Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-08-30
SELECT STORY.
The Captains Choice.

at the lively little girl, her yellow curls
all blown about into glittering tangles
and cheeks flushed with the summer
sun, who stood demursly before her,
both hands filed with wild roses. ,.,
81 found them on the island, Bell!"
cried Meta, eagerly; "and l had to
cross on the stones! Oh! it was such
fun, jumping over the water!"
"Meta" demonstrated the elder Sis
ter.
"Well, why mott" retorted the
dimpled little rebel, burying her face
among the roses. ... =,
"You are 16 this MONTH" ..-.. .
eyes I know it." ..... ..s ...
"And you are wearing long
dresses ~ :#.. ..,
Eyes, and dreadful nuisance they
are. have great mind to cut them
off again :" - .t>
"Meta when will you be womanf"
sighed Isabel.
81 don't know-never,, l believed"
laughed Meta, dancing up and
down on the tips of her toes; "Bell,
don't want to be woman-I would
much rather always remain happy
child" . T.. .rr. ....ss:.
"Women are happy, too, Meta"
81 don't know" said the child
thoughtfully; sit seems as if grief and
trouble came with womanhood."
"But, Meta" went on Isabel, "it is
high time for you to leave off these
romping ways. Captain Dale is COM
ing next week, and he is 3 New Yorker,
not accustomed to wild girls of the
woods, like you" ...:. .,.,s
"Then, why don't he stay in New
York ?" tartly retorted Meta. ''What
is he coming out into the country for
Is it to marry you, Bell 7"
Isabel colored crimson. ":
"What an idea :"
at would be very nice to have you
married, Bell" observed the young
girl, reAectively. Zone thing is GER
tain-you wouldn't have half the time
to scold me-" ..-,..-.. -.
meta, you must not talk SO. Cap
tain Dale is wealthy, aristocratic, and
very refined. He comes out here as
papa's guest, and l, particularly, wish
you to behave as well as possible"
"Well, I will, if you'll only stop lee
turing me-" coaxed the child, putting
up her cherry lips for kiss.
Remember. Meta, you must not
burst out singing at the table, nor
laugh loud, nor romp with Fldo, nor
climb the trees while he is here.
Young ladies don't do such things in
New York" @
"Then they must have an awful
stupid time of it," said Meta, with a
grimace. "Well, Bell, I'll do my best,
for you know never could behave"
And away the little lassie ran to
capture purple-wlngsd butterfly
flying to and fro among the elm-rinks
on the lawn, while Isabel gazed after
her, half smiling, half signing.
Dear little Meta" she thought,
''if she could only remain child for
ever! But she must be tanned"
Isabel Vernon was sole housekeeper
in the establishment of her widowed
father, was very busy on tho morning
of the day in which Captain Dale was
expected to arrive at Vernon Hall,
while Meta, dancing from room to
room, like the airy little sprite- that
she was, was moro bewildsring than
ever.
"Meta," said her elder sister, as she
returned from the dining groom, where
she had been directing the preparation
for lunch; "have you got on you,
white dress 2"
"Yes."
"And curled your hairf'
eyes" ....
"Then do pray sit down and read OF
embroider, or you will be sure to sol.
your dress"
81 hate embroidery, and I don't
want to read" coaxed the wilful little
elf. "Can 1 60 in the garden and
walk straight up and down the paths ~
"Yes," said Isabel, who was absorb
ed in the arrangement of the flowers
on the mantel, and away whirled
Meta.
From the garden to the level mead
ows beyond was but an easy transition
and then Meta could not hel p won
dering whether The blackberrics were
ripe on the edge of the woods, and a
little brown bird futtered on before
her, and Meta must needs follow him
to see where his nest was; and the first
she knew she was sitting in the fork
of an old tree close to the riverside,
with her rosy mouth all smeared with
blackberry stains, and her white
dress all bedraggled with dew and
berry marks, while her ruf1ed apron
was full of flowers and bright-colored
messes rIl..' -.-