Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-04-27


A little higher up the river from
the Squires mansion long wharf had
been built where the river s,eamers
touched in their daily trips to and
from the National Capital, while fur
ther down the shore several unpreten
/ tlos cottages might be seen.
/ With oniy one o. these will We have
amy thing to do. One within whose
uncovered portals dwelt innocence,
onrty and contentment. Would that
1t might be left as it was that pleasant
/ GUNNER evening Would that | were
Ssd th= task of tracing the 'trail of
+ TIE serpent" amid the roses and in
nncence Of that happy home.
Walking rapidly along the road
Aelch led from the steamboat wharf,
3 noble looking boy of about eighteen
/ laight have been seen on the evening
We have mentioned. Clad in some
/ Cheap cotton garments which looked
So cool and heat, with coarse, broad
/ tlimmed straw hat covering his sun
uy locks, he looked the very type of
Southern mapliness. As he passed
along shader portion Of the road be
noticed some Wild flowers that grew
/ by the wayside. His face frightened
at the sight and he exclaimed
90 what beautiful flowers, though
father is waiting for his papers, must
/ tiId time to take some OF them by to
Rita to put in her pretty hair, she is
/ =. fond of them; aud his hands were
seon filed with the flowers for his lit
/ tie sweetheart
He qulckened his pace rs he left
| the road leading t. his home, taking "a
path Which conducted him 10 the
tl.wrr empowered cottage we have
mentioned.
! As he Ell tered the rustic ,yard-gate
vision of perfect loyeliness met hls
s9xe. 4 beautiful girl OF about SIX
/ st1 n 81 od IN the vine covered porch.
Size was rather below the medium size,
Iskght u delicate, with beautiful
alunsh, hair an ryes-but | Cannot do
her justice; let your Imagination help
ns, my readers. ! can only say that
/ lsita Merton was perfection.
/ - she bsheId the hoy approaching
SIle frightened her fair 'hlcr, and
s6, exclaimed:
| 80 Tum. what beautiful flowers, |
KNOW they are for me.
"les Rita. he answered. ''for your
pretty hair. Take those faded ones
out, and pu' these ia their place. they
are fresh aud beautiful like YOURSELF :
/ 20 kom. what :, aatterer you are
b comrs. she 'sHr7ing ans~erej,
as assisted by her companion she fas-
tened the Wild Iloscrs IN her sunny
+ brown hair.
/ Tom. called woman = voice from
/ III hous,. - that YOU
"lcs ms'am." answered the boy, tot
taking his eyes from the girls fair
+ hair.
"iIave yuu bseu 10, wharf to day"
asked the voice.
Yes maam. again from the boy,
st.i helping about the flowers
+ Did sally lrurs get aay nrx board
ers ny the bat :" persisted the voice
"Why don't you 20 ani talk 30 Mar,
Tom Dau't you see she Is dying 10
hear about Sally Jones board rs =
laughed Rata,
"Oniy one. said Tom Harris. ~ he
reluctantly i,ft the girl and went to
/ the door 70 answer her mother.
/ "Gcutlsman or lady = still qucs
toned Mrs Morton. who. womap like.
wanted 10 hear al the particulars.
"Gcnilvmau," saiG Tom.
"loung or old, handsome or ugly:'
Iaughingly from Rita
- Rita. YOU will know only toe
soon Young and handsome. be
!Iete.' said Tom annoyed at the ques
ton, lie hardly knew why. But |
must 20 now. father Is waiting for his
mail Good bye,-little sweetheart,
he added. as he touched with his beard
less lips the sle"der delicate hand he
held.
40 YOU naughty boy, will have to
tell mar on YOU, she laughed. jerking
her hand from him aud blushing IA
little, not so much at Toms act, as al
the manner in which it was done.
lie had reachsd the gate now, when
turning lie called: Rita your colt,
Beauty. is perfectly gentle now, if
bring her over tomorrow, Will you 60
riding with me.
"Oh, | Will be delighted" answered
Rita, bring her over, YOU bad boy, and
/ will forgive Your rudeness = He
i L., l.,
rily as he went.
| They are so happy now, those two,
so very happy. They do not know the
misery aud shame that is coming to
them ere the green leaves are tinged
with Autumn golden dyes.
Mrs. Norton lived alone in the cot.
tage with her laughter, her only child.
Her husl and had been dead Tor some
years, but he had left her small
yearly income which helped by the
profits of her little farm furnished sui-
tcent for their moderate wants. They
are happy now. Had | not better lei
them alone
CHAPTER II.
), Walking rapidly up and d o Il
Squire Joncss rather delapidated pi-
azza this same evening, was IA hand
some, elegantly dressed young man.
1t was Sally Jones's new boarder from
: Washington. The white smoke from
his fragrant cigar curl d IaziIy up from
us mouth shaded 10y is heavy brown
mustache, and his handsome, refined
, face wore IL look of extreme cHHUi IL.
he thus solsloqujzrd.
. "How am to exist IN this God for
: srkrn out of the place, | wonder? Il
t NV inexulable madam who is now air
! ing her eanty aud her iinery amid the
; ia: hion and iolies of Cape May, knew
: to what she had condemned me, sh,