Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-02-04
OVER THE SNOW.
Hark the herald ! angels sing,
Glory 20 the born King

Hark the herald angels sing,
Glory 20 the newborn King!
rang out from the choir, and the organ
!st, slender, pale-faced girl, %i:h grave,
beautiful brown eyes, Joined in the an
thems, all her soul in the triumphal
words:
joyful all your voices rise,
Sing the anthems OF the skies;
With the celestial hosts proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
1t was the last of the rehearsal. The
choristers threw down their books, only
too glad to get away. The organist
alone remained, to play over once more
new voluntary.
Good night Miss Englehart." Good
night, Miss Katherine!" GOOD night.
Katie, and a merry Christmas eve, - were
the cries, as, one by one, men and maids
lett the choir, and went down the stairs
and out into the bright, white Christ
mas night.
Miss Englehart's smiling lips and
gentle brown eyes answered them all.
moment and she was alone, only the
white. piercing moonlight streaming
through the painted oriel over the altar,
sI1ld the one dim light below. A flare
OF gas lit the organ loft, but this she
lowered. anu with rapt face and dreamy
eyes she played over and over again the
ubilant new voluntary. She might
have gone on for hours-she was quite
capable OF it-but piteous yawn from
the boy at the bellows recalled her from
heaven to earth.
OH" she said, stopping suddenly.
with halt laugh, 81 had forgotten Won
Jimmy. Well, / won't play any more :
and here, take this for your Christmas
box" - -''''
Jimmy jumped up and seized the
profered greenback with glistenine
Thanky, Miss Kate-merry Christ
mas, please ma'am," cried the boy, seiz.
ing his cap. "Ah!" she's a brick, she
is, said Jimmy to himself, as he clat-
tered down the steep stairway. "No-
body among all the singers ever thinks
Z ( the boy what blows the bellowses.
'cept her. Don't Just hope she won't
marry that long-legged rooster that
'scorts her there sometimes, and leave
the choir for good"
Still few moments longer fingered
Miss Englehart on her knees: then she
too, hurried down the stairway and cut
INTO the shining coldness of the starry
December night. High and white and
cold lay the Christmas snow. No
ssIreen yule" this 10 make fat the kirk-
gard. Cloudless and blue spread the
Ky, filled with sparkling Christmas
tafs. Could that other night, 50 long
glory 81 sne isor shons around ssassi sns d..
have been one whit fairer than this
Katie"
With great start the girl came back
over eighteen centuries, from Bethle-
hem to the town of Southport. A tall
man had started up in her path, and
spoke her name.
"You, papaw he girl said, in doubt
and surprise, the color that had arisen
to her face fading out.
"I-Katie." He drew her hand under
his arm with a laugh. did you think
it was Harry Hattonp Well, it is almost
as good, for have come to talk to you
of him
Miss EngIehart looked up-a sudden
trouble in her brown, tender eyes.
81 thought you had done talking Of
him, papa" she said, tremble in her
voice. 81 thought yesterday had fin
shed the subject forever"
"Let me see. What was it / did say,
Yesterday ?" says Mr.. Englehart, bland-
". "Ahl / remember! that my stiff
necked, doting old client, John Hatton,
had made up his senile mind to forgive
his runaway daughter and disinherit
Harry. Under these circumstances, l
very naturally tod you that you were
to meet Harry no more. You're good
girl, Katie-a very good girl! MIR.
Englehart pats paternally the little
hand on his arm" and at any sacrifice
to yourself you would have obeyed me,
am sure. My dear, it affords me great
pleasure to inform you the sacrifice will
not be required"
"Papal" the girl cries, her whole
face lighting up, you will let me marry
Harry, poor as he is. Oh, papal am
not afraid of poverty-not afraid of
work; neither is Harry, and"
oh, poohi my dear, poohi nothing
OF the kind. My opinion on that point
nes never changed. and never will. No
nos IL IS something INFINITELY Detl er Inan
that. Old Hatton died suddenly lasI
night, before making. the proposed new
will, and all is Harry's."
Katherine Englehart uttered a fa;n,
startled exclamation.
And the old will, leaving all te
Harry, stands, and his only daughter /
disinherited and left out.n
Lett without silver, nv dear. and
serves her right, say /. She ran away
with a worthless scamp, against heI
fathers will, and, like all fools, has paid
the penalty of her folly. She supports
herself and her five children by sewing
so have been told. and you know wi al
sort OF support tnat means Serves hel
right, l say again. John Hatton has
done what it was his duty to dow hal
would have done in his place-sast