Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-10-19

Weeks"
lie smiled.
You are very kind" he said The
firm will allow me to be gone as long
as like"
And your salary will go on just the
same:"
And my salary will continue Just
the same"
That is what l call real generosity. -
said Barbara. ooh, l should like to
thank Messrs Browne, Brownson *
Browne. Wen, come in. our little
cottage is full of boarders, but my
mother and | will contriye to make
roam foryou somewhere"
And the pale boarder slept that night
in a little rose-scented room, with a
strip of bright rag carpet on the floor,
hauJ-painted china vases on the woed-
en- mantle, and cheap muslin curtains
at tine window, after supper of black
caps and milk, delicious homemade
brcu fresh honey and johnny-ca\e.
Two dollars a week for such fare Us
this, to say nothing of my cunning
At. .le corner roomr said Mr. Browne
tohmself. Il never oardcd So cheaI
y before in all my life
At the end Of week he was more
than delighted with his summer home.
Mrs Troop was the llindest and most
motacrlv of hostesses; barbara was
theHmpersonation ofsweet and gracious
refinement The mountain was full Of
purple glens, merry-voiced cascades,
winding footpaths and breezy heights.
Mr. Browne enjoyed himself intensely
He ieyed that he had come to .he
right place.
Don't you think" said Barbara to
her mother, that he's very strong for
a con,umptiye"
Its that hcrb-tea, and the diet Of
honey and new milk that is building
him up, said Mrs. Troop. triumphant
~ q never knew it fail yet in lung
diseases. But he's very pleasant
Barby isn't he?"
Very" said Barbara, earnestly.
Mr. Browne had not been a month
at the little cottage on the mountain.
when, oyertaken by sudden shower.
he took refuge in an old, unused barn,
not far away from the house, where a
thicket of blossoming elderberrics con
cealed the stone basement and
veterS Assllog pine tree dung its ban
ner N dfacK-sioen shade over the
messy shingles of the roof. Unused.
except to stow sweet hay in-and in
one corner little chamber had been
finished off, long ago, with brick
chimney and tiny-paned lattice. The
door was half open, and Mr.. Browne
could discern a little cot-bed, draped
with white; dimity-covered toilet
stand whose coarse, cheap bowl and
pitcher We're enriched with purple and
crimson autumn leaves in hand-paint-
ing, and alittle needlework rug which
lay at the foot Of the bed.
"Ah," said Mr. Browne, to that best
of confdants, himself, 81 comprehend I
it all now have displaced Madcmoi-
selle Barbara from the little corner
room in thecottagc pom my word,
l feel Ikea usurpcr' But how good
they are, this mother and daughter,
whose only income is derived from
this precarious occupation of taking
summer boarders How unselfsh how
utterly self-saordcing' There are
good Samarltans yet left in the world,
thank heaven.
When September came, with its yel-
low leaves and its clusters Of vivid
blue asters on the edges of the woods
Mr.. Browne prepared to return to the
city.
"You are sure you are strong enough
to resume work." said Mrs. Troop,
anxiously.
Mother" said Barbara "he isn't at
all like an invalid Either old Mr..
Fanshawe was mistaken, or else Mr..
Browne has made an almost miracu-
lous recovery
just at this instant Jane came to
tell Mrs Troop that ncighbor Jackson
was at the door wa ting to borrow a
drawing Of tea.
The gentle widow hustled out; Mr..
Browne turned to Barbara.
yes, said he, Il am going to return {
to New YORK. But / shall leave !
something behind me.
I'VE shall be very happy to take q
charge of anything for you, said Bar q
bara, who was sorting over red-cheeked I
pears for preserving. !
shall YOU? But you don't know
what ,tis Barbara" suddenly lapsing t
into extreme gravity 1T is my heart c
I am driven to confess that | have lost |
it-and to you"
you are iolins" cried Barbara {
colorins and halfdisposed to be indlg t
nant.
% never was more serious in my b
life asseyerated Mr.. Browne. q do a
love you. dear little Barbara truly and t
tenderlr Do you think you could
daro otrust your future to me? Poor
as SEEM could yet give you good
home q
9ob lam not afraid Of that" said h
1iA .I.r or,J ,lr,a,,