Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-04-06
sflttt stury.
A DEBT OF HONOR.

For value r ceised, | promise 10
psy TO john Reading the sum o.
Marian Lspg's lip curlel and her face
lushed-a miserable flush that would
have touched any one u ho loved Ter .
but her Younger sister Rita, who lol
I'D IN an easy chair. only said Ian.
gaidIy-
Nv hat displsssss you, Miriam =
For value received" began MariaE
again angrily. as she threw the promis
sorry note upon the oid fashioned wri
ting table. "Ies that has bsen mann.
mas ruling principle tnough life; aud
| must say that she has discovered |,
many most ingenious. If not alss,l
cree.ilable, ways the Ine art of $500
the worth Of her msney. Am worth
the money. wonder will John
lie .d.ng think | am worth these notes
that mamma has given from time TO
time | wonder ho~ they came here,
sny way When ! am John Reading 5
dear wife. would il not be we'll 10 put
on my new barouche, under johns
c, est. the motto. + value received !:
oh, Rita" she cried suddenly, IN m
appealing vice, "hos could mama
borrow money from that man? How
hate the fe~ luxurIes that We have
had lately, now hat | have discovered
their source, We ~ho are SO roor
ought TO be ashamed 10 dress above our
means" Big tears FIJI slowly upon
the offending no,e.. "Uh, wat blind
fool have bvvn not To have suspected
this"
Quite true, my dear Marian; you
are . TOOL 10 take trlile so s riously.
SAID the lazy voice OF Miss Rita Ill
cousin John chooses 10 lend lite OF
his surplus money TO three charming
ladies hose circumstances are some
what straitened-"
For shame. Rita" cried Marian in
dignantly "How are We to pay it, |
should like TO know -
"iou 10 kn W. my very dear Marian;
but don't be so emphatic-you are, in
fact, almost violent. That last most
unladylike stamp of the foot quite
suggested an earthquake.
"Oh, if there could only be an earth.
quake that would swallow us all up
together -
Now you are childish, Marian. An
earthquake: No, | thank you; leave
me out OF 1t, please-for | have not
yet worn my new plush costume. Any
ttl .Fta. h.
promlnade concert"
"lf the costume were mine, | would
send it with my compliments to cousin
John, as you call him, although !
could never make out why his money,
of course, paid for it,
Give back my brown plush Cos.
tune. Marian you are certainly in
sane. There is the tea-tell Let us
60 down, my much-troubled elder Sis
ter; and Try to smile upon your future
for his generosity"
Marian moved away, followed lei
surely by Rita aud in the pleasantly,
lighted parIor duintily.spread little
tea-tabIe was awaiting them. Mrs.
Lang sat already ut It's head, an d
''cousin John," laying down the even.
ing paper, looked up approvingly at
Marian flushed cheeks as she entered
"Mademoiselle, you are brilliant to-
night" he said. with rather an awk-
ward attempt at u courlly bow.
Marian could not force polite
Ismile, but grimIy took Eer seat; and
her thoughts were none too amiabe
''John Reading has an air of pro
rrietorship," she thought. However
he is not quite master Of the situation
yet. Mammals sale is hy no means
effected. What red face he has =
And such teeth. He probably chewed
tobacco before he was rich enough tt
buy such good cigars, as we'll Us {
wife. Oh, how hard l feel towards
everybody!'
cousin John" ate his mullins and al
mired Marian; kita discoursed pIacidly
about various topics of the day Mrs
Lang, an occasional apxi u glanc,
at her ,ldest daughter, endeavortd tt
make herself agreeable to her guest
Her flattery was most delicate alt
subtle, and her wa,chful tact ma 1t