Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-12-09
A MINE OF RUBIES.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.


A thin mantle of snow covered the
earth like tattered garment, making
the landscape seem unfinished and nm.
bearably dreary.
Arnold Wait regarded the picture of
desolation from his car window. half
regretting that Duty insisted upon his
going up into the country to spend
Christmas with his Aunt Ennis, who
was as disagreoable as Duty herself
while Pleasure beckoned him over TO
bis favorite Aunt Helen's house in the
city.
His Aunt Ennis had sent invitations
to her three nephews for Christmas
day, and while two of the young men
had sent regrets, Arnold, who had
soft heart, could not say her nav. for
sip was as lonely as if she had been the
i-;1i!5 ;s.iiteYaS!o . woman in Christendom
Eixtg5o15 P'tg ,,as ,,,ar,o tr;arss ',s',''
II those who knew him best most of all
Gentle and deferential to ladies always,
Yysesionasely fond of children, and,
though scarcely over twenty five, on the
high road to business success, no one
knew of his ever appearing to be in
love, or of offering his hand in mar
riage.
4 devoted brother to his one married
sister he proved, and his Aunt Heller
was as fond of him as of her own sons
"Why don't you get married, Ar
mold p was question that met him a
almost every turn.
81 am looking for wife," he woulG
answer, almost earnestly; ''but l mus
find her in my own way"
He went out in society great deal
but he seemed as fond of the wall
flowers as the bellies He spent hi
summer vacations in travelling; he sub
scribed to all the society papers h
was acquainted with the brightest an,
most fashionable young ladies far ant
ooar-yet he never appeared to fall il
love.
Has Arnold ever had disappoint
ment2" questioned an old lady OF hi
Aunt Helen, one day.
"Never, you may be sure, or h
would be soured in some way. Besides
| have known Arnold intimately ever
year of his life, except, perhaps, HI
last in college, when l was in Europ'
But if he had fallen in love that yea,
he would never have graduated as b
So it was settled. and Arnold wer
ais way, "A wonder among men
This afternoon, while his eyes locke
out upon the wintry scene, his hea
looked back over many years-or VIII
seemed many years to him. He saw
corner of "a half warmed, half lighte
church, young girl seated upon a pi
! Of cedar-boughs, weaving wreaths
cedar and hemlock and holly, her ey
dropping half over her work, and ha
because his own sought them so ear
! estly.
Her cheeks were flushed, too, n
7. altogether from walking in the win
and her white hands, binding Il
boughs together, moved unsteadily.
He fingered over this picture 10
ingly; never since had he seen ia
so sweet.
Tomorrow" she said (for he we
on with the old memory, papa is COZ
ing for me-after all, I shall not see Il
decorations here at Christmas time"
He remembered it all so we'll, even
the sorrowful lifting of the rare broy
eyes.
i Tomorrow, Ada !" he echoed, in ]
III gretful surprise, "if you go to.morro
N when shall we ever meet again q
n 81 don't know" she said, bendil
her head over her work still lower, un
he could see little but the crown of Sc
brown hair which was brushed ba
into heavy braid that swept the boug
beside her. And then, in explanati
3 of the whole, she drew from her pock
z a letter, and placed it in his hands.
{ 1t was from her flther, and he re
& it, the angry blood mounting to his ta'
: and he was slow to anger, too. 1t wa
J harsh letter, saying her aunt, with VIII
| she was staying, had written word t!
I Ada had forgotten herself, and given
( promise to wed one of the studel
I although she knew he had other pl
for her.
j, He was coming for her at once, a
p as there was no reason for delay,
must prepare to wed her Cousin Carl
coming Easter tide.
- SIS your cousin ugly or old?" Arr
- asked, as quietly as possible.
~ "No he is young, he is handsome
- is kind-but, all, do not love him,
never will"
"But you will be obliged to m
c, him, Ada"
She looked up into his face-a fri
ened glance.
"There is but one remedy" n