Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-02-09

rflF E1tatf NttAfGg tiO NNu
"Why, biess cons der a friend Of
yours a burden, ,.,v aow irving BOO,
"You don't know Ihadv i's,Ds H., r., pVol ora
father Woulu 7 hhk heislikelv to live
daughte-' anu M grandfather did.
to great Hse, "a, relson, tAon"
"tor liia' y rsllli make me wretehed
"Besldes' t1os = the old homestead
But olise eo In engaged, Mr. Pip
20 y99 M Nis Olive paviully, while
niX' saiu II Il an a tear, j am engaged
she "iilsasu 'a,r, some lady who isn't
io9 ll mus, ! u.s. To1ll be as happy as you
allu nsPI - she added, with a little
deserve ~ y t.,r;norg M up to adjust the cur
tain. .lto Lo,1 bor - l5s
~ vas ~ - resained outwarlly firm as
wislies ~ as9toneat ner feet, till at length
.iie l's''' iY '',', i te unwelcome conviction
ne 1e aIiis5u ~ ia 4 milking for him, or size
.lil. .,,l ~ ssane r@ lisned to his pleadings
e,,' So III IN @;,,,Jtep5sed the old gentleman
,''le ,-5aI'' ii''1 caaion, to soften tie blow
y !. ~ ba a,rok asmi ling leave, it was be
= 10 - tngged it bis facial muscles,
Tort for 70 t.,i the ruth he had never been
more mo- . disappointed and chagriaed ia lis
i;5o lie 0f Fbatsvtnl the stylish eIuip1ge
A'io' t:.b be had once plumed him
sdi,f9 ui1F9 was itlot bearing him on to
9on fomb , And Why should lie wish to
prolong lis egthly pilgrimage WHAT
tb tlnrtbar attneion had Life for HIM,
lonely a. old man nearing seventy
Hardly conscious Of the leins, he had
driven seme miles at an unsanctitied
"aco "ai - when be almost ran over Mr..
Torrav % brother Of the deceased Lucinda
Who was walking behind his carriage up
long ascent !, III u,o4
gentleman after an exchange Of greet
ings. Didn't you come roundabout
way 2 ,.,naatoa
the deacon With a prodigious show OF
candor "a roundabout way and hard
wav Is your wife with yoo|
@yes and the Widow Vance. | have
to foot it up hill You see Horse
stepped on a rolling stone piece baeA
and iamed himself. CT
"Your load is too heavy, let Sister
Toney ride with me" :,
Buf Sister Torey being nervous, llk(
Tucinda before her, and morally aifai1
Of the deacons spirited steed, it was II
the end MIR Yancewho nestled INTO 'h'
vacant seat. She was a gushing youn'
widow whose mihgated grief manlieste'
itself in certain coquettish bows OF pai
lavender. She protested that sne lei
airoa3v acorainted with Mr.. Ph@nl
tbtonGh her late husband, to whom a
had cen ST. kind. She was Rlad OF 'nl
opportunity to thank him. she shoul
never etas@ 10 be grateful for the man
favors ha had conferred upon de'
Charles, e. aoooc
would. - smiled inwardly al IN
effns Avric. This afternoon
hue Ia poultice to his aehll
|E@cs I ~ lss ss,s.sssA s@ss Us j
/ ! tsor 49, szsN0. 7 ase recounted I'ief's
algily, NJ ssessas husbands boyho
IndSrr Yps sA.sde himself SO a6reea
that y, ~ rather sorry to re-
Churclf1fe, where the whole party
cordially welcomed at the house
Zenas T,rrey.
A proud man was Mr. Phmnix
would not for the world have his rec
disappointment suspected by his wi
relatives, and during those three dt
OF conference he carried himself wit
resolute cheerfulness that sometime:
out Of meeting, of course-verged up
friskiness. Mrs. Vance told Mrs. Torn
that he was 'just splendid" which co
pliment Mrs. Torrey repeated to b
with significant smile, limiting that
he thought about marrying again,
need not search for a wife. He look
c9ufu ed, and hotIy disclaimed a
Matrimonial Intention. As to the youl
widow, was he not double her ag
Would June join hands with Decembe
Alas what an insignificant trliie cf
turn the scale OF human es:iny? :? b
for horses fore foot Deacon PLn j.
might have returned to his home on tt
morrow as he had left it-a free ma
It was the lame horse that kicked IL
beam and decided his fate. On Frida
morning, the modelling quadruped ha'
ing been found lamer than ever, Il
deacon could do no less than offer
e, cort Mrs. Vance home. She could {
no less than accept the offer gladl
Bg some mysterious law of sequence
this lea to the second offer and a secon
accordance, and almost before we kne
it, Deacon Plwlix had pledged himse
to escort the widow for life. Whe
after gallantiy depositing his promise
bride at her own door, he was alot
with his thoughts, lie felt little su
pri8ed at his own precipitancy; but |
told himself over and over again what
fortunate man he was, how happy |
ought 70 be. Contrary to MS usu
custom, he had acted from impuls
and tie result was highly satistactor
"Higav satisfactory" he repeated
himself as he passed the entrance Of Il
cross read which led to Miss Olive
Somehow his reflections were lei
cheerful after that. Perhaps the chill
rain storm just set in depressed MIN,
perhaps it was the empty hearse that |
met face to face-for the best of |
have our superstitions. Certain it |
tn i be alighted from his buggy tn;
evening with weariness Of limb and linn
ness Of linen, his counteranca led Mr.
Dlbbs to fear the meetings had NJ
been profitable.
Next morning, thanks to the III
gracious weather, he was aroused |
sciatic tortures. To an elderly gentl
man, newly betrothed to a bIoomin
lady greatly his junior, such an awakeI
ing was peculiarly trying. He though
ruefullg Of the early visit he had pre-
missed Mrs. Vance. Should these pain
increase, he must defer it indefnitel
or limp into her presence on crutches-
an alternative too suggestive of advan
ing age. Flattered as be was by Il
widow acceptance, he could not der
that it placed him in a position in son
respects irksome. 1t admonished hi
that be had no further right to infrn
tiles that henceforth it was his boun,
- l.