Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-11-28

'Oh, the deuce. cried Tom, lost TO
all sense Of the importance of concilia-
ting the nurse "Go to bed Hold on
till morning.
In the morning Tom, who happy
fellow, always slept soundest under
sense of depression, did not make his
appearance until 9 o'clock. lie found
that Mrs. Primmins had actually dis
appeared for parts unknown. In the
arms of his hitherto stern landlady he
found his charge nesting. A new
light-that Of love-was beaming in
the solemn woman's eye-tbat woman,
thought Tom, who could see any of
her boarders starve and rot for ten
cents saved!
81 have undertaken" said the land
lady, giving Tom a smile such as he
had never dreamed could rest in her
features a have undertaken to go
with you in search of Mrs. Primmins'
niece. Malviny"
Several hours later Tom Collins
sprang from light wagon in which
he had driven to the door Of pretty
cottage.
1--WE will make one last effort by in
quiring here" he said to his landlady
who held the baby.
With his usual petuosity he push
ed directly through into the rear kitch-
en-. There he forgot his errand-forgot
everything except what he saw. A
young girl, plump, neat, and rosy,
stood with round arms barred before a
table She was assiduously occupied
in caressing with white hands little
Jumps of dough into shape.
Suddenly she turned. Such a din-
pling SMILE Such rosy embarrass-
ment, Tom, great black-haired, jetty-
eyed giant that he was, thought this
little plump blonde an angel. Thought!
why, he was sure of it!
After a while he came to his senses
and said:
"Pm looking for one Malvina Bar
ker."
"And that is me, said the rosy lips.
"Then I've brought you baby, he
said abruptly.
A good deal of astonishment can be
put into a pair of bright blue eyes
without spelling them and so there
was. Fortunately, at that point the
landlady appeared and so, a moment
later, did Malyina's mother, called up
from the cellar by the voices.
Negotiations were soon completed.
Tom, again in his little room, found
it the loneliest, dreariest place he had
ever in his life looked upon.
A couple of days later he concluded
that it would be inhuman not to go
and enquire after his little charge. In
an incredibly short time he was seized
with the same impression again. Then
he went to take to baby, who had not
vet learned that the moon is more dis
tant than the doorknob, box of geo.
graphical blocks. Then he went to en-
quire if it needed pocket money; and
he told Malvina that he knew she was
not kept awake nights with it, because
her eyes were so bright.
After tea the moon came out. Oh
that wicked, shameless moon! Tom by
its light, told Malvina right out thai
her eyes were bluer than heaven he
lips sweeter than roses and all that.
: When they parted Malvina went t.
her room and cried.
What could perfect king of mar
5 mean by talking like that to her? o
course he could not mean to marry
little school mistress only home on
vacation?
Tom acted queeTly, too, when alon
in his room. He took paper an
$ pencil, and figured and calculated. Ii
made list of all the little propertie
d he possessed. He added them up an,
he added them down. Then he Sc
i down list of all the things be wa
accustomed to spend money upon tina
could be dispensed with. Then h
u brought out a book on economy, wher
e it tells how a man can live cheal e
with a frugal wife than he can alone
e lie was astonished to find that book 5
: intensely interesting!
S The next day Tom went again t
$ see the baby. In fact, it had SCENE
u to him as though the afternoon woul
!. never come He had more waiting
e do at the cottage, for Malvina's mothe
5, received him, and she did not appea
d At last his impatience spurred him
ask.
n q don't want you to see her agail
It Young man. / will be frank with yo
h and tell the truth
,r "Oh, Mrs. Barker" cried Tom.
., "She's asimple child, sir, and is
If danger not to understand that after
tions from one like you can mes
he nothing"
10 "Dear Mrs. Barker. you misunde
y, stand me entirely. must see HI
r this once. l must, indeed. If 81
sends me away l will never con
IS again"
st Tom conquered When he explain'
to Malvina about his small income al
" consulted with her ABOUT its sufficie
/ cv che told him that he ought to