Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-01-04


t deep voice in the sitting-room Upset a
t her colnposure. The box of ginge
a dropped into the pan of undivide
pumpkin the cinnamon followed suit
7 and, all in a tremor of embarrassment
the self-constituted Kitchen taaid sough
in desperation for some way of escape
, AT that moment she would have gon
straight back to New York city withou
} changing her dress but it could not b.
!; done. She could not got out to tn,
highway without being seen from tn,
adjoining apartment; Eor could she ge
upstairs without passing through it
She was literally cornered.
Yes" came from the rext room il
that familiar voice "Im here, Aun,
Nancy, and you ought to feel consider
ably fattered, for, tell you, was sorely
tempted to remain in the city,"
"Hum!' said Uncle Hiram, reflect
lively. Il hope you amt got no sweet
heart"
The other laughed hearty, mag
netic laugh it was.
Why, Uncle Hiram, when was here
before, you wouldn't be satisfied because
| hadn't such possession. You talked
matrin,ons from morning till night.
What has changed your"
ooh y said the old man, lowering his
voice to an appalling whisper, plainly
perceptible to the blushing listener,
Pm of the same mind now; but don t
want you to take up with anybody, and
we've got just the incest little woman
here visiting"
"Oh T. interrupted the other. $50
you propose turning matchmaker; but
it's no use, Uncle Hiram. l haven't
exactly sweetheart; but | know a
young lady whom | should very much
like TO see in that role, and if | can't
get her, l won't have any ybody."
"Who can she be?' wondered poor,
haif-conscious Maud, while the old arm.
er sighed his disappointment, and then
asked, with some interest: :" Is she a
city grip
"Un, yes !" returned the other. "But
don't let that prejudice you against her,
Uncle Hiram. She's not bit vain or
affected, and want you to be real good
friends if-pshaw Pm talking at ran
dom. My partner, J ohm Marvin-ycu 1--WE
seen him, uncle-is following her up at
great rate, and if he don't marry her,
it will be the first time he ever tried for
anything and didn't succeed so, you
see, there's no great cause for worry !"
and with half smile, half sigh, the
| handsome fellow walked to the window,
and looked out.
"Lor' bless me!' said Aunt Nancy,
something's burning. | bet Maud
there has forgotten them pie. left in
the oven; and open flew the door be,
tween the two rooms, and, all of a furry,
the old woman approached the corner
where poor, happy, embarrassed Maud
had shrunk away out of sight.
"Why, what's the matter, child ?"
with curious look at the scarlet, quiv-
ering face. "Come into the sitting
room, an be introduced to my nephew"
Then, as the young girl hesitated: " Lor'
child, you needn't care for what you've
got on. You look enuff sight prettier
than when you're tinifed up;" but as
she still held aloof, the old lady hit on
another tack. "Hugh! Hugh !" she
called; "come out here" And Hugh
came. 81 want to make you acquainted
with" and here she stopped in
ther words, Hugh had approached her
visitor, and taken both hands, with
MAUD Avery, what are you doing
here?'
Cooking" was the quiet reply, for
the young lady's composure had some
what returned.
81 should think so!' with very
comica look at the burnt pies Aunt
Nancy, with many groan, was rcmov-
ing from the oven. "But what in the
world brought you down here ?'
He was still holding her hands, while
the old pair looked Oh delighted. She
pulled them away, and said, in consider
able confusion:
al didn't know you were - the
nephew"
lie gave her one bright, flashing look,
and then turned away; but in that
glance both felt themselves understood.
Later in the afternoon, with the cook
ing done, and everything in readiness
for the morrow, as Maud stood by the
window, thinking on the strange fate
which should have brought them to-
gether down there, he approached.
"Maud, felt terribly at having to
decline your mothers invitation; but |
should have felt worse if had accepted,
| and you Deen absent. DuC now came
Mrs. Avery to consent to your absence
at such timer
This was delicate subject for poor
Maud, and she stammcred very coE'
tedly, as she replied
Well-you know-well-, didn't
want to see the tiresome pokes, and
tod mamma I'd snub them all if she
made me stay"
pheasant prospect for meif I'd gone
Very complimentary, as it is" said he
grAvely, although if she had looked up
she would have seen a light in his eyes
which contradicted the soberness of hi
speech.
"Oh! but" she began, anxious t.
exonerate herself you know you were
not to be there"
"Ah!' with perfect seriousness. "St
you didn't decide on this visit until thu
reception of my regrets that it p
Maud felt herself entrapped, and tn
rosebud mouth quivered suspiciously
/, as, drawing her close to his heart, h
/ whispered:
"Little girl, you are caught tina
8 was what I've been trying all day t
. discover"