Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1921-01-14
An Old
Beau
By RALPH HAMILTON
"a 1870. western Newspaper unlon.1

"Oh, an old beau of LesbIas," was
the way Mrs. Durand replied to a
nelghbor when the latter, noticing
stranger coming and going from the
Durand home through two days, was
curious to know his identity.
mot very old, Mrs. Durand," OBJ
served the inquirer. slightly older
than Mr.. Mayhem, but still young
man."
"0h, yes" replied Mrs. Durand, "but
he always was staid and reserved and
looks beyond his years. When we
lived at Rochelle, Foster Brock was n
favorite caller at our home, sort Of
chum Of my son and willing atten-,
dant and faithful slave Of Lesbia's.
When say beau, l do not mean that
they were In love with one another.
Just boy and girl friendship. When
Alton Mayhem got acquainted with
Lesbla and married her, Foster
seemed glad and happy to have her
settle down In life with so worthy
young man. He is on his way to Ore
gon, where he expects to Join some rel
atives, buy small fruit farm and be-
come a bachelor agrlculturist."
HE is fine looking man, and so
gentle and pleasant In his ways"
commended the neighbor. "He had a
coterle Of little children about him yes
terday, mending n top for one, fixing a
kite for another and feasting the en-
tire group on Ice cream cones. He
seems beyond the average In his good
ness of heart"
Yes, Foster Brock had good heart.
and an aching one, If 1t must be
known, but he had concealed that fact
for long time and was likely to pre-
serve It as a secret. Little did Mrs.
Durand read this sterling friend
Alright. His was nature deep and
lasting In its loyalty, full of noble In
spirations, but patient, resigned where
he did not receive the reward de-
served. The one impelling emotion Of
his life was love for Lesbia. He had
repressed the impulse to tell her of 1t.
His attitude was that Of devoted
friend with brotherly interest in her
WChulNs nud HGNtI buHDtNlCh
real sentiments. Had he disclosed
them before her maiden fancy was cap
tlvated by Alton Mayhem, 1t might
have been different, for Brock was a
person any girl might honor and re-
spect. So he bore his cross In silence
when she married and now had de-
cided to isolate himself and seek to
forget the pain Of his disappointment.
Lesbla had received him with all Of
her old-time glrllsh friendllness. Her
husband made this sterling friend Of
the family heartily welcome. He was
certainly model husband and Brock
was glad that something he knew had
never reached the ears of Lesbla. He
had ascertained that In the past for
over year Mayhem had led reck-
less, Irregular career. II seemed, how.
ever that the influence OF Lesbia had
won him from even the memory Of
that bad year In his life. Its Incidents
had been confined to far distant Sec
ton, and Brock was gratifl0d MS Tina
went on that not so mucn ms whls-
per Of the truth reached the ears Of
the woman he loved.
It was his last afternoon In the city
and about o'clock Brock walked over
to the pretty little home of Alton and
Lesbia Mayhem. They were out for
an auto ride, the maid told him. bur
had left word that If he came he was
to wait for them and she placed mn
easy chair for Brock on the cool and
shady porch.
A man came up the garden path a
few moments after Brock had COM
fortably seated himself. He was
shrewd faced, keen eyed man, suggest
ing the collector or pettlfogger. lie
slid unlimited into chair beside
Brock, bestowIng upon him search
ing glance.
II hoped to find you alone, Mr.. May
hew," he said, looking about TO see
that no one was in sight. 81 would
dislike to arouse the suspicious Of
your wife or bring any public disgrace
to you. | think we can fix up mat
ter that hangs over you and dismiss
Il once for ALL"
"Speak on" ordered Brock grimly.
The covert threat implied the warning
that the happiness Of Lesbla might be
involved In this mans visit and
aroused Brock to keen interest at
once, and he allowed the fact that no
was accepted as Alton Mayhem to
pass.
Briefly and finally, then" said tho
stranger, "a client has placed In my
hands document you forged eight
years ago. You will recall It. You
were under the influence Of bad adj
visers at the time and no one suf-
fered n loss, but the note you 80 fool
ishIy gave stands against you to dis
rupt your happiness and that Of those
dear TO you unless you redeem It."
"And the amount involvedT
1.-TWO thousand dollars"
The sum almost exhausted the full
amount Brock had to invest In the
farm he coveted His lips set and then
softened as he thought Of LesbIa
II will pay the money-giye me the
note" he said, as quietly as though
he was purchasing some cheap bau-
Bile.
And Alton Mayhem never knew, noe
Lesbia. And a lonely man, tolllng for
others far removed from them, is glad
and happy for the final sacrifice that
insured peace and happiness to the