Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-03-05
hen R1a
Aon
b JACK LAYTON
scasgrssAs. asis. y waasma Nsu1aapaDaF palsa.l

source OF interest and speculate Ion
TO his townspeople For though he
had grown up among them. and many
remembered the days Of his carefree
boyhood, Paul had among them no In
innate or confidant. Even natural
affection for the opposite sex seemed
20 have been denied him.
Paul, falling into the succeeding line
Of lawyers In his family, took up the
business where his father laid Ii down.
and modestly started upon his career,
with neither alteration nor improve
nent Of the old. welI-known Office. But
In paul's practice there was this differ
ence. money was not an important fac
tor: his ambition was to remedy mat
tiers where most needed. And his free
consultations were a great benefit to
the countryside. The housekeeper
who prepared PauI's meals III the IN
changed home Of his father spoke adj
niringly Of his sweet and patient dis
position.
Many maidens who secretly @dmired
his fine dark eyes and the wtls:sAing
wavy hair on his forehead. sighed dis
consolafely at his indifference. Paui,s
distinguished bearing and manner Of
speech must always bring to him an
admiration. neither sought nor desired.
Rhoda Caruth. in her stately man
sion ait the end OF the towns avenue.
had come the nearest to winning
Paups friendship. But as years
passed even that friendship seemed TO
drift into q sort OF perfunctory &C.
quaintance.
It was not strange that Paul's inter-
est 10 his townspeople remained.
Rh0da was altogether charming; even
now with her first youth past, the
charm remained. And Rhoda was
wealthy, sole heir to her Aunt
Agatha's fortune.
One evening, when the early moon
light turned the tall poplars to siI-
yer. Rhoda came forth in her white
gown and. descending the broad stone
steps Of her home. walked swiftly
down the long street to where d light
still burned IN Paul Webster's Office
window And when she had climbed
the narrow stair to his door, she stood
breathless and pale. awaiting his APP
pearance. Paul, too, was pale when
he saw her there, but he bowed cour-
teously as she stated her errand.
II hive come. said Rhoda, TO have
you straighten out some property pa.
pers. I am going todispose OF my
home"
Your home I, echoed Paul. Alb
sently he drew forth chair, md
Rhoda sat down and looked into his
eyes. 1t was very long since they had
sat like this. Paul arose abruptly.
Rhoda smiled.
II wish, she said, ITO donate my
home for city hospital. and you, to
arrange the matter. Wait, she inter-
rupted Pauls evident intention to
speak II want to explain myself.
You, who knew me In my girlhood,
will remember Aunt Agathas complete
dominion over me- There were those
who put false construction upon my
docility. believing the hope Of obtain
ing aunt's property to be my motive
But this was never so. Only one IN
my place could realize the penalty of
disobedlence to her wishes. In one Of
aunt's frightful hysterical attacks
i don't know what else To call them
annoyance or disregard for her VIII
would be sure To bring on spasrn
which might last for hours, leaving
both her physician and myself en-
hausted. And so when fell in love,
not with girls passing fancy, but
as woman must love but once and
forever, I-failed to acknowledge the
truth to my aunt, knowing that her
wish was to keep me free unmar-
ried, as She had been, and the con
tinued dispenser OF her charities.
But my lover was also dominating
and his cause was just.
Impatient at my dallyfng. he took
me with him one summer day to
country parsonage, and We were mar
ried. You see, cannot yet speak 0f
that time without break In my voice,
and tears in my eyes. / loved him
No, yet like one other traitor had
denied him within the honr. Master
fully my husband announced the fact
of our marriage standing beside my
Aunt's chair and while her face al
ready growing ligld turned to mine
denied the truth poor. fearful.
vembIlDg coward that was NY
husband had gone. would have called
him back. But the shocking announce
ment brought on one Of aunf's pro
Ionged attacks Andwhen she had
gone. they read to me the Will BE
cause Of my allegiance to her. was
sole heir 10 her fortune.
When my husband heard, he be-
lleved what all had believed before
him but with deeper reason. / Was
50 despicable Iii his sight that my let
fers to him came back Unopened. and
DO soul. save m old country minister,
ever knew Of Our marriage. So now,
Paul. come to yOu to help me to dis
pose at that which was never right
fuIiy mine
The woman's voice ended tremu-
lousy. while the man with tense face