Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-07-20

by turns
'HunpA" said he "r.nc .doa, von
have gu a this fashionable boarding
school Of Yours Well. if YOU don't
like my offer, you're not obliged to
aecep' !" Bea fine lady. if you please.
and Sc where it will land YOU"
By way Of answer E,sie marched
out Of the room with all The dignity Of
a royal princess She only stopped in
the kitchen long enough to kiss Ruth.
who was IN the midst of a baking.
poor darling" said She. "Irow /
wish ! could carry you off with me.
For stay WON'T
Life sAard work. Essie." said Mrs
Martin beginning to cry. in spite Of
herself; "and its a uoman.s duty to
help her husband"
'Apd lnean to help mine when |
have one said Essie, Jlushing bright
ly. "But not by wearing myself out"
Mr.. Martin shook his head.
"If Stephen Smith is foolish enough
to marry that saucy gypsy, she'll
lead hima pretty life" said he. Il
wonder Il she expects to sit on a
satin sofa all her days, with a rose
in her hand, and her hair frizzled. in
that pr9osterous fashion, all over
her eyes: But I warn 'em, they need
never come to me for help. Esther
has treated me with too much insolence
for me ever to receive her again"
81 am sure she did not mean any
thing" said Mrs. Martin, apologetically.
"WeE, then her words belied her
meaning remarked Thomas Martin
grimly COMPRISING his lips.
But Stephen Smith was apparent
ly undauntel by the possibilities OF
ruin predicted by Farmer Martin, fol
he married Esther and went to The
city to live within three months.
81 give EN- just a year to CONF
back here and eat humble pie"' sale
Martin, viRlictiyely.
"Oh, Thomas; don't talk So" SAT-
his wife. zone would think yor
would be glad to have some evi
befall then"
"And 50 l should" said MartiT
yiciously ginding his teeth togethe
"That girl needs lot of humblin|
and | hons she'll get it."
Three g'B afterward there can
one y terrible dr@ughts tn
undo fmer's life work in a Sc:
son, and sweep away his prospects
an aattaaais : wind sweeps away a Sc
forest Ilhe cattle died. a pestilen
broke atamong the flock of shee
which IAomas Martin had just bougt
a highT ind blew his best barn owe
and jaster stared him in the face
eyeya ae.
"Itsne use talking said he.
canndneet this years interest on Il
mortgge The place will have to go
"Oh Thomas?' groaned Mrs. Marti
who pr soul, now lay all day on
hard Vooden lounge, and groaned
see how wofully she was needed at Il
helm
d mt help it." said Marti
"Everhing is against me"
Itnly five hundred dollars" sal
Mrs Nrtin. you might borrow it
Whdlend to me, I'd like to know
said lrtin, remembering with sig
how be had hardened his own fac
againa very humble suppliant in til
goldeniays of his prosperity.
aTlGe's Esther's husband" sugges
ed Rul ave heard that he's doir
wellinBoston. And, after all, Esther
my owl sister"
Mr. Martins features contracted in
a hideous grimace. Of all the bitt
cups which circumstances had held
his lips of late this was the bitterest.
Butt bad to be swallowed. The
was no help for it,
"Idin't suppose Smiths folks liy
as genteel as this" said he to himse
as a neat maid led him across
oetasoaal vestibule, hoored with bla
and rel marble, and fragrant wi
flowers under the golden fringe of
antique portiere, into a large, tast
faly-furnished room, where the sin
ing birds the open piano, the low sat
sofa all betokened no lack of money.
Yes Mr.. Smith was at home.
had not yet gone to the store, and prD
emily he came in, waving welcomes
tbe man who had married Essie's sist,
"Lend you thousand dollars ?" sa
he. "0f course we can lend you
thousand dollars. What is money t
if not to help each other with. c
YES We've snug little sum laid
in the bank, and we live very comic
ably My business? Yes, it's tolel
Bile, butit never got us all these thing,
glancng at the soft arabesques of t
carpet the graceful folds of the cri
son silk curtains, and the easel fill
with proof engravings. THAT is /
wife's doing"
"Eb" said Mr.. Martin, starr
around him.
"Yes,' said Smith, with certa
quiet satisfaction. "Essie is an arti
YOU know-a designer. She invel
patterns for the paper-hangers and |
holsterers. They are glad to pay /
efty dollars a week ,,