Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-03-02
DAISY.

hear, upon the evening air; but the
girl who stood knee-deep in clover be-
side the meadow fence looked SOM
berry down as the joyous notes struck
upon her ear.
Poor fellow dear fellow r. she
said to herself. 1T is so hard to go
against him when he is as light
hearted as that"
A moment more and Ralph Arm
strong, her lover, vaulted lightly over
the intervening bars and stood beside
her.
Straight, sturdy, brown, something
Of the contrast between himself, with
his superabundant life, and the wee
woman waiting there, seemed to strike
him.
Why, my little Daisy" he said, with
q playful touch turning up her chin
until he could look into the soft eyes,
that straightway filled with tears.
Why, Daisy :" he repeated, in an al
tered, vexed voice, "I thought when l
saw you out here that you were glad to
have me come. Never mind; you will
be when ! tell you the news. ]
have paid off the last installment on
the farm, and there's to be an end of
your drudging your life away. No more
cooking for dodgers, or sitting up half
the night to look out for Rick. Is he
up to his old tricks again? Is that
what has taken the color all out of
your face?"
He was away all night" said Daisy,
in low voice. He never got home
until noon to-day. He is asleep, and,
oh, Ralph l am afraid to have him
wake. 1t is so much worse now that
Miss Winter is here.
Didn't l tell you how that would
be?" reminded Ralph, not very kindly.
But, luckily, it don t matter; Won can
I get rid OF her as soon a. YOU please
ARD we fYlH have tiIe ). eCitsifis = -,
| won't be put off very long, my dear.
Daisy turned her face away to the
gathering dusk,
"Oh, Ralph p she cried, piteously
" Be contented to wait"
"To wait What for? For Rick
to drink himself to death? For you tc
grow old before your time with the
hard work OF taking care Of yourself
and him? Daisy, once and for all.
you'll have to choose between your sot
of brother and me- If YOU are bound
to put him first now and forever"
The unfinished threat fell upon
other ears besides those it was intended
to reach. A dogcart rolled almost
noiselessly past on the thick green turf
OF the lane upon which the meadow
bars gave, and DR.. Lloyd, lifting his
hat to Daisy, shot keen glance at tie
young fellow standing sulkily at her
side. He was gone in a moment, but
somehow Ralph Armstrong expert
enced feeling Of shame which kept
him for the time from pressing what
he had been about to urge He turned
and walked toward the house with
Da' sy.
1t was shackly. tumble.down cot
tage, with moss and lichen breaking
out in patches over the decayed wealth
erboarding, and a creaking porch
from which the rustic benches he'd
long ago rotted away The picturesque
aspect of the old place had taken Miss
Winters fancy, and so little, fair-faced
Daisy had found the weekly addition
to the sum which she earned with her
dressmaking was all that now went
into her shabby purse.
There was a muffled cry Of daisy
Daisy" as those two approached to-
gethcr' thence once, twice. the report
of a pistol, together with the sound
of shattered glass, was borne to their
ears.
Its Rick" cried Daisy, breathless-
"; Il looked for him in his room
Do 90 and talk to Miss Winter, Ralph,
till l get him quiet again.
She was off as she spoke. Miss
Winter had come to TIE door, half in
alarm, and looked inquiringly at
Ralph as he approached.
"Do you think he is doing anything
reckless?" she asked
No'hing worse than smashing a
windov OF two; it's his farorlte way
of calling his sister Pity he can tput
his balls to better use.
Il wonder tl.at you leave her to he
the victim of his whims, said the lady
with stra ut look at him.
"I?" sud "alph. with shrug of
his bload shoulders.
Perhaps he did not mean to dlsclalhl
such an irtention on his part, but y
looked like it. How could ne tell MISS
Winter that the only reason he had no'
taxi, haisy away months before was
because Rick had outweighed her liking
for him? 1t was sore subject WIN
Raj h at the b st, not one he WouN
ch Csc to parade to the worId ~
large
Two hours after that Daisy stole ont
into the moonlight, utterly wearled
with he zee e through which she naa
passed. All her efforts had been
fruit ass to entice Rick hack to MS |
bed. t.e sat on "a bench in the kitchen
limp aud stupid after that tit OF vio-
lence, and DMsy stole out, as nave
sale. to 'lreat..e the heavy sweetness o.
dying roses. and brush their dew!
leaves With her face. The shadows
lay thicKly upon the porch, but theIe
was stir there, and Miss Winter
voice said, softly;
"GooG-night" avn
"Good-..ight, returned Ralph. ~
show. you tomorrow where the mad
en-hair fern grows"