Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-06-01


"My daughter" at length he enun.
ciated, with dignity that was maies-
tic, twas wiser than I-she could not
be deceived by your pretensions as / .
have been. may be pauper, sir. but
| shall still be honored that | have a
child who would prefer death to
marriage with such as YOU"
He turned away haughtily and went
back to the home that was no longer
his. But the shock had been too
sudden, TOO Overwhelming. and an
hour Later he lay writhing in mortal
agony At the very gates of death. In
his dehripm he raved piteously Of his
folly, and Of the man whom he had so
trusted emily to be befooled, robbed and
insulted. And to his disordered senses
his bonny Kate was everywhere pres
ent He would listen for her gay
voice and light footsteps; heseemed to
behold her bright and beautiful image,
and he would pathetically entreat her
to forgive him for his harshness and
his great mistake.
Meanwhile, Kate was far away, and
not altogether unhappy She felt that
somehow. in a blissful time to come,
she would be proyidentially guided
back to contentment with her beloved
ones.
Ones morning a visitor was an
nounced, and with much surprise she
turned 10 stand face to face with her
old slitor, Percy Talbot, as
ever. sleek, smiling, insignificant.
sYoe wish to see me?' she queried,
coldly.s startled by something oddly
assus.s1l exultant in his aspect.
~f wfsn % cffycusS u ruatsef OF B,.ai-
ness with you" he returned, glibly, as
with great nonchalance he appropriat-
ed cosy chair. "Will you not be seat
ed, too? Where are the roses of your
cheeks, Kate? Are you i'll, or has my
coming disquieted you?"
She was pale with anger at his inso-
lence at his stare of ardent admira-
ton; and she trembled with vague
alarm before his strange look of
but she stood quite still and
egarded him with calm inquiry.
You may not be aware of what has
at home," he pursued, still
With the honeyed voice and hateful
mile.
NO" was her simple utterance
my mission is not a particularly
leasant one he continued cautiously;
and you make it harder for me, Kate,
gu seem so Indifferent; and l have
nly come to serve you. Your father
very i'll; he may not recover
Yet she remained silent, watching
m with her scornful, questioning
'es.
"And beside" her visitor wenc an,
ith a semblance of the sympathetic,
le has been unfortunate in business,
Id everything ne possesses will be
I'D at once if there be no friendly in
rpOsition. l alone have power to
d him, and l will do so if you-oh,
stem, for l love you, Katel If you
i'll be my wife, will stop this sale,
Id your parents shall still have their
1me"
He had arisen and approached her
ith outstretched arms; but at that
stant the door opened to admit one
HON he had not anticipated meeting
.ecisely then and there.
"Ah, Mr.. Merle" he articulated,
ith extreme politeness. "This is in
.ed surprise"
"a mutual surprise" Robert amend
drily. my wife and l had scarcely
.pected visit from YOU"
"Your wife," he stammered, in swift
infusion.
with mammals approval, Mr.. |
erie and | were married the day l
# home,' Kate explained, civilly.
"Ah! then I have come only to con-
'atulate you" he succeeded in saying. |
zen as he recoiled discomfitted before
e contemptuous scrutiny of Kate's
lndsome young husband.
But ne had no desire to prolong so |
satisfactory an interview. and he
eedily departed.
DC eoIlIorted, my dearest" Robert |
Joined her when the guest had gone. |
have foreseen this day of trouble
T your father, and providentially l
I'VE been given means to help him.
'ouid you care to be back in the old
me, Kate?"
would she care? Had she not
nged every hour for months to behold
e dear old place? And the beloved.
miliar face?
Ana while the train that bore her
'me"ard was rattling across the
nue. winter world, her parents were
aAlng ready to leave the house where
ey nad lived all the years of their
suuea ! NE Everything had been
a. The Ominous red flag yet waved