Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1882-03-31

blu MISS Allllc hlloW lldI lie "bttlt
come in obedience to her call: Wa
it mere accident which summon,
Miss Flo from his side:
However that might be, when lef
alone, with slow, reluctant movemen
he rose, and, passing through tn
open window, walked with uncertain
steps to the room beyond. The singe
sang on.
Did she see that figure standin!
still and silent just beyond the thres
hold? Perhaps the evening shadow
hid him, as her voice suddenly dier
away in choking sob, and her hea(
bent forward on the keys.
Instantly he was by her side. In
st2ntlv he had raised her head to hi
breast. with his strong faithless arms
clasped about her
"Aline,' he said, "my love, m,
love-
And then uplifting the crimson lips
to his, he bent forward and kissel
them.
And busy with my silver, knowing
naught of this. but wondering how
might unfold to my young mistress
nv suspicious, when heard close
beside me low startled cry. | glanced
up. Miss Flo was standing on the
threshold of the musice room. She
had seen all. She would have fallen
but that, springing forward. caught
her in m7 old arms, as Mr.. Earle came
hastily toward us.
forgot his rank and nv position,
as | waved him off; but even in nv
bitter indignation against him, | felt
for what he suffered when | saw the
white look of misery on his young,
handsome face.
Up the broad stairs | carried nv
Young lady to her room, and laid her
on her couch. Then her mother came,
and left her; but as passed through
the room beyond, saw lying in the
empty CRATE some torn scraps of paper.
Mechanically, with servants orderly
instinct, | stopped and picked them
up, when my eye was caught BY the
meaning Of a single sentence, "the
heir Of the adjoining estate
of course a "gentlemau" would
have gone no further, but | was but a
mere servant, with the interests Of the
family whom had served more than
TWO score years over and beyond all
else.
carefully carried the little handful
of papers up TO my room, and there,
bit. by bit, with hard work and in
finite spelling, | made them almost a
"crfect whole.
Delay your coming little longer,
lear father" wrote the traitoress
The fish is already in my net. |
could laugh at his weakness were
there not such a stake. He is the
heir 10 the adjoining estate, acres on
acres OF which can see from nv
window as write. shall be a grand
English lady vet; and then, who will
taunt me with being the daughter Of
"a circus rider: We will wipe ont
that stain, then, on my mothers side
and you shall have your reward for
all the sacrifices you have made for
me.
Had | discovered a vein Of gold |
could not have gloated more than over
these few words.
Al. now indeed, | could avenge nv
Young lady. and punish her recreant
lover. But the time was not vet
ripe ; | would wait until he had gwen
her his old and honored name. and
then would unmask her ere she had
reaped the glory, and too late for him
TO retrieve the same.
With this determination, | went
back to my duties; but passing
through the hall, Mr.. Earle's voice,
low and yet excited. caught my ear.
Il have been mad - he said. "Aline
forgive me for the wrong | have done
YOU; but you must hear the truth. |
know how that feeling toward you has
been the intoxication of your fascina-
ton. Never can wipe from nv
memory my darling's white, uncon
scious face, | felt as though | had
stabbed her TO the heart and | knew
then that my soul had never wavered
in its allegiance, though your beauty
and your marvellous power had turned
my brain. Alinc, say that you do 'sot
love me . Do not make me feel that
| have marred your life. too"
\ stitled voice replied, choked with
feeling:
II cannot Arthur cannot. Oh,
do not turn from me! | am doublv
hopeless now. Flo never again will
care for YOU. Let me teach you the
lesson of love for me, if, indeed, already
YOU have not learned it.'
1t was not my place. know that
but | forgot my anger against him in
listening to the few manly words
which assured me his heart was Miss
Flo's, and | strode into the room and
put the paper in his hands.
Read this Mr.. Arthur" | said bold
", "before you answer her,"
L mere is llttie more W De lOlu.
myself, closed the hall door next morn
ing, bright and early, as the car
riage bore Miss Aline Revere on the
first stage Of her journey Londonward.
We never saw or heard from her again.
For long weeks Miss Flo refused
even to see Mr.. Arthur Earle-for
months to look upon him as friend.
Poor fellow! We were all sorry for
him during this time, for he had sp,k-
en- truly-his love had never wavered.
But at last there came day when
Miss Flo learned to do this, and then
-ah, then light stole back into her
eyes, and the color to her cheeks!
She's been happy wife these many
a years now, and old Peter is growing
almost useless, save to ride her child.
ren, as he once rode her, through tbs
old halls upon his old shoulders, to