Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-05-14
The Slater-Ashley
Affair
BY RAY LEWIS
:. .s-s-s"s-s-s-s-.-.-s-s-.-s- ..-s-s-s-s-s"ss
: ~ 1871 by MeCllre N.mapaper synhlcatel

Srr:e below, whore many couples
moved IN rhythm with the seductive
cad":nr, of the paluEembowcred or.
chrsira. lie had wandered into the
chapter house IN search of AIN old
ciassnate and had paused for a mo-
mcnt 10 look on.
Suddenly, who is that wonderful
woman" he exclaimed grabbing the
arm of the young fellow nearest him
and pointing out slim figure swayIng
in the dance on the floor beneath
"Who dye mean?" Billy Walters
leaned farther over the balcony. "Oh,
that. Why, that's Miss Slater, libra
rian Of the Mary Webster Memorial
has been here several years.
The man who had addre sSed him
made no comment. but merely con
tinued To wait for the reappearance of
the slender. silk-draped figure in the
round of the waltz. George Wander
pyle had seen many women in his
f0rty-odd years OF life. but never, 50
he told himself. had he seen as beau
tiful, as graceful as attractive one
And to think of her being incarceratcd
in the Mary Webster Memorial
Where were the men. to permit such a
thing?
Nanderpyle. back for his twentieth
reunion, had dutfully done what was
expected OF him as II wealthy alumnus.
and made the rounds of the various
university buildings. He recalled the
Mary Webster Memorial, erected since
his time, as an archtecturally perfect,
severely classic building of cold Stucco.
with Il dim. vaultlike interior-admira
bly, adapted. no doubt. for the preser
walton Of fragile first editions and rare
manuscripts. but hardly suitable en-
vr0nment for the wlnsome, glowing
bit of flesh and blood he had just seen.
He did not remember having seen her
there. No doubt she had an assistant.
Suddenly, the man smiled. whimsi-
caly. All his life a mere desire on
his part to see thing accomplished
had prcdlcated its accomplishment.
And although thus far the field Of
that fact might make a venture there
all the more Interesting.
Surely out of all his vast acquaint-
ance he could pick some well-favored
bachelor sufficiently cultured and
worthy 10 Rescue the beautiful libra
rian from the clutches of the Mary
Webster Memorial and place her in the
environment To which her loyelnesS
and charm entitled her
But first he would like TO meet her
to make sure that she fulfilled upon
acquaintance the promise of her face.
who'll Introduce me to herr he
asked young Walters, much to the lat
ter's amusement. These old fellows
coming back were dandy chaps and all
that, and demanded loyalty as fra
ternity brothers. but IL was odd to
think Of them being interested in the
female sex lie considered moment.
refiectively.
Then. why. let me see" he said de-
cisvely. You might ask Jack Ash
ley-he knows everybody"
Jack Ashley The boy had hit II.
Jack Ashley not only knew everybody
but everybody knew Jack Ashley. knew
of him as one of the finest products
mental and physical ever turned out
by the university. Vanderpyle knew
Il little of his history since graduation.
He had hunted big game In Africa
had served with the Canadian troops
had become an American ace, and was
now being spoken of for an important
diplomatic post. And there was the
very man h. was looking for What
IA pair they would make.
lie found Ashley nj the Union, swap
ping cigars and stories with other
members of his class which was about
ten years later than that of Wander
pyle Like the canny inancier h. was
the latter approached his object OBJ
liquely For he was becoming as en-
thusiastic over the match rs was his
custom In closing a business deal in
vOlving millions.
Settling himself in decp.cuShioned
chair, he joined in the conversation
Not till its close did he direct his at
tentlon particularly to Ashley Then,
I'm Interested" he began, 'in the
Bcreton Americana. Come over with
me in the morning to the Mary Web
stcr Memorial and tell me what you
think of the collection"
Ashley amiably agreed and the con-
versation drifted Ia othT channels
Vanderpyle. regarding the man oppo-
site. wondered how he had escaped the
matrimonial net. Surely 1t could not
have been through neglect on the part
Of the women! Perhaps he was await
Ing an ideal. 81 perfect that he had
never found her.
Al the thought, Vanderpyle nearly
chucklcd aloud. She had been found
for him
Next morning the two men met at
the small library which was Srdately
situated on side street beyond the
catnnus aunrt fran tho wuVS trnddpn