The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-01-14

BsPsl spNaub up tiC uiiiSIuc.
'You have a fine place here, Miss
Monteagle," he said, by way Of making
himself agreeable.
81 hate it !" said Mary, darkly.
T-beg your pardon I" exclaimed
Mr.. Crofton, in amazement.
al do !" flashed out the girl-'I hate
il all The learning, and the purity,
and the grand pretenses, and the miser-
able makeshifts."
"But-"
"Ah !" said Mary Monteagle, "you
don't know itall. You never heard the
tradesmen bowling at the back doors
like a pack OF bowling wolves you
don't know that the house is advertised
for sale Tor taxes arrears. How should
you How should you be aware that
the very clothes we wear are not paid
for, nor the Goals that cook our dinner1 2
Papa smokes his cigars and talks about
the Mexican war and mamma poses
in the great chair, and dreams Of en-
broidcry work and tapestry stitch and
II am expected to learn Arabic and
Sanscrit, and nobody knows what else,
and ignore our wretched poverty. But
can't Who could ?"
Mr.. Croiton looked pityingly at the
girls sparkling eyes, and pale, excited
face.
81 am very sorry to hear this" said
he. "Can nothing be done -
eyes" said Miss Montcagle, brusque-
ly. Something can be done-and
| am doing it, in SO far as can. But
papa and mamma must not be allowed
to suspect it. Iam-learning a trade !"
"You |" he echoed. "a trade !"
"There's factory near by here" she
said. calmly. "The country girls earn
little pocket money there sewing on
shirts. am TO have machine as soon
as have learned to manage it. go
every evening, while papa fancies am
at the Greek and Latin, to farmer Pei.
hams whose wife teaches me the use of
the machine. lam learning housework,
too. made the mayonnaise for your
salad to day, and I baked the bread
Our servant can do nothing OF the sort.
But it would kill mamma TO think that
| stopped, As she would call it, to menial
labor"
"You are quite right" said Mr..
Crofton.
"1hat is what wanted to know"
said Mary, hastily, "because, living
here all by myself, in such a strange,
unnatural atmosphere, sometimes get
confused, and scarcely know right from
wrong"
"Bu, they will have to know it,
when
"When really 60 into the factory"
said Mary. "Yes, know THAT. Blu,
until then, ! would fain spare them the
pang. I am to have dollar day,
Mrs. Pelham says, il operate the ma.
chine skillfully. And 4 dollar day
will buy mamma many a little luxury,
and go far toward paying the grocer and
the baker"
"You are noble GIRL" said Mr..
Crofton, warmly; and in his eyes, at
that moment, Mary Monteaglc was glori-
fed with rare beauty, as she stood there,
the fresh wind blowing her jetty curls
about, the reflection of orange sunset
deepening the color on her cheek, and
the grave, far.away sparkle OF her eyes
half-veiled beneath the long lashes.
"And il could be OF any assistance to
you in this task"
"You can," said the girl, abruptly.
"You can stay here and amuse papa,
so that he shall not suspect what occu-
pies my time. You can divert his al
tention from Sanscrit and Arabic, and
all these mysteries.
And, for the first time in his expert
ence Of her, Mary Monteagle laughed
mellow, bird like laugh.
al will," said Mr.. Crofton, heartily.
And so the compact was sealed be-
tween them.
Instead of the week he had promised
his father to spend with old Colonel
Monteagle, the sojourn was extended to
three.
At the end Of that period, he gravely
addressed himself to the dark eyed
daughter of the house.
"How is the trade 7" said he.
al am to havea machine next week."
said Mary, with the conscious pride Of
one who has conquered fate "and then
only think Of it, Mr.. Crofton-I
shall earn dollar dayi"
"Mary," said Mr.. Crofton, seriously,
al have been thinking Of another plan
for you. You tell me that this farmers
wife has made first class housekeeper
Of you."
al baked mince-pie yesterday" said
Mary, exultantly; sand l have quilted
quilt and made soft soap, within the
week I"
al don't like the idea Of your going
into a factory" said Mr.. Crofton.-
"Suppose now, by way Of variety, you
were to-marry me ?"
"But you're not in love with me i''-
said Mary, opening her bright black eyes.
"But am" said Mr.. Crofton, with
great gravity. al have deliberately
made up mind that I can't be happy
without you. And although / don't
profess to be rich man, believe / can
make you a better allowance than six
dollars a week, while at the same tinie
you will not be compelled to work ten
hours day for it. That is the business
like view OF the question. Now on to
the more personal one. Don't you
think, Mary, that you could love me ?
Because love JoN very much indeed |"
T-don't knowi" whispered Mary.
al might hy :"
And then she blushed charmingly.
So Colonel Monteagle' slaughter went
to the fair Floridian plantation on the
shores Of the river St. John, and aston.