Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-12-02
PORT TOBACCO, MARYLANb DECFURFP re1

scarceIy bake ia. fast enough. PeopI
came hsif dozen blocks TO buy th
yellow pumkpin- pies and delicious
apple-tarts; children brought then
boarded pennies to invest in chocolate
sweetmeats, vanilla caramels,and cream
cakes with puffy shells and delicious
centers OF sweetness. The little money.
drawer grew fat with and Aunt
Debby's dim eyes grew bright and
hopeful again.
And one day Mr.. Herbert Valance.
walking by with Medora May, stopped
and looked in.
] isn't that your cousin Grace" said
lie, "behind that counter ?"
Medora turned crimson with vexation.
My cousin Grace?" she cried NO.
indeed We are not-in trade"
What possessed her to utter this
deliberate falsehood, Medora could not
afterward have told. Partly the sting
OF false shame, partly a disinclination
for Mr.. Herbert Valance to know that
her relations were not, to use her own
expression, "ladies aul gentlemen"
MIR. Valance looked up at the sign
over the door.
The name is May" he said, indif-
ferently.
Yes" said Medora, angry at herself
Tor blushing SO deeply, "but we are no
relations"
Mr. Valance thought over the matter
sfterward he bad met Miss May at an
evening party given by friend, whero
pretty Grace Crax4ll was also present.
ha no 4 fal Al
bright blue eyes and delicate blonde
beauty of the former. Valance Hall on
the hill just ont of the city was solitary
enough, nov that his sisters had all
married and gone away, and perhaps a
man might find a less attractive and
graceful wife than Medora MAY. But,
- he could not be mistaken, he thought,
in Grace Craxall's identity!
And so, the next evening, at about
the same time, he sauntered into the
shop.
Grace was behind the daintily clean
little counter, taking some newly
baked maple caramels off the pans. She
looked up with smile.
Good evening, Mr.. Valance" said
she.
(' &c." he thought, "I wasn't mis-
taken, after all. And the little blue
eyed seraph is mortal enough to tell
lie IN spite of her angelic appearance r0
But he looked serenely at Grace.
" l did not know that you were in
trade" said he
Didn't you? Well" merely re.
torted Grace, g l am my aunt Deborah's
shop girl just at present / always
come here in the evenings to help her.
Because" she added, with sweet shade
of seriousness coming over her face,
Aunt Debby was old and poor-aud
she didn't quite know how to maintain
herself in independence. And unfortu-
nately my wages at the factory are not
enough for us both. 50 | advised her
to open this business. And she did.
And shes doing very well.ezAnd she
bakes she most delicious bread and pies
you ever ate, so with a saucy twinkle
under her eye-lashes, "if you know OF
any customers. will you please recon-
mend our firm ?"
"To be sure l shall, " he answered, in
the same spirit. And / am very glad,
Miss Craxall, to see that you are not
ashamed of being a working girl"
'Of course I am not" said Grace.
"Why should l be ?'
"But your cousin Dedora is"
Grace gave little shrug of her shout
ders. Very likely" said she. Me
dora and [ differ in many things"
Mr. Valance bought a pound of cara
mels and went away.
"She is a beauty" he said to him
self. "And she is a sensible beauty
into the bargain. One of those rarC
arises in our country,a thoroughly well
balanced girl
He must have been very well pleased
with his purchase, for he came agair
the next evening just in time to wall
home with Grace Craxali And the1
talked over Aunt Deborah's affairs. anC
concluded that as -four was low jus
then, it would be a favorable opportu
nifty for the old lady to lay in her win
ter's stock through Mr.. Valance, whc
was acquainted with one of the grea
New York grain merchants !
Only a few weeks had elapsed, wher
| Medora May cleo ctrified with amaze
rnent to learn that hor cousin Grace wa.
engaged"
'' To some master baker, or journey
man confectioner, I suppose" said she
contemptuously.
No" said Grace, with eyes roguish
ly sparkling, "to Mr.. Herbert Valance.
"I-dont believe-it, said MedorO
growing red, then pale.
But it's really SO, said Grace. SAN
We are to be married in three months
And Aunt Debby is to come to the Hal
and live with me, as soon as she ca
dispose Of her business to advantage
And, dear Medora, I hope you vii
often come and visit me there"
Medora May did not answer. Sh
could not. But in her secret heart III
recognized how infinitely more success
full in fes list had been Graces true
/ frank honesty than her own subtl
and devious course.
t Like many another, however, til
5 lesson had come to her too late