Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-09-14

years nave devoted my time h art
and fortune to theseryice If tbis baart
less woman; one day rewarded w,tb .
smiles, the next with frowns w.
morrow, when the bill 8 are maid for |
deDtS incurred for this night, / shallhe
aDsOiuteiy penniless-all nv fortune
spent upon this vain lirt. who i, un-
de erVlhg the name of woman Yrs
tomorrow my furniture. horses AMI
plate VIII be sod, my serva. 4 dis-
chargeu' any all that willremain to omc
IS th.s old castle, aud NV faithful.
nurse, Margaret. who will not leave
me, ana my falcon. This buildin rnow
ringing with the sounds ot music
dancing and merry laughter will lac
closed, TO b bacome the sanctuary of rats
and owls. For myself. shall with.
draw from ociety, aud in this small
gloomy Jwer support my poverty and
despair as b st / may. | have been
worse than foolish have been
wicked. But this unmanly repining
will moi do | must reioin my guests.
So SAYING, Frederick replaced the
falcon on his perch ar the window.
and, forcing gay smile and careless $
air, santere ! int the ballroom. and
from t a time till the company left he
was seemingly the gayest of the gay.
+ 4 x
"Quick, Susani fasten this bodice
and bring me my hood AMI mantle and
the thick shoes !" exclaimed Lady
Lena; then added, imperatvely
you'll have to pin this handkerchief
and apron str ng. for my hands tremb g
SO l cannot do anything" I he maid
obeyed, and soon her young mistress
stood before the mirror, laughing to
see herself in complete PEASANTS at
tire.
"Will anybody know me- Susan ?"
she asked, laughingly, as She drew the
hood over her face.
"No, indeed, Lady Lena" replied
the maid; " if | hadn't seen you dress
should not know you myself"
"Then | am oil p
And, suiting the action to the word,
the graceful Lady Lena ran out of the
room and downstairs in very undig-
nifed way. In the garden she was
met by a lover of Susan's, who ex-
claimed
e'Pears to me we are in monstrous
hurry, Mistress Susan. Can't you
stop to give fellow a noontide
kiss|
"Away with you p she exclaimed.
"You shall have two kisses when /
come back, if you won't stop me now.
"Good bargain, Susan" said he. Il
have not mud h to do, and will wait by
the gaze till you come back
Away sped Lena. After a pretty
long rapid walk she rea he'd Castle
ADerghi and, entering by a low.
Ess.ern door which she found open,
tade her W TO the door the tower,
where she saw old Margaret seated.
Good noon, Dame Margaret, said
Lena. The old woman raj ed her
head and, recognizing Susan, La ly
Lena's fayorite waiting maid, she re-
turned very sulky greeting.
Don't be cross, Margaret" she
continued "l've got beautiful
note for your young master from my
lady"
on needn't come here with it,
then" said Dame Margaret. Your
lady's notes have brought sorrow
enough to this house"
But Margaret, | was sent to de-
liver it and receive an answer, and |
dare not 60 back with ut it; it would
cost me my place, and you wouldn't
be so cruel as that to a poor girl who
has never done you any harm" Here
Lena began to sob, and Margaret rose.
saying:
You have never done me any
harm, so give me the note and let me
take it upstairs quickly. The note
was produced, and Margaret grum-
blingly took it upstairs, mutteriug as
she did so: Much good, much good
1t Will do my young ma ter. 1t isn't
sealed very closely. and if [ could read
1t ! would open it, and then if there
was anything in it to wrong HIM III
sooner put my hand in the fire than
give it to him" Bv this time she had
reached the second story and knocked
at the door.
Come in," said Frederick, who
was seated by the window reading
lie looked up as the old woman en-
tered, and asked what she wanted.
\ te for you, sir" she repliel
The young mans face turned shade
paer, and his hand slightly trembled
as ne tjok the delicate perfrmeo note
\ moment he paused, overcome y his
feelings, then impetuously tore it open
and read the following words:
Lady Lena Erfurt, being about to
visit ng' and for several years, desires
to have the pleasure of meeting once
more her friend, Count Frederick Al
berahI, who has so mysteriously with
drawn himself from society. he will
do herself the honor of dining with
him this'day at o'clock" A ,pasm
passed over the young mans face ald
he murmured "Once more" Then
turn ng to Margaret, he said: "What
is there in the house to eat -
rs god as nothing, sir, replie |
the faithful woman, for there is only
the scraps left from your breakfast"
"Ihat's bad, Margaret" said he;
" for | have no money; not a single
kreutzer and here is a note from Lady
Lena informing me that she will dine
with me day"
She mustn't come, dear sir )! There
is nothing to give her" Frederick
seemed lost in thought-suddenly he
raised lis head.
Il have it now" said he. You
must serve up my poor jeanette here.
1t is all can do.''
"Oh, master What. roast this
poor bird you have loved so long, and
which belonged to"
"Hush, Margaret, not another word,
only do as l bid you. Serve the bird
up as pest you can. Have the table
laid for two in the old diningroom;
have it ready precisely at 5. When
the lady arrives summon me, and serve
d nner Immediately. l shall be in my
chamber, to which | shall now retire"
Margaret dareI not rem nstrate, but,
sobbing and wringing her hands. she