Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-10-24

was Sill an anxiety to them. Dare
/ Raybarn, in spite of his resolution,
was still IA constant visitor, but Naomi
( treated him in the same off hand man
nar.
At length Christmas came and pass
ed, and on New Years Day there was
/ to be a quiet party, and Naomi was in
her room dressing when there came to
} her ear the sound Of the eager, hur-
ried, awe stricken voices of two servant
girls who were in the adjoining corri-
dor so close to Naomi room that every
syllable fell on her ear with perfect
distinctness.
Isn't it awful about him, though
This makes the third death this week
old Judge Sstwyn, with the queer
stroke he took. and Mrs. st. John:
baby, and now poor, dear Mr.. Ray
must go and skate, and fall into the
Serpeutine It's awful
Naomi suddenly laid down a spray
of dainty creamy flowers she was about
to pin among her golden pufs.
y d, athly, icy fear, and pam, and
horror em,d to hold her in steady
grasp from which she could not stir.
The RELENTLESS voice went on. all un-
conscious of the fate it was fulfilling
You might ha' knocked me down
with feather, | was that upset, when
Jim brought the word that poor Mr..
ltayburn had tumbled into the Serpen-
tine. Poor dear gentleman Amt it
dreadful to think they're Il tishin' for
his body, an him alive and we'll only
at luncheon tine? It's awful to think
of
And then. rs if through the pail of
surprise and horror there suddenly en-
tered u keen ray Of revealed rtallZa
ton, Naomi, who had grown whittier
and whittier, staggered falnting to the
nearest chair, over which she was wing
unconscious, when her mother came
in. full Of the heartrending news she
had only Just heard and came to break
10 her child.
Its sickeniug sal and nobody de
fplores poor Mr.. R,yburn's untimely
death more than do; but must say.
Naomi, tina | think you behave most
unbecomingly when one take into con
sideration yoar own confession tat you
cared nothing " hatever 'or him
/ Mrs. Burton was gently caressing
| poor Noami's limp, cold hands, for the
/ girl had revived. a1d was crouching.
pale aud agonizrd. away down in the
chiniz cushion, of an easy chair.
Her blue eyes suddenly fired holly
at Mrs. Burton 5 words.
Mamma, never said So. | nerer
confessed didn't like hiub for -
LID IL lcx.I y .n-oh y lofsd =
so much and ! always meant soifit
day to tel him so, And, now, oh,
mamma. it will break my heart. be-
cause know il Was who killed him
mamma. | did love him SO much.
Her pteous, sweet voice went up in
Il wall that smote the mothers heart
tenderly.
Naomi sat wringing her hands in
pitiful woe, her sweet blue eyes full Of
hopeless misery.
And to think he died and never
knew what really thought of him
Oh, if only could once tell him, |
would give anything:
Then let it be your own sweet self,
my darling, that you give me, because
YOU see there has been IA stupid mis-
take somewhere, and I'm not drowned
at all. Naomi, love, do YOU care for
me after ALL
Aud Mr.. Dare Rayburn closed the
door after him as he walked in, talking
TO Naomi, who sprung from her chair,
Wild eyed, almost overcome by the tx
qulsIte reaction.
While Mrs. Burton smiled serenelv.
My little plot to bring Naomi to
her senses has been remarkably sue
cessfuI; thanks to the hint | dropped
TO one or two goSSIpy people on whom
| could depend
While Mr.. Rayburn settled things
with lordly authority then and there.
'1ou are mlne bv virtue of your
own confession, little pet. You have
given me your b. art, the best and the
brightest New Years gift woman
can bestow. And We viii be as happy
as the summer days are long, won /
We
And they were nnexcrptionaNly hap
W, Cor all Naomi always insists she
was not won by fair means.