Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-06-13

urc you would have in introducing your
husband, with his yellow hair and shut
fling walk how proud you would be of
him-how you would glory in him Oh,
| envy you your husband y
Mary. how can you go on so ?" said
Fannie, wreuching her hand away from
her sisters grasp. q Haven't l said !
hate him Don't show my dislike to
him in every possible way?"
"Oh, yes; but you allowed the posi-
bility of loving at last, you know you
did Papa would rather see you dead
than married to that man! He shall
forbid him the house this very night y
and Miss McAllister gave all the family
the impression that Fannie was half in
love with ''that horrid Mr. Barnes" and
they all amused themselves ridiculing her
and abusing him. until Fannie (who Sc
crctly missed his attcntions) longed to
take his part. She recalled many things
he had said and done which showed him
to be charitable and good, and if he had
no grace of person he was intelligent and
refined She regretted now all the silly,
girlish tricks she had played upon him,
and remembering how invariably polite
he had always been to her, looked back
upon her behaviour with remorse.
That horrid Mr. Barnes troubled
the squires family no more. If he ever
met them, he passed them with polite
bow Fannie thought he had gone en-
trely out of her life. and while she would
not own she cared for him at all, she
thought of him great deal.
Since that horrid Mr.. Barnes" had
been dismissed, Fannie had changed, and
the change was visible to all the family.
Not that she mopcd or was blue. She
laughed and sang and danced as much as
ever; but all her childishness and kitten
like freshness was gone, and in its place
came a slight touch of womanlincss and
dignity infinitely more charming at least
Mr. Barnes, watching her from dis
lance, thought so. He had not given
her up. No power on earth could make
him do that until she gave herself to some
one else, and yet considering her personal
appearance and advantages, and his own
LONELINESS, awkwardncss and age, it is
strange that the man did not despair 1t
seemed as if he knew he had the power
to make her love him in spite of all if he
had the chance. 1t came at last
Mrs McAllister and her eldest daugh-
ter sailed for Europe with party of
friends, leaving Fannie to keep house. -
Fannie was delighted with housekeeping
and she and her father had a merry time
Of it for a few days. Then he was taken
sick, he grew rapidly worse, and Fannie,
at first astonishcd at the queer things he
said, found that he was dclirious. The
doctor came, examined his patient. snd
said "Fannic, ! may as well tell you
the truth--your father has the small
pox."
Now, Fannie was mortal, and besides
that she was a woman, and trcmbled to
hear her father had that most loathsome
disease; but she had no idea Of leaving
her father to the care of hired nurses,
and asked for the doctors directions with
a composurc that showed that she could
command herself very well.
q Doctor, who is sick in that house Z"
Doctor Ives turned as he was stepping
into his buggy, and saw 'that horrid Mr..
Barnes.
"Oh is that you, Mr. Barnes? Why
the squre's sick got the smallpox, and
nobody to take care of him but Fannie,
poor little thing do not believe can
get nurse for him before tomorrow.
81 Is that so Then | will go and do
what can until the nurse comes"
"That's good fellow No one will
90 near Fannie when they hear what dis
case it is. It's dcuced hard; but it's
the way of the world, and tell you,
Barnes, before you go, that's very bad
case p
~ do not mind. | have nothing to
lose and everything to gain" he added,
under his breath.
"Well, goodbye" and the doctor
drove off,
Mr.. Barnes walked up squire McAllis-
ter's steps, and rang the bell. He told
the girl, who did not know him, that he
wanted to see Miss Fannie. and telling
the girl TO remain with her father, reluc-
family went down to the parlor. There
stood that horrid Mr.. Barnes She
held out her hand, and burst into tears,
but, as he took her hand in his, she
hastily wcthdrew it, saying, " You must
not stay here, Mr. Barnes p
"Miss Fannie" said Mr. Barnes,
"t the doctor told me about your father,
and mean to help you to take care of
him. ! have seen many cases of small
pox and know just what to do"
=" Oh he is so sick !" sobbed poor
Fannie, and | don't know what to do.
"Of course you don't know, poor
child p Mr. Barnes longed to take Fannie
in his arms, and comfort her. =" Fannie,
will you trust your father to me p
Fannie looked up. She had never
seen q that horrid Mr. Barnes" look so
well. There was something 50 tender
in his voice and eyes; something so
manly and reliable about him, that Fam
ME said, impulsively:
g | would trust you with everything,
only it seems so selfish"
. Don't think that, Miss Fannie. /
must go now, but will be back in an