The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-02-16
A REGRETTED Refusal


tive and the soul of honor. His mother
died while he was a child, but ne hau
never entirely recovered from her loss.
His father he had seldom seen. Wheth-
err this was because his business neces-
STATED his absence Arnold uld not
know. At his mothers death the boy
had been placed under the care or MS
fathers sister, where he had remained
til he had entered the army. His IA
Their. who was rich, supplied him liber-
ally with money.
At twenty-five Lieutenant Withers, |
while serving at Fortress Monroe, met
among the visitors Mt 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 to Miss Thorndyke. 1t is said that
oppositcs are usually most likely to at
| tract. but in this case certain similar
psychological traits drew the two to-
Scther They We're both conscientious,
both honorable. Miss Thorndyke was
not sure of her heart in the matter and,
fearing to wrong the man she both nd
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 Withcrs 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 a captain and was one of the
most promising officers in the army.
He had been sent abroad to study and
report ON certain ordnance problems and
was considered an authority In his de-
partment. Nothing prevented his be-
ing fnvorite socially except dis
taste for society. Occasionally to
freshen Il too serious disposition he
would attend ball. but he seemed to
see under the polite attentions of the
jewellers their real selfishness. $50
, ciety," he said, "is 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
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 it was plain to
all his friends that he was q changed
man. lie had inherited nearly mil
lion dollars but it was supposed that
, this would not deter one so prominent
In his profession from remaining in the
9 army. Withers had no sooner return
= ed than he sent his resignation to
b Washington, and soon after his brother
officers were electrified by the news
that he was a citizen. Then it was
4 surmised that he would take the presi
1 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 a handsome residence on the
outskirts Of large city. There With
! ers went, settled himself, and the world
, without its walls knew him no more.
When Arnold NVithers shut himself
S up in his castle Luella Thorndyke was
e 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 he
e hand. But when she returned ant
|, heard the rest of the story she was puz
Is zled. There Is something in the mlnt
Of woman for diyining the troubles
Of those they love-a sort Of wireless
telegraphy.
Luella was sure that Withers had re
ceiyed some great blow. Now was tn,
, time for her to comfort him. But how
Between them flowed Il stream that sh,
was not permitted to cross. He coul,
: come to her if he would. but he woul,
not. If she but knew that he was o
the same mind as the night he told he
# Of his love on one of the classmates O
Fortress Monroe when the moon wa
. scattering fantastic ribbons on the wa
!. ter, she would have written him. Blu
:, tuil WIS Ten years ago, anu now Qlt
- she know but that he had gone into re
r treat for another disappointment Il
= love?
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
:, \ reply came, thanking her. 1t ais
= said, among other things: when, tie
u years ago, I found that you could nc
: return my love / felt that wedloc
a would never be for me. Now that ha
happened which renders this resolutio
inevitable"
oh, that her answer to him had bee
ID different. Had she become his wifi
lie she would now be in position to con
70 fort him. AS 1t was, his sensitivcnes.
>. his high sense of honor, would not PEI
N NIT her to share his burden.
lie The years rolled on. Once in grea
h while she would receive short lette
ID from him. to which she would repl
without revealing what she felt excer
sympathy.