday, she thought it her
duty to stick to it. The poor boy looked
pale and worn. and begged me piteously
to ask Connie to see him. Irefused, how
ever, to let him go to Mrs. Bryan's for
her, thinking it better to let her come
round herself. told him how proud she
is, and what high idea she has of man
liness She knows she is in the wrong,
Ron, l said to him, and it would do you
no good to apologize to her You must
be firm, and she will soon put out
friendly hand. When she does, you may
be as sweet to her as you please, but
my earnest advice is to wait for her to
make the first overtures. Ifyou don't,
you will spoil your life He promised to
remember and act on my counsel,
though it was so hard, and then said:
DO you know the terms of my fathers
will, Mrs. Hastings? Does Constance
know them? p said that l knew them,
but had not told her. I am so glad, he
said, for | would not have her marry me
for pity or anything but love, and she
might be good and impulsive enough to
do so, if she thought she would harm me
by refusing. You know had no idea of
it till six months ago. Ny father was
most eccentric man, and lived in fear of
my becoming dissipated. When l in
formed my lawyer that l was going to
be married, he told me of the peculiar
terms of the will, and said that he in
tended to give ope years warning only,
as he had hoped was going to marry
Constance-but now it is all overn l
cheered him up, and promised to do
what 1 could, but Connie is hard girl
to reason with. She is headstrong and
stubborn. Oh, 1 pray it will all come
right yet, even if it takes time! ~
The girls eyes were full of tears; she
could read no further. The record of her
wooing by John Benson had no attrac-
ton for her now. She closed the book
and laid it down. So he had really been
true, after all, and loved her of his own
free will, without the motive of preserv-
ing his inheritance. Nor had he given
her up so easily as she had feared, but
Welded to her own mothers unwise adj
vice.
She rose, and from a jewel-box on the
dressing table, took out small gold
locket on a long chain. From within the
grave, deep eyes of Ronald Freeman
looked at her with honest manliness, as
they had always done. 1t was all she
had kept to remember him by; his ring
she had returned with his other presents
and letters, and had dared to keep only
this locket, which he had given her long
before they became engaged.
ut is not too later' said Constance,
slowly laying her magnificent half-hoop
of diamonds its velvet case, and throw
ing the slender gold chain around her
neck. She pressed to her lips the little
locket of her old lover, and then. falling
on her knees beside the chair on which
lay the little white kid book, laid her wet
cheek upon it