Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-05-19
A Regretted Refusal
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able young man. He was proud, senSi
tive and the soul of honor. His mother
died While he was a 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 been placed under the care of his
fathers sister, where he had remained
till 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 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 to Miss Thorndyke. 1t is said that
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, she will
come again." But Withers was not a
man to look back. He was a 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 and
report on certain ordnance problems and
was considered an authority in his de-
partment. Nothing prevented his be-
ing a favorite socially except a dis
taste for society. Occasionally to
freshen a too serious disposition he
would attend a ball, but he seemed to
see under the polite attentions of the
jewellers their real seIfishness. $50
ciety," he said, sis a masquerade, the
gay costumes and engaging manners
being masks to conceal the hollowness
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
all his friends that he was a changed
man. He had inherited nearly a mil.
lion dollars, but it 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 q citizen. Then it 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 a handsome residence on the
outskirts of a large city. There With
ers went, settled himself, and the world
without it's walls knew him no more.
When Arnold Withers shut himself
up in his castle Luella Thorndyke was
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 her
hand. But when she returned and
heard the rest of the story she was puz-
zled. There is something in the mind
Of a woman for divining the troubles
Of those they love-a sort Of wireless
telegraphy
LuelIa was sure that Withers had re-
ceived some great blow. Now was the
time for her to comfort him. But how?
Between them flowed q stream that she
was not permitted to cross. He could
come to her if he would, but he would
not. If she but knew that he was of
the same mind as the night he told her
Of his love on one of the classmates of
Fortress Monroe when the moon was
scattering fantastic ribbons on the wa
ter, she would have written him. But
that was ten years ago, and how did
she know but that he had gone into re-
treat for another disappointment in
love?
Assuming that he had received a
blow-and she was sure of this-she
felt at least permitted to offer sympa-
thy She wrote him a friendly letter.
A reply came, thanking her. 1t also
said, among other things: 'When, ten
years ago, / found that you could not
return my love l felt that wedlock
would never be Tor me. Now that has
happened which renders this resolution
inevitable"
Oh, that her answer to him had been
different! Had she become his wife