Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-07-29
ELEVENTH EAR.--NUMBER 46.
course when she fell out with grand

Three days passed. At the end of
the third, Piety Pratt stepped in at
Mrs. Rashleigh's-young Mrs. Rash
leigh, as they called her, though she
was nearly fifty, for grandma was old
Mrs. Rashleigh.
81 expect you'll feel upset when
1 tell you the news, Cornelia," said
she. you've been too cruel this time
he, he, he Orville Spear hasn't been
heard Of since he was at your house.
His mother said he went over to ex-
plain and make up, and he never
came back-he, he | She thought
maybe he'd stepped over to his
brothers, but he hsdn't--he, he ! |
reckon he's drownded himself" !"
II don't know why the whole town
should talk over my fairs, and ev-
cry meddling old maid giggle about
them ] cried Cornella.
Piety jumped to her feet, seized
her parasol, and turned towards the
door.
"Good afternoon, Miss Cornelia and
Mrs. Rashleigh !" she said with
contemptuous courtesy. "Ill romem-
Der my manners, if other folks forget
theirs. Only there's other folks as
likely to be old maids as me, and l
fancy it's Mrs. Spears affair if any
thing has happened to her boy p
Away founced Miss Pratt.
you've put Piety into rage, Cor
nelia, said Mrs. RaUhleigh. "That's
pity she has long tongue"
But Cornelia was crying.
ooh, mother, DEAR" she sobbed, ait
ISM true, is it :? Orville did feel dread
fully. Won't you see, mother ?"
But at this moment Sally, the little
servant girl from Grandma Rash
leigh's, came flying into the room,
without any more warning than if
she had been shot from gun.
"The old missus says you are to
come over at once, both you ladies'"
she cried, standing before Mrs. Rash
leigh, and repeating her lesson like a
parrot. "There's something OF import
snce, snd you're needed at wonst."
"Get your bonnet, CorBelia,' said
her mother "I'll just put on this
sun-hat. What is it, Sally, do you
know ?"
IL know it's something dreadful.
Missus is almost wild, and there's
lots of folks there. Something about
Mr.. Spear"
The two ladies said no more. They
hurried away together, and, entering
grandna's parlol, found there assem-
bled more of the members of the
Spear family, and friend or two be-
sides.
Orville had indeed disappeared.
He had never been home since his
visit to Cornelia and now the alarm
ed relatives were anxious to get all
the information they could regarding g
the interview between Orville and
Cornelia.
Il had reason to be angry, Mrs.
Spear" said Cornelia proudly good
reason; and took off my ring, an d
gave it back, and went out Of the
room. That is all I know. | don't
know when he went or where. II
thought he wouldn't mind SO much.
| believed he had stopped caring for
me-"
"He ought to now at all events"
said grandma.
"My boy is dead, I'm sure I shall
have the pond dragged" said Mrs.
Spear, amidst her tears. "He left all
his money at home. He wouldn't
have gone travelling without change
of clothes. Oh, you wicked girl r.
II hope" cried tie eldest Miss
Spear, "that he'll haunt you !"
"I could kill you, you hateful
thiugl' cried the youngest Miss
Spear.
Cornelia had kept up bravely un-
til now but when her two friends
turned upon her thus, she gave a lit
tie scream, and fell over on the sofa.
She was in a dead swoon, and the
water they sprinkled in her face did
not bring her to.
Grandma grew frightened.
"I hope it isn't an sttack of heart
disease" she said. "Poor child she
looks as if she were dead"
"Oh, don't say that |" cried the
mother.
II