Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-02-04

ruAJ, siot 10 nOJ " nat want TO say
Nose Hatton's case need never be yours
All IS Harry's, and, except his poverty
never had any objection to Harry as !
son-ln-law. SO when he comes to wish
you merry Christmas, my dear Katie,
give you leave to name the day."
A strange light Genes into the brown
eyes, a strangely re'olute expression
sets the pretty. soft-cut mouth.
Is he coming tonight, papapn
You will find him. | have not the
lllghtest doubt, at the house before you.
u would be hypocrisy for him to pro-
less any grief for that old skinhint uncle,
and Harry is no hypocIite.
You have seen him since his uncle's
aeathP"
Certainly, Katie, and was the first
20 congratulate bim. i trust you withe
draw your objections to my suit now,
sir! he says to me, In his naughty
way; am John Hatton's heir after
ALI A triie hot-headed is Harry, but
good fellow In the main-ohl verv
good tellowl ] have no doubt, Katie.
ne Will make you an excellent husband"
=, lie means TO keep this fortune.
thenr his daughter says, and SAYS Il n
80 odd a voice that her father looks at
ucE, pulzle0s
WIN, Keep .E,i1d If What do .syss yss :: .ssnRe
y ,.s nat should ,9s think sii sSd f,seas, 5
doliari May ] Ssk whaSt5ousand, ii 3
the question:"
Not now, papa, please; will see
Harry first, " she answers, in the same
strange voice-R very quiet voice,
though 1t startles her father.
Look here, my girl, he says, sternly.
know you of old-know your high
drawn Quixotic notions about things
In general, End points of honor and
conscience in particular. / warn you,
don't let us have any of them here, II
you want to be Harry Hatton's wife.
The lad has come fairly by his fortune
let him keep it in peace"
They are at the house with the last
words-words hsrshly and menacingly
| spoken They GO together into the
| parlos, and there, as Mr.. Englehart has
predicted, they find young Hatton alone.
A tall and proper fellow, this Harry
Hatton. with a handsome face, and
eager, happy eyes.
cat last" he cries, coming forward,
both hands outstretched, "just as pa
tience was ceasing to be a virtue.
Thank you for bringing her, Mr.. Engle-
hart. Come TO the register, Katie, and
warm those cold little paws. Has our
stately papa been telling you the good
newsP"
He draws her forward, eyes, smile,
all alight with love and Joy. Last
night he was in despair-last night this
cozy parlor had been forbidden ground.
Sorrow and weeping had endured for
the night, but Joy had come with the
morning. This time yesterday he had
been, o. beggar, aid Katie had been re-
and Katie might be his for the asking.
Papa Englehart, after genial, father
in-law sort of nod, had slipped away
and left them together.
Why don't you speak, little girl9"
cries Jubilant Harry, or has the power
OF speech been frozen within youP Wish
me merry Christmas, Katie, and con-
gratulate me on my capital fortune"
She looks up at him with eyes full OF
wistful love-
:" wish you a merry Christmas with
all my heart, Harry; but congratulate
you on what?"
why, hasn't the dear old dad been
telling youp Then wonders will never
cease. Oh, pshawl OF course he has
| told you that my uncle is deadp"
Poor old Mr.. Hatton-yes, l know
he is dead"
And all is mine, Katie, all. And
next April the old house shall have a
new mistress, and Harry Hatton shall
have a new wife. Why don't you
speakP Why don't you smile? What
is the matter with you tonight"
Harry, you mean to keep this in
heritance?"
keep itP" Harry looks at her in
wonder. by Jove, what a question:
What should do with it but keep itP"
" Resign it to Rose Hatson - Mrs.
Andrews. now-to whom it rightfully
belongs"
4" A most likely idea, and quite worthy
OF Katie Englehart. / have had poverty
and hard work for seven-and-twentY
years, and now when the golden shower
Iails IN my arms | am to resign il to
rose Andrews and her drunken brute of !
husband! No, no, Katie; in the ninee
teenth century men keep al
sas1 she dras s Is ring on her nsF is fg
it on the table before him. Our en-
gagement ends tonight, then, Mr.. Hat
ton. Here is your ring"
He stands gazing at her, utterly be-
wildered.
Katie" he exclaims, "you don't
mean thisp"
Il mean it, Harry. If papa had let
me, would have been your wife in
your poverty-oh, so gladly land
worked for you and with you with all
my heart; but nOw-now that you take
the portion of that woman-worse than
WidOWed-of those children, worse tnan
| fatherless-I would die first"
The gentle eyes flashed, into the pale
cheeks an indignant glow leaped, and
the soft. tender voice rang out as he had
never heard it before.
" But this is all nonsense, Katie" he
cried, impatiently; "sheer nonsense!
ask your father va smile crossed Katie's
lips" ask anybody if this money is not
fairly mine. Rose Hatton, headstrong,
obstinate schoolgirl, elopes with a
scoundrel who only seeks her. fathers
money, and she is disinherited, as sne
deserved. | am his sisters son, ana 10
me what she resigned has fallen"
"Her father forgave her before ne
died, and would have made another Will
if fanother daV had been given him. .u
LOOK here, KATIE" says Hatton, SUI
impatiently, 81 will seek out my cousin
Rosie, and if she leaves her beast OF a
husband, III provide for her ana as 'ne
little ones. Will that satisfy you!
81 knew Rose Hatton," hane ps;nate an
swers. "She was proud ana oOs.tn%vor snnror
and she would die of Starvation soOIeu 1O h1
than accept as charity what IS herS W
right"
He comes close anj stands before her'
ms eyes flashing angrily.
must either choose between To
signing you or my uncle's fortune"
You must"
Ii resign it, am pauper as be-
fore, and your father will order me from
nis doors. You will not disobey your
you" 0'7e
love you, Harry" she says, with q
gasp: | would wait -
1hank you, he says with a short
laugni that is poor consolation. You