The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-01-26
A Regretted Refusal
fOriRinal.1


Arnold Withers, lieutenant In the
United States artillery, was n notice
able young man. He was proud, sensi-
tive and the soul Of honor. His mother
died while he was child, but lie 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 been 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 Mt 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
displcased than otherwise at the an
CLING they had honored him with, gave
way to Miss Thorndyke. 1t is said that
opposites are usually most likely to at
tract, but i'm 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 MS
he thinks he does" she argued, 'he will
come again." But Withers was not a
man to look back. He was n stolcal fol-
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 and
report on certain ordnance problems AMI
was considered an authority in his de-
partment. Nothing prevented his be-
ing q favorite socially except dis
taste for society. Occasionally to
freshen too Serious disposition he
would attend ball, but he seemed to
see under the polite attentions of the
revelers 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
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 it was plain to
oil his friends that he was a changed
maj man. ! He had inherited nearly mil
this would not deter one so prominent
~ 49,, ,,->.. ..au no sooner return.
Cd than he sent b,s ros;. ,eturn-
os,cnnn ,s.on' and soon after his brother
that te,s were electrified by the news
al ne was citizen. Then r. wos
.,u that he would take tho nrasi
te OF some large corporation. Wbo+
"ouid 10 no one knew. for ba toL,
no one OF his plans. His fotbor hna %
ei. nim handsome residence m tt
'u'sklrts OF large city. There W;.I,
.is went. settled himself, and tho ,vor,,
Inout rr It's walls knew him no moro
When Arnold Withers sbut hIr
~ IN MS castle Luella Tborndvra 80
:, europe. The first news she receiv.
- wus that her former lover had in.
eli'eo fortune. She rather honod
ua' SINCE she was wealthy. witbors
nave Kept away from her fool,
- 'nat he could not match hor son
me- ana now this objection beino
ne might again ask for her
a M hut when she returned ond
safa tne rest Of the story she was mn.
Gu. 1here Is something in tho n,,n,
woman for divining the trouh,aa
legraphy. " wireless
Lueiia was sure that Withers had r
vea some great blow. Now was tho
NC ior her TO comfort him. But bows
tween them flowed stream that sbe
- not permitted to cross. He o,,,I,
'e !. " her II he would, but he wouId
t. II she but knew that he was ~
sa'ne mind as the night he told ,,an
his love on one Of the cnsem,tns -
rtress Monroe when the moon ,noa
|uerlng fantastic ribbons on The ,,
sne would have written him. Rnt
= was ten years ago, and how did
know but that he had gone into 70.
~ =. ror another disappointment IN (
o ssulnihg that lie had received q (
she was sure of this~sba 4
q. % ,east permitted to offer symna. n
sne wrote him a friendly letter Is
epiy came, thanking her. II a,so u
> among other things: when ton y
- aso' found that you could not n
ia ,n my love I felt that wedlock III
ID never be for me. Now that n bon III
,ened which renders this resolu,i"n as &
table" ie''iutioh ht