Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1914-01-31
A Bird I'm
The Bush
OVerbalanced by One
In the Hand
BY SARAH BANTER


We took letters to person, there who
were abuudauuy able a. introduce Us
to society Lord Barkcrlac. eldest son
OF the Earl OF Edgcrton. showed me
especial attention and ended by pro
posing 10 me- lie told me- hc loved me
desperately. and when I protested that
Il marriage between rs was ont Of the
question owing 10 my not having a
fortune he declared that he loved me
So well that a dowry made no differ
encc 10 him whatever
Now the facts about my prcuniary
condition were these While had no
fortune and my parents were only
passably we'll or for worldly goods
was 20 inherit $20O0.OOO or more from
an old bachelor uncle who had one foot
In the grave Very few persons In Amer
ica knew anything about this eXpccta
ton. and had not only rcfraincd
from telling any one in England. but
had especially cautioned mamma not
to do 50. was therefore satisfied
that Ralph Barkerdalc loved me FOR
myself alone, and since he was a faSci
mating man and | was pleased AT the
prospect OF some day becoming Lady
Edgerton | accepted his proposal
| was invited 90 the country seat Of
the Edgertons and well received by
the earl and the rest Of the family
This was very gratifying 70 me be-
cause had been told that the earl. ex
cept for land. was poor and it seemed
TO me that he would expect his sue
ccssor To the title TO marry some one
with means had q charming visit
and went back to London we'll satisfied
with my matrimonial arrangements
Nothing was said about setting a time
for the wedding, but since we We're
only recently engaged that WAS not *
pcctcd WAS young had not Srcn
much 81 life aud was IN no hurry
II was about a month after this visit
when the London season was at il,
height that Ralph said to me one
evening
There's something | wish to say 70
you by way ~ precaution. II you were
English | wouldn't need To- say IL. but
have understood that you Americans
expect from the moment Of an engage
ment that your iiance 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 eNarting"
1T doesn't matter to me how many
girls you devote yourself to- ! replied.
provided you don't concentrate your
attentions upon one person"
That's just the reason I'm going Ia
tell you about 1t I'm going 10 show
considerable attention to an individual
My cousin. Roger Battersea. has got
himself engaged 10 Lady Constance
Everard a Younger daughter OF the
Duke Of Wilmington Roger is 4
deuced line fellow. but Lady Con
stance. while She is OF good family. Is
well viii YOU keep secret
Yes 20 on 4"
Lady Constance has a husband
The world doesn't know H. but such is
the fact She married suddenly. and
her father packed the fellow of by u
payment OF tlOuo They're getting an
annulmcnt or divorce or something "
the sort. and when it Is obtained she
is going 10 marry Roger His mother
is furious over il She asked me- II
wouldn't try 10 persuade her son To-
give up his infaiuatiou I told her
that 10 interfere would bc to get my
self diSlikcd Then She suggested thar
/ prove to him how unreliable Lady
Constance is by winning her away
from him told her couIdl't do Il
without your consent"
didn't like the arrangement nj al
and said nothing for some time while
he awaited my reply Presently
gave IT,
You are free and with my consent
10 devote yourself 10 any one You like
until we are married After that
will not divide you with any other NO
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
great deal from the husband II
other American girls care "a put az
with that sort OF thing they are wei
come 10 do so won't You may tel
Your aunt that you have my consent a.
save her son from AN unfortunate mar
riasc. and / confess ! think YOUR plan
an excellent one
spoken like a sensible girl" said
my flame" You American girls have
SO much snap to you' one ot our girls