Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-04-06

Wlthfh, could not but admire h e
mothers cleverntss.
~ 1es, she thought, mamma enes out
the mans ideas as she does a scanty
I'D silk dress and makes them nearly
bearable."
| W hen ter most wearisome even
ing for one, at least, of the quartet
that looked so cosy us they sat around
the fire, John Reading had gone to his
club and the two girls to their rooms,
Mrs. Lang sat thinking till the embers
faded To sullen glow her reflections
SeIe far from agreeable.
8 IF l have overated my infiuencs
with Marian" she thought, IF she
lshould refuse J"hn-she certainly had
a defiant air t"-night-what will be-
come of us: The neighbors say he is
u hard man but that may be from
jealousy Of his attention tous have
strisen all these years to give the
girls chance 10 make good mar
risge; and now, hen the hope seems
near fultilment, 10 have tina, child dare
to defeat my plans. Oh, 1t is too
harrassins. Was ever poor mother
so wretchs as - she ended YEARLY,
As she won't slowly to her room.
Rita Was sleeping the sleep Of an
elastic conscieLee and an easy luxury
loving nature; while Marian, with her
b. nd between her hot hands, was
maturing plans which she soon set
about carry ing into execution.
She wrote u tear. blistered letter to
her mother. telling her how she had
found notes of John Readings by mis-
take as she Was searching for bill
for. indeed, mamma must know she had
not meant L. BE- dlshonorable how she
was wretched in her present life, with
us shams and attempts to keep up a
lad like appearance before u world of
people richer than themselves; how
she could not marry John Reading il
he asked her, rs she knew was expect
I'd OF him so she would 20 away to a
school.frisud on whose help she could
rely. and try TO get some employment.
She would save every ixrthIng .he
EARNED, a'd send it to John Reading to
pay the dlsgraceiul debt.
And, please. dear mamma was the
besexching end Of this nidnight epis
tie. do not. by the love you bear your
Echildien-which | know has urge, you
10 this faIss s,ep-please do hot bor-
Iow any mere money. | am very
sorrow for some hard thoughts ! have
had Of You, aud already repeut the
uusiud ihings | said OF you in my
A.er: aud | have left Rita all the
things of mine OF which she can pos
sibly make nse-l know which she
always admired my sealskin JACKET
When you read this, shall be on nv
way to Dals's Station. Don't write 10
urge me 10 change my mind, for am
fully determined on my prese mt
course."
Kissing the letter, che put il NTH
careful step ca her Il o; hers DIR. ssiug.
table. aud then stole back Ia her room.
Betw,en sobs and tears she I,scked the
remnant Of her wardrobe, aud in the
da~n Of the gray autumn day left her
home.
Her courage rose rs she sped along
/ in the train, and morning showed her
the teautlss of the landscape. Nature
brought it's never failing balm TO the
turbulent young soul; and she was
almost cheerful when, late that even
ing. she arrives at heT destination.
lie station was Limly lighted, and
the fr~ lamps fiickered silh the wind.
Marian, ia her search for her trunk,
stumbled over queer little bundle
sitting on u sa,chei, aud scared voice
came out the bundle. saying
please YOU did hot hurt me much.
Papa left me here So long ago, and !
am afraid he is gone away !-ond the
child began 10 cry.
Marian lifted the little thing and
comIorted it with cooing words. She
kissed the thin face, and held the child
tenderly until a gentleman came in
search Of IT.
Harry, where are you:" he called.
Here, papa, with kind strange
lady; was SO afraid YOU had gone
away
"Gone and left my little boy. That
is hardly likely. Thank the lady,
Harry and, madam, accept my graft
tude also for your goodness. | was
detained by some confusion as TO my
luggage Can | be of any service to
you :"
NO, thank you," replied Marian
and, as the gentleman disappeared in
the darkness and Marian trudged
along, followed by the boy who bore
her trunk, she rather regretted her
refusal of assistance, for the strnger's
face had interested her.
Marian's school friend, Janet Laur.
iston, had married soon after leaving
Mount Edgecombe, where the two
girls had grown very fond Of each
other, and had often written to Marian
asking her to come to her, t" admire
her husband, her new house and all
the delights of young wife. Unfor
tunately, at the time of Marian's sud
den departure from her mother, Mrs.
Lauriston had gone on a few days
visit 10 her new relatives. So, when
the traveller arrived, expecting hear.
ty welcome, she found only dull
faced servant to receive her. Never
theless the servant showed her to her
room, and left her prey to the most
melancholy reflections.
Mis-. Lau,iston would be home in
three days, Bridget had said but three
days seemed century to Marian, who
at last, to keep from crying outright
set to work to empty her trunk. Lift
ing the lid, instead of her own iami
liar belongings, she saw before her i
cigar case, pile of snowy shirts, al
embroidered smoking cap, and in on,
end the little socks, collars and suits
of a boy.