Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-28

farm q bit ago. # J0e's up. hell take
you down 20 the railroad. Lie can't be
done bis chores get
81 hope he'll bungie long enough
about hio chores to be up when / get
there. said Mr.. Morton.
He had not taken his eyes from the
sleeping beauty. and was suddenly sur
nrised 10 see her lift her head from her
arm and open wide her eyes upon him,
while the flush deepened ia her face.
Joe never bungles about anything,
she said
rs lie friend Of yours r. said mr..
Morton, modulating his tone to won
derfully gentle tone.
Never mind what he is. = replied
Kitty, hotly; s.but he's no bungler of
that you may be sure.
Here she slipped away and vanished
up dark little staircase, and suddenly
all the charm went out Of the picture.
THAT central figure taken away,
said Mr.. Morton to himself, as he picked
his way to the Comstock farm, 'ofcourse
the whole effect is marred; but it was q
fine interior very fine.
That central figure" followed Mr.. Nor
ton to the farm, and all the way down
to the railroad. He found Joe Comstock
up and ready to accommodate him, and
had to concede with Kitty that Joe was
no bungler; there was o quick capacity
about the sturdy hands that handled the
reins, and natural grace and vigor in
all bis movements. The little that he
said was terse and to the point.
Kitty had been asleep for three hours
at least, and Joe Comstock was dream
ing of her under his patchwork quilt,
when Mr.. Morton reached the city. IL
was long after midnight when he got to
the reception, and at least one young
heart had lost all zeal in the entertain
ment--two hearts, for an old one in the
vicinity had grown exceedingly heavy as
the hours wore away.
Its strange Mr.. Morton don't come,
Madeline" Mrs. Van Fleet said to her
daughter.
Yes, mamma, said poor Madeline.
Did he say he would be here, Made
line2n
"Oh yes, mamma; please don't say
any more about it: and then the elder
lady walked majesticalIy away, the feath-
ers upon her head nodding in mournful
unison with her thoughts. At that mo-
ment Mr.. Morton entered. making his
way to a group of exquisitely dressed
and beautiful women, who received him
with enthusiasm; there really were SO
very few available parties that season.
and Mr.. Morton was unexceptional in
every way, and had shown some decided
inclination to range himself" and
make somebody comfortable in their
mind about the wretchedly uncertain
and procrastinating future.
He went on to the further end of the
room, where in feverish. naughty, un-
compromising but agonizing reserve sat
Miss Van Nleet, and said
did you save that waltz for me2"
And when she looked up in his face with
a thrill of delight, and found no response
there, only that vague, listless, dreamy
expression. her own beautiful face grew
almost haggard with intensity of her
emotion; it was all she could do to keep
the hot, wretched tears out Of her eyes,
why are you so absent to-night7"
she said at last. ssWhat is it you are
thinking Off" And then, as they were
whirling mo. not whirling, but laDguidly
stepping about-in the waltz, he told
her of his accident, and described to her
infinitely the bit of interior which had SO
charmed him.
.'And there is Sidney now you'll
excuse me, won't you, If I go over to
him2''
Certainly she would excuse him. What
else could the poor girl do9
Mr.. Morton led Madeline to her
mother, and that pOnderous female eager
ly whispered elias he spoken, Made
line only tell me, dear; has he spokenGn
of course not, mamma, how could
he, in the waItz2''
He was talking so earnestly.
never saw him quite 50 earnest before
thought perhaps he had spoken"
he is talking just as earnestly with
Mr.. Sidney now, mamma; he is inter
ested in art just now The bitterness
in the voice Of her daughter tinged ac
ridly the thoughts of poor Mrs. Van
Vleet.
4 shall not accept the colonel's invi-
tation for Thanksgiving, she said, dole
fully. In the meantime Mr. Morton was
endeavoring generously to give his friend
Sidney the subject for sketch. and the
artist was listening with that quizzical,
amused air that was characteristic to
him.
See here, Morton, said Sidney at
last, 81 horseshoe is sign Of good luck,
and your steed shed one, It appears, at
the door Of this rustic beauty. be-
lieve your heart followed it. Go IN and
win, old fellow, and then send for me
to paint her portrait I'm not much
eyfunn ~ snfnrsr~s