Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-04-24
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
| A Bird I'm !
The Bush !
OVerbalanced by One ]
In the Hand I
By SARAH BAXTER

When mamma and went to London
we took letters to persons there who
were abundantly able to introduce us
to society. Lord Barkerdale, eldest son
Of the Earl Of Edgerton, showed me
especial attention and ended by pro-
posing to me. He told me he loved me
desperately, and when protested that
a marriage between us was out Of the
question, owing to my not having a
fortune, he declared that he loved me
so well that dowry made no differ
ence to him whatever.
Now, the facts about my pecuniary
condition were these: While had no
fortune and my parents were only
passably well off for worldly goods, l
was to inherit 100000 or more from
an old bachelor uncle who had one foot
in the grave. Very few persons In Amer
ica knew anything about this expecta-
ton, and | had not only refrained
from telling any one In England, but
had especially cautioned mamma not
to do so. l was therefore satisfied
that Ralph Barkerdale loved me for
myself alone, and since he was fasci-
mating man and | was pleased at the
prospect of some day becoming Lady
Edgerton 1 accepted his proposal.
was invited to the country seat Of
the Edgertons and well received by
the earl and the rest Of the family.
This was very gratifying to me be-
cause had been told that the earl, ex-
cept for land, was poor, and 1t seemed
to me that he would expect his sue
cessor to tho title to marry some one
with means. had a charming visit
and went back to London well satisfied
with my matrimonial arrangements.
Nothing was said about setting time
for the wedding, but since we were
only recently engaged that was not ex-
pected. / was young, had not seen
much of life and was In no hurry.
twas about month after this visit,
when the London season was at its
height, that Ralph said to me one
evening:
There's something l wish to say to
you by way Of precaution. II you were
English | wouldn't need to say 1t, but
i have understood that you Americans
expect from the moment of an engage
ment that your fance shall devote
himself exclusively to you. Our girls
know that any attention we pay to any
one else doesn't mean anything and
are not so exactIng."
NTf hAnutatt tn hnt
girls you devote yourself to-" l replied,
provided you don't concentrate your
attentions upon one person"
That's just the reason I'm going to
tell you about It. I'm going to show
considerable attention 10 an individual.
My cousin, Roger Battersea, has got
himself engaged to Lady Constance
Everard, n younger daughter OF the
Duke Of Wilmington. Roger is a
deuced fine fellow, but Lady Con
stance, while she is OF good family, IL
-well-will you keep a secret"
Eyes; go on"
Lady Constance has n husband.
The world doesn't know It, but such Is
the fact. She married suddenly, and
her father packed the fellow Off by a
payment of 10000. They're getting an
annulment or divorce or something Of
the sort, and when It is obtained she
is going TO marry Roger. His mother
Is furious over II. She asked me II l
wouldn't try TO persuade her son to
give up his infatuatlon. | told her
that TO interfere would DO to get my |
self dlsiked. Then she suggested that |
II Ia him hAm nnHatIah1n ahu |
Constance Is by winning her away |
from him. I told her ! couldn't do It |
without your consent"
] didn't like the arrangement at all |
and said nothing for some time while |
he awaited my reply Presently |
gave II:
"You are free and with my consent |
to devote yourself TO any one you like |
until we are married After that |
will not divide you with any other wo-
man. have heard that marriages |
here among the nobility are usually |
made for convenience instead OF love |
and that the wife Is expected to stand |
q great deal from the husband. II |
other American girls care TO put up |
with that sort OF thing they are wei
come to do 80. / won't. You may tell
your aunt that you have my consent to
save her son from an unfortunate mar
rlage, and confess I think your plan
an excellent one"
spoken like sensible girl" said
my iiance. you American girls have
so much snap to you! One OF our girls
would have whlned and made fuss"
met both Roger Bnttersea and Lady |
Constance In society and became &c
qualnted with both OF them. Batter
sea struck mo as n man who would
not need to be saved from a misal-
lance, and Lady Constance seemed to |
be an ordinary woman Of fashion,
with no especial depth TO her but |
otherwise unobJectionable. But one |
doesn't get to know persons by meet
ing them casually, and for some time |
after | met these two saw very little |
of them.
was aware, however, that Ralph |
had begun the work Of proving TO his
cousin how tickle was the woman he
wished TO marry. heard nothing
about this secret mdrriage Of Lady
Constance, but since It was secret
nd not expect 10 hear anything OF It.
For Sale In ROalxvlIla