Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-09-21
aJakel Consher a minute won .,

riedly' rago,. u you were going ]
over to Jeler'oa tomorrow, didn't
you?" ,ot, !
early" ,,,,
over with you and mail II Nh rnIa
much UrS cDliged Goodnighlt. ,,ll, anl John Z n
unceremonioualy lolted himself in
again
=
One afternoon in carly summer tv,
wears later a tall sunmrnrJ Han
walked dOwnthe main street If Mn,
hope, and pau ed before the pr.ncipaI
store of the village which was ~ ~"
the rostoii,e, The afternoon mani va3
lust in, and a motley election IF pro.
Iple were waiting about on the broad
porch and onthe plank sidewalk ont
side for th' contents OF the bugs tole
sorted. Herewas party If school
children vithlnnch oox.s and hooks .
regaling th .nseIycs on penny Stick. of
candy, and there Young farmer from
a distance was leaning down from Ills
high farm-wagn to laugh aad ioke
with gro.'pof pretty gIIs.
Inside the store the village doctor
rested his prtly form against the
counter, while he amused rimsalrhy a
chat with The justice of the peace and
the tayern-keeper on the subject of
local politics They glanca carclessly
at the stranger as he entered, then paid
no further heed to him. lie. on his
rart, stool egar3ing them for some
time in silence, the stern lines about
his mouth seeming to grow deeper. and
a smile tlat was more like a sueer
showing Itself under his heavy brown
mustache.
"Well, my friends he sal /, at last.
$50 this Is sample Of how well my
old neiglibOS remember me. is it:
Perhaps by this time you have for
gotten that such fellow as John
Gregory existed"
John Gregory y
Every man of them sprang from hi1
lounging position as if electrified, an,
old DR.. Mason grasped Johns han'
heartily, eXClaiming, in his bluff, basr
voice;
"Why, bless my soul, John, we al
thought you were d ad sir =
"Well, declare" Smith, the store
keeper, said, leaving his heap Of III
assorted letters and coming round t
ioin the excited group, y ou're thu
changed that I'd never a-known you
but welcome home. my lad -welcon
home y Wringing Gregory's hand t
he wincej, while the others crowd
eagerly round.
i5e.x re-y, Sen feMowsl Clear
way inter cried the doctor, playful
cracking his riding whip. "You C
all tax TO John afterward, but now
want to have q word in his priya
edr" and he led John off into the baC
of thestore. where they could talk III
heard Now, sir" said he, wipin
the respiration from his broad fore
head now, sir want YOU to eX
plain Yourself. What do you mean l.,
dqser.ng that pretty wife of yours 70
two wears and then suddenly turning
up when we had all given you up 70
dead%
IA0uld say the desertion was al
on her side, Doctor returned .Iohn
crimlr Well, how is my wife?
In wh& hard, bitter tone he sal,
my rife'l
ION her side? Confound it sil
what are you talking about - blu
tere the old man, growing red in tn
face with Indignation. Why. man
,he c,liessed to me with tear tear
strife other day, that she la uo
recfiyel a single. line from you Tor tn
lat two years, though she had write
again aud again. And in spite Of a
I could say, she still clung to the hop
that you were alive, and she made m
promise to do my utmost to find on
your Whereabouts SO | wrote to yot
Was that What put it into your head t
come home, sir?"
oWel scarcely, because | never re
ceivedi said John. "I left the ol
digging a year and a half ago, an
went over the mountains into Cali
fornia don't know what made N
come home, I'm sure. unless it was til
longing that took hold of me to Sc
some Of the old faces. As for m
wife, think if you only knew the rea
facts Of me case you would conside
me on! 100 well justified in doing a
| have done. just read this letter
please ! nave kept that in my pocke
al these Two years, SO that j nigh
tlway8 be able to estimate my wife a
her true WORTH"
The doctor read Miss Shipman's let
Ter through; then, to Johns intens
lstonisaiaent, burst out laughing.
"Wel / must say [ can't under
stand WIZ There is to laugh at" ex
.laimed tneyoung man, angrily.
You are right, John, replied tn,
loctor 'oooering 90 instantly. ut is
'arce, 70 9 sure, but it came near be
ng a tragedy So you believed thi
etter?'
CERTAINLY. Miss Shipman is a lad,
If undou0ted yeracity," with intens,
lignity
"IIeaven forbid that l should saw ,
word against Miss Shipman-she died
,oor w0lnah' just after this wa.
VI tten-3u' she probably enioved {
good gossip as much as most Ia ladies' liz
md her inagination conId nj o0. car,v i%uleS %a, ,
ong VIZ "nt ~ Ior The young man she
ans s45oSton aooas ne was was only Molly cousin
N here ilInoo NJ Ding the news of hi,
n thers ! lii'bIess, i and ask Molly to hoIr
hem. 20 % \ went back with hi him ll't t I
5oston ana ,s 9itprsed q her aunt until ilI'i She
lied, just as h9t i she had been her. p'I own 1ll5
led und' very painful cram C,o, aitaNvon ! ION
+ some KIND, Molly yerv on.T'msta1cgs natre1,. zee
unwilling to say much sbont bnntGtally II lett
people 4sFs { Showed Vue uely II nronag nm0ng
he told ny wife and me 9eig' a6o',t S,r' = But ut
.GGod :, 900 isrte,s q essnl I And ! burnt unread
oln snS odMo1ssi MIS1siyed before left eft
fool I,or nave ss,,,5 BEEN" milly crieGy 1ohn Mhat
ray P'D ung over his sunbnrnt I