Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1884-08-22

Tree he made for the string of gree
. land that lay between the house tn
Matte dwelt in and the river. 1t WI
the water that tempted him, and h
delight was to launch tiny boats wit
paper sails upon 1t. At first Matt
: ran away when she saw him. The
Z, she began to watch thinking how liz
I he was to the captain with that hea
OF clustering yellow curls; thinkin
hlm'llke, also to what her boy woul
have been had he lived for she neve
doubted that he was dead-until he
heart Softened, and one day she oper
el the door and tempted him IN wit
cake, as one might bird.
After that he used often to come
her. All Rudleigh was scandalized b
the fact, and Mrs. Waters ignorant G
it, until she one day came upon tn
two at the rivers edge-the bov wit
his arms about the woman's neck
She was in her carriage when she sa,
them, but she was out in an instant
periling her life in the Jump. Ant
she struck the child blow, and calle,
Matte by an evil name : and no on,
who saw her face ever forgot it
nor the oaths she uttered man
oaths, round and fierce and horrible
as she drove away again with tht
screaming child.
Matte went into her poor home
broken hearted. and her maiden aunt
berated her wofully, and Matte could
only weep.
Where is your pride:' said the
splnster: your decencv?'
And Matte sohbed; ale is so like
Frank-so like Frank, aunt: don't be
angry with me-"
The old nurse was we'll berated by
Mrs. Waters also. and for awhile the
boy was kept within bounds: but he
had a will of his own. and at last. one
warm autumn day. mamma ont for Il
drive as usnai. and nurse doing. the
great gate swung behind him and he
battered down the green bit OF land
and peeped into Mattie's cottage door
She was at an upper window. hut she
did not call to him-she dared not
and he wandered awav to the waters
edge. There he launched his boat. and
PADDED IN to bring it ont again. and
sol,ed his fine clothes with the mud.
and WAS harpy beyond expression.
Matte vearned for him: hut she sat
still, and only looked until the tears
1'!trd her etes. and she hiJ them
Tb, ,ier aprou and fell to weeping bit
y. Bnt from this a strill cry
head and two tiny arms, ana a-crt'-o
came to her.
II was as though her own child call
ed. She flew from the room and down
the stairs, and ont toward the river,
Others were rushing that way, but she
was first. She never paused to think
but plunged into the water recklessly.
In another moment she was out Of her
depth. but she had the boy fast by his
little waist. and did her best to reach
the shore with him. Men were near
bv this time, and the two were drawn
TO land together. And in the midst
Of the crowd Matte stood holding the
dripping child to her breast, when the
whirl of carriage wheels smote her
ear. \ harsh >voice cried: "W hats
all this = and there once more was
Mrs. Waters Matte gave scream,
but held the child closer. The woman
with a look of hate, which had some
terror in it, sprang to her feet.
The horses PLUNGED and reared.
For Gods sake, sit still, ma am,
said the coachman but the warning
was unheeded. Mrs. Waters attempt
ed to leap to the ground. The horses
started. Her long train caught in the
wheels the coachman lost all com
mand over the animals, and was flung
to the earth-and away, over road and
field, the mad creatures dragged the
wretched woman, dashed by ner costly
robes to her own chariot wheels.
The crowd followed, unable to give
any aid. And Matte, remained. hold
ing the sobbing boy to her bosom
She looked into his eyes-she kissed
his lips. Mad dreams of stealing him
and hiding herself where she NIGH
keep him for her own, filled her mind
At last she crept into the house anc
undressed him. and wrapped him IL
dry clothing and laid him to rest IL
her own little bed, whence he lifted W
his arms to embrace her
Later in the evening she sat by th'
fire, when the latch was lifted and th,
old clergyman came in. His face wa
very grave. He walked up to Matte
and took her hand softly.
You must put on your bonnet anl
come with me-" he said, "The wo
man who was hurt to day is dying
She wants to speak with you.'
"To me = said Matte. 'Oh, | can
not 90 there.
But something in her friends map
ner made her alter her mind, and g
with him, with strange, hopeful feel
ing at her heart.
She entered the house where he
married life, had been spent, and tn
chamber that bad been her own, un
falteringly, though her soul sickened
and there, upon the bed, she saw tn
bold faced, handsome woman-bol'
and handsome no more, but quiverin
with death agony and the terror
what lay beyond it, helpless, distig
ured mass of flesh and bone. But sh
could speak yet, and she turned he
woeful eyes on Matte, and said, pit
eously:
Pm going to die, and | want to te1
You something. They say I'll so eas
ier if | do. And Pm sorry. You al
good woman-as good as | am ba(
IL never was Captain Waters wi
never. My cousin was. She died.
looked like her, and had all her p'
, moro opd certificatps wanted RI