The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-03-09
A Regretted Refusal
IorlgInall

. 1--WE INV XIX NpWI ~ uoiluA. lIiS lIQlHp
died while he was Il child, but he hat
never entirely recovered from her loss
Ills father he had seldom seen. Wheth
en- this was because his business neces
STATED his absence Arnold did moi
know AZ his mothers death the boy
had been placed under the care OF bis
fathers sister, where he had remained
tin he had entered the army His "a
Their, who was rich, supplied him liber
ally with money.
Al twenty-five Lieutenant Withers
while serving NJ Fortress Monroe, met
among the visitors at Old Point Com
fort Miss Iuplla Thofndyke Nithors.
who had given but little attention to
the opposite sex and had been rather
4 diSpleascd than otherwise mt the am
Cling they had honored him with, gave
| way 10 Miss Thorndyke It n said that
/ oppoSites are usually most likely 20 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 ne loves me as
he thinks he does, she argued, ''he win
come again But Withers was not a
man to look back He was a stoical fel-
low and not even his most intimate
friends knew of his wound.
Ten years passed Withers hal he
come captain and was one Of the
most promising officers In the army
He bad been sent abroad to study ana
report on certain ordnance problems and
was considered an authority in his de.
partmcnt Nothing prevented his be-
ing a favorte socially except a dis
taste for society Occasionally 10
freshen too serious disposition he
would attend a ball, but ne seemed to
see under the polite attentions of the
jewellers their real sclfshness. so
ciety' he said, rs a masquerade. the
gay costumes and engaging manners
heiug masks TO conceal the hollowness
underneath" After nm 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
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
tin be died After the funeral he re-
turned TO his post, but IL was plain 20
III his friends that he was Il changed /.
man. He had inherited nearly a mil
ion dollars, but it was supposed That /
his would not deter one so prominent 4
in his profession from remaining IN the F.
army Wilhcrs had no sooner return +
ii than he sent his rc~gnaton % +
and soon after his brother .
,ficcrs were electrified by the news
hat he was a citizen Then Il was (
urmisc1 that he would take the presi-
lcncy Of some large corporation what
la would do uo one knew. Tor he told +
10 one of his plans His father had
eff him 4 handsome residence on tho
Of large city There With
rs went settled himself and the world
Without its walls knew HIM no more.
When Arnold Wiihers shut himself
Up in his castle Lucia Thorndykc was
n Europe The first news she recciy
d was that her former lover had I'm.
erited fortune. She rather hopcd
hat. since She was wealthy Withers
night have kept away from her. feel
lg that be could not match her for,
are. aud now this objection being re-.
moved hc might again ask for her
and. But when she returned and
card lie rest Of the story she was puz
!cd. There IS something I'm The mind
+ woman for diviniuc the troubles
4 those they love-a SORT Of wireless
IucUn was sure tIat Witbers had re-
civcd some great blow. Now was tlIo
inc for. her to comfort him Eut howe
;cfwcon them flowed a stream that she
VAS not pormittod to cross. TTo rouM
ONO to her IL lac woulg but be wouH
Id. II sbc bun knew thar no was of
he same mind as the icht ne told her
Il bi, love on one OF Tho caseniate. Of
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