Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-03-14
RI TOBACCO, MARYLAND, MARCH a 1894

nv .I0 ure' as if seeking from the
red eu0ers counsel and advice. '
"e'e Is that dictionary" said he.
Goodness only knows /" d,spairIng.
y sighed Mrs. Wildwood.
husband ''e'
Perhaps Mrs. Grub would know
sad Mrs Wildwood. "she packed all
N talns' that were left, ana locked
up the house"
write to her said Mr. Wildwood
eagerly "or no that would only be
uselessly arousing suspicion. Go there
yourself, Sarah. ASK her to come
here, and make visit
"Nhat-AIrs Grubb?"
Yes, Mrs. Grubb.'
but, Matthew, she is such a dread
iul Old bore " pleaded Mrs. Wellv ool.
Never mind that said Wellwool,
lmPateltly, 1inging his cigar-stump
into the red-hot Goals. only think Of
the fortune that may possibly reward
our efforts Sarah, we must get hold
of that dictionary =
so Mrs Wellwood went to Mrs
George Grubb, and courteously invited
that lady to make her a visit. Mrs.
Grubb accepted promptly. She had
always wanted to visit the city, and
here at last was golden opportunity.
She brought her little nephew and her
two tall girls with her
81 know you didn't specially invite
'em, Sarah Ann" said She; "but the
deaTs win so enjoy the museums and
the park and the Brooklyn Bridge, and
all that sort of thing. And they won't
be no more trouble than three kittens.
There never were such good children -
The three young Grubbs were some
thing worse than pestilence. Mrs.
Grubb was nearly as bad. And at the
end OF a week, Mrs. Wildwood felt her
woed felt herself fully qualified to enter
a l,,natie asylum.
Ut on the last day, while George
was smearing himself with bread and
butter and honey in the kitchen, and
-he two Misses Grubb were pounding
desperately away on the piano-forte, in
imitation of the hand-organ man out
side, Mrs Wildwood ventured to put
-he fateful question which had SO long
treinbled on her lips.
The old ditchnery y said Mrs.
"a, who was. not over particular re-
ksrg her rpronuneiation. la. mo
ssild any one want o. that old
II nothing much r hesitated
lI'~~a -llwood. "But Mr.. Wellwood
5 rather a bibliopole-'
"a which g said Mrs Grub, with
me hand back of her ear.
a collector of old books" explained
ser hostess.
"llumph p said Mrs Grubb, scratch
ing her heal with a knitting-needle
'lt | was going to have books, at ALL
Id far and away rather have new
one"
Tastes differ" said Mrs Wellwood.
with pang, as one Of the piano-chords
snapped resoundingly, and Master
Georges voice was beard below in loud
alteration with the cook. But where
is the old dictionary"
"Lesb.a Field has got it," said Mrs
Grub. Mrs. Walkers grandniece
don't you know Leopold Fields
girl. She's a factory-hand, up to Poke
Hollow dreadful likely girl, Soon
to be married to Zeke Hamersley."
Are you sure of it?" said Mrs.
Wellwood.
About the weddin'? Oh. YES I,
zeke's folks they set deal of store by
Lesbia, and"
NO. mol" interrupted Mrs. Well
wood about the dictionary"
"Sartin sure" said Mrs. Grubb 81
see Lesbia pick it off the floor herself
when was a-packin' the woolen blank
cts that Mrs. Seeder brought at auction
Says She, 4 amt goin' to hey the
that Aunt Hammer thought
such a deal of sold for old paper says
she III keep it myself, jus to put me
in mind of Aunt Hammer and Uncle
Samuel And she wrapped it in a bit
Of old calico-I remember the very
palnl-leaf pattern on it-and took it
away, under her arm. What is it
George darling? The hired girl
won't give you no more honey .
Never mind Mrs. Wellwood'n give
you some damsom preserves, 1 know -
As soon as Mrs. Grubb departed-a
period OF time which Mrs. Wellwood
began TO fear would never arrive-sbe
packed little trayeling-satehel to 90
to poker Hollow" and see Lesbia
Field relation with whom she had
hitherto had very little acquaintance.
Lesbia was at home-a BLOOMING
lass with cheeks as pink as roses. and
sparkling black eyes-and she was
evidently much puzzled to account for
this unexpected notice on the part Of
her city relation.
But Mrs. Wellwood, while makino
herself as agreeable as possible, Kent
her eyes yigilanIy on the alert and
was rewarded at last.
For there, on the top shelf of a little
glass-lronted corner-cupboard was the
.olj diCtiOnarv ;4,c 'HO