Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-11-25
''Goin' to marry her, Frank ?"

daughter of an unknown adventurer. No
matter how thorough a lady she might
seem, and the sweetheart OF the iollv
keen-eyed, strong-amed stage driver
were two different persons, and when
the lonely girl entered upon her new
duties the next day, she was surprised
at the kindness and consideration OF
all about her.
Frank did not try to weaken the i'm.
preston which his words had made. He
knew that it would be her surest protee.
tion; and he felt an intense desire to
protect and to help her-she was 50
delicate and sorrowful, SO absolutely
alone, now that her unnatural parent
had deserted her.
Two or three uneventful DAYS went
by, Cora filling her new situation with
satisfactory promptness. Every night.
on the arrival of HOLSTERS stage. she
was left to wait upon him in the dining
room
She felt an instructive confidence in
! this big. bluff. sun burned fellow. There
was bond of sympathy growing be-
tween them which she had no desire to
break.
One day, twenty miles down his route,
Frank heard a bit of news which worked
hing into feverSa.sf impatience. Never
nag the wh'P c'~&A-ap sharply over the
aahks Of his sturdy LQrses ne7er had
he made lsatfsss.sessssas
when it seemed to him but snail's
pace.
At last, however. the stage drew up
before the inn whose roof sheltered the
girl who, in few short days, had grown
inexpressibiy dear to the driver
He held hurried consultation with
the hostler. which resulted in the latter
agreeing to drive the stage ON to its des-
tination for a certain sum of money.
Then Frank went into the long din
ing-room, and seating himself at one OF
the small tables in a secluded corner,
he waited for Cora Pressy.
He flushed to the roots of his crispy
curling brown hair as he smiled at her
She noticed it, and wondered silently,
thinking, meanwhile, that he was not
half bad looking fellow, with his
broad brow. honest eyes and firm lips.
"Miss Cora" he said, rather awk-
wardly, 81 would like to have you ride
with me this evening, if you will. /
have something of Importance to tell
you," he added, hurriedly, growing
redder than ever with embarrassment
Cora looked at him wistfully. Was it
something about her father? But she
dared not put tke thought into words
there were too many about. SO she
merely bowed her head in acceptance
OF Als 1nv1tnAfa.e. \
Hair an hour loses she was tucked in
to trim little cutter beside him, dash
ing along over the white moonlit road
and waiting anxiously for him to reveal
| the matter OF importance at which he
had limited.
But Frank was curiously silent for a
long while. It seemed to Cora that he
would never speak. At last, with a
sudden effort, he said:
'Miss Cora, you've known me only a
few days, but you've seen enough of me
to know that | am a blunt spoken fell
low, so hope you won't be upset by
what I'm going to say. I'm not much
of fine gentleman, but / haven't any
very bad habits and make fair living,
and-and d-well, [ want wife, little
gal, and | love you. II you'll have me,
iii do my prettiest to make you the
happiest woman in the country"
Cora smiled up at him through tear
filled eyes, and this gave him courage
to slip one arm over the back of the
cutter and draw her closer to his side.
She murmured something about be
ing almost stranger to him but Frank,
grown wonderfully bold, pressed with
his lips the lids over the girls dark
eyes, and queried:
'Do you love any other man ?"
''No, she answered, honestly enough;
II believe you are the best man / ever
knew"
Whereupon Frank kissed her again.
upon the lips this time, and made sec
ohd proposition, to which at first she
would 1T listen. But the will and
| the energy of her earnest hearted wooer
carried the day, and the result was a
cali upon Justice of the peace and
when they re-entered the inn that night
the girl was Cora Pressy no longer, but
Cora Hollister, and Franks face was
radiant and triumphant.
In the dingy waiting. room an excited
crowd was gathered.
Frank endeavored to hurry his vile
past the doorway, but her quick glance
had caught glimpse Of a familiar
| figure.
"FAtherI" she cried, and stepped into
the room.
Yes, there he was, haqgered and dis
hevelled, with blood-sh eyes and un-
shaven face. He might have been fine
looking once. There was just the ghost
| Of debonair about him still despite
his wretchedness. An officer guarded
him on either side.
What has he done?" cried Cora, with
pallid lips
Some one in the crowd answered bru-
tally enough:
"Killed a brother gambler twenty
miles back. They're taking him through
the city"
Then the poor little bride went into
a dead faint in her husbands $ arms, and
he carried her upstairs with his brown
cheek against her white one.
| All night he watched beside her while
she went from one deathly swoon into
another. At last in the gray morning
she smiled sadly into her husbands S
eyes, and whispered
"Do not be troubled. will go away.
Not if l can help it." answered
Frank, with grim set Of his under-lip
Then all at once he put his face dowr
on the pillow beside her and began tc
cry like a two year-old baby.
With her slender hands she strokec
the mans big curly head, and talked tC
him in sweet, weary way that went
straight to his warm heart.
"Dear FRIEND" she said, "I know how
unselfish you are, but will not allow
you to make such sacrifice. You shal
not share my shame"
"Look here. little woman, | knew all
about this affair yesterday morning
that's why | was in such rush to get
married. / knew they would bring Col
mel Pressy through here, and l Iknewif
did rot make sure of you then, that
l. l. IL -