Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-09-10

self whether his arm would not be a.
round her waist, and whether, in the
shadow, as they fell a little behind
the others, he would not kiss her.
"And you want me to help you"
| asked, aloud.
'Yes, please" ]"
'Come along" I said, "I'll show you
what I've got"
On the farm that was mine, there
was one building, little cow-shed.
We put the tools in there sometimes,
and l had paddock for the door, and
the key was in my pocket.
1t came into my head that | could
spoil his evening for him, and spite
Fam, too, by locking him in this shed.
And if he had spirit to fight me for it
afterwards, so much the better. And
l led the way down into the meadow
where it stood, and unlocked the door.
"Just look in, and see if it will suit
you," l said.
81 can not see anything" said Will
liams, 'It's pitch dark in there. Wait
| have match"
He took one from his pocket, and
stopped to strike it on the sole of his
boot, and then l gave him a push and
over he went, and had the key in my
pocket.
Then went away, and layed myself
fiat upon the porch in front of the
house, and felt happier than / had be-
fore for long time. Revenge is sweet
now and then. l don't pretend to
have none of the old Adam in me.
I'd been there about half an hour,
and the chirp, chirp, chirp of a cricket
was lulling me off to sleep, when sud-
denly heard little light step close
beside ME, and saw a woman's white
dress futtering, and, jumping up,
stood before Fanny Martin. The first
thought that came into my mind was
that she was looking for her beau, and
it made me fiendish.
''That you, Miss Martini" / asked.
eyes, Mr.. Burling," said she; and
though I'd said Miss Martin, how it
hurt me not to be called Ben. 81
came to see your mother. Is she in?"
"No; gone to prayer meeting at
Deacon Dulfs."
"Then I'd better 60 home," said
she;-but she fingered.
"Not looking for some one else:?"
| asked.
"No," she said very sadly. ''Good
night"
But 1 could not let her go without
a cut.
81 thought you'd be on this wonder
full drive" said l.
''Then you were mistaken" she an
swered.
"Did he forget to come for YOU
Mr.. Williams, you know"
81 haven't been asked to drive"
said she. | don't know why you
speak so. The city folks are all by
themselves, and Mr.. Williams, l sup
pose, is with the lady he is engaged
to. She came down last week with
her MOTHER
"Oh," said I.
And l began to wish l had asked a
few more questions, before l locked
young Williams mp in the cow house.
We stood still, rt from each other.
l saw her lip q-. Was it for him? !?
Had he Tilted ner! That was tit for
tat, anyhow. But she was so pretty,
and so sad, and so winning, l felt my
heart give one great throb. took a
SteD nearer-she took another,
"Oh, Ben," cried she, 81 can't stand
it, if you stay angry with me. l al
ways have liked you best, but you've
been SO awful cross" and then she
was crying on my shoulder.
Did You ever make up with some
one you'd quarreled with, loving her
all che time? Did you ever feel, hold
ing the dear face between your two
palms, pressing kisses on the dear, soft
mouth, that it had 4 come back, all
the old love, and trust, and sweetness,
and hope that you thought dead? If
you have, you know what felt that
moment.
l found myself again. 1 was Ben
Burling once more. Not the hot, an
cry fellow, with curse upon him, I
had seemed so long, and all for silly
little woman, how strange it was. Out
of all my life, I'd like to have that
enc snomcnt buck; it was the sweetest
l ever lived through.
Then, what? A splash of crimson
and orange on the white wall of the
house; a cry from Fanny. We both
turned and looked. Up in the midst
of the far meadow rose a column of
flame. The COW house was on fire,
and l had locked poor innocent Will
liams up in it, to be roasted alive.
"Oh, Fanny" cried, glaring at the
horrible sight. "I'm murderer
murderer-don't touch me-"
And away I flew to undo my mis-
chief if there was time. There might
be, perhaps.
Never was such a run as l took
across that long meadow. But when
| reached the door. plunging my hand
in my pocket for the key, | could not
find it. I had dropped it somehow.
1t was not about me.
"Williams!" I cried; civilians! are
you there? l am outside; courage"
There was no answer.
"For heavens sake, if you can speak,
do," shrieked; but silence only an
swered fhe.
Doubtless the smoke had already
smother the poor fellow, but l set to
work and tore away the burning
boards. | was scorched. My hair,
my face, my eyebrows. Twice my
clothes were on fire, but l rolled on
the grass, and was up and at the flames
again. Oh, it was horrible, horrible!
If he had been my rival it would have
been bad enough, but an innocent
young fellow, his sweetheart waiting
for him somewhere. What a wretch |