Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-06-08
!. cot COURT As.aid, ut i. 70. you
70 decide. But Bessie-o

The poessss shrugged her shoulders.
and Laughed light, shriu,sounding
cachinnation.
Cousin Jerome,2 said she. Yts inst
as well to be frank about these matters.
| wouldn' marry a poor manInot .,,,,t'if1I if =
loved him ike Romeo and juliet IFS
bad enough to scrape along as we do
here, with Snly half what one requires
to live on sdeeently. But to plunge
into poyeTtysNith two orthree children
belonging y another woman-no. 7
thank yOuF
For time y may easily be perceived.
had elimi1ated a great deal of the
poetical eleu'tnt from Bessie Neely's
soul. II
The quondsnl Gndine did not wait
for the question, asfar as she was con-
cerned; bit added, promptly, that she
quite agreed with her sisters in all
these matters
'1t's such = pity you didn't stay here
where you were well off, Jerome. said
she, in thepitying, patronizing manner
which your genuine man most abhors
''Dear pa YOU know, always disap-
provediof your going South .tnd Won
might have got the situation Of agent
to the White Castle place, at eight
hundred year, and cottage found, if
you'd only been here on the spot. Pa
used to know the old agent and could
have Recommended your
Jeromesmiled
"White Castle" said he That's
the big house on the hill, where we
children used 10 peep at the roses and
white grapes through the glass sides of
| the great greenhouse. A grand place,
as Iremember IT,
"And the position Of agent is most
responsible and highly considered :
broke in Bessie
Jerome Clay went away, feeling
rather depressed
Its. not TIE lot of every mai to be
thrice rejected in one evening.
tThey thiEk lam failure in life -
said be. half smiling, half sighir g.
,ssWell, perhaps they are not yroiig.
People ideas iiiier. iiit''
AuriIIa Halep, the old farm9f.,s
daughter, had SeeRa wild hoyden.of q
school ssirl when Jerome Glay&gent
South. She vas silent, pale wolan
Of three-@F1ly now, who did%th,
"taIoTsss srS 6Sf vES;e heighborhood
and had hard work to get along.
But her da.k-brown eyes lighted W
when Nj. Clay spoke of his far-of
home, and her cheek glowed scarle
when Mr. Sewell chuckled out:
80 the three old maids wouldn'
have nothing to say to you? Ha, ha
ha"
j, "Do you blame them?'' said jerome
"Wen, nc" confessed the old man
Goals naturally want to better them
selves nowadays. If you'd come bacl
with your pockets full of gold, they
sing a different song you'd see"
Aurilla looked pityingly at Jerom
! Clay. She, too, had found life a fail
ure, and in her quiet way did all tina
she could to comfort the tall, quie
man who had hired the spare chambe
in her fathers house for few week.
since his cousins had altogether omit
ted to invite him to be their guest q
the old place.
She was not pretty-never had bee
but she had sweet, oval face, wit
dark-fringed eyes, and mild, wistfl
expression which Jerome Clay liked.
And one day she spoke out whs
was in her heart.
"MT. Clay" she said, II can't hel
thinking of those poor, little, mothe
less children of yours. If you wi
bring them here, I'll take care of then
l always liked children, and it sha
cost you nothing. Father will let N
have the big north bedroom for
nursery, and their board won't signif
They can go to the public school, an
III make their clothes, if you'll bu
the material"
"Aurilla, you are genuine woman
said Mr.. Clay, earnestly. "None of m
cousins have spoken to me like this"
Perhaps perhaps they didn't thin
of it," faltered Aurilla
Possibly" drily remarked M
Clay. But, Aurilla," gently detail
ing her hand, sis it of my childre
only that you think? Have you L
tender, pltying feeling-the sweet sci
sation that is akin to love, you know
for me? Aurilla, will you become m
wife?'
And Aurilla did not refuse!
"NOw that you have promised
marry me" said Jerome Clay, ~ wi
tell you all my plans, Aurilla I hay
bought house here"
"Here, Jerome?"
"Yes, here. Will you come with n
to look at it?"
Il will go wherever you. wisl
Jerome, said the bride-elect in a Sol
of innocent bewilderment.
Mr. Clay put herinto a little carriae
at the door, and drove her up ii
mountain-side, through the hug
stone gateway of White Castle, to tt
velvet lawns in front of the colonna,