Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-11-07
PORT TOBACCO, MARYLAND, NOVEMBER :. 1884

The great tawny dog snifel at the
hem Of her steel-gray dress, and theh
looked up in her face, wagging his tan
His master motioned him away
"Nol' she cried, bending over the
handsome creature. "Ile used toIoNe
me"
Baron Alverton looked at her with
his blue eyes and groaned
Laurel he said, with fine appeal
ing gesture. Il used to love you
Yet to-day you would not touch me
with your Beautiful hand a. you touch
that brutel And eserye it,
She seemed to look at him then for
the first time, though only for an in
stant If she saw how his face had
changed in five years, and was stirred
to pity, She gave no sign She turned
her head aside and seemed to watch
the two dogs frolicking down the
I beach,
NO excuse could be invented for
me" he went on. You were one Of
the sweetest, truest women that ever
breathed, and my promised wife Not
a shadow stood between us when |
net Nellie Dimpleton. But | knew
less of women than | do now. lcould
not measure you, appreciate you as |
have done since. was i fool to be
won from you by pretty face, though
that face had set the artists crazy.
Ah, well, you do not even care to lis
ten to mer
She had gathered up her gloves and
parasol to descend, but paused.
Laurel" he continued, lin the old
days you were never reyengeful or
yindictive If you were both now,
you might gloat over the misery of my
married life. am utterly wretched
Let this just decree repay you for my
base desertion.
"Baronl where are you?" called
querulous voice
A dumpy figure in blue had paused
at the foot of the rocks, and pair of
lacklustre blue eyes now looked up at
them, the owner apparently not caring
to ascend. 1t was a blonde, faded
sickly face fretful and careworn,
though Mrs. Alyerton had evidently
once been very pretty.
Lifting his hat to Laurel, Baron
Alverton turned, went down The rocks
and joined her. A few sharp words
followed, which Laurel overheard
Y x
The following winter develops a
strange surprise at Nutwood, Mss
Wales home. Her aunt, Mrs. Par
don Ardley, the most well-meaning Of
disagreeaDle persons, chose to engage
herself in marriage to Mr.. Abel Al
verton, the sourest of bachelors and
Baron Alverton's uncle. Laurel was
speechless with surprise.
"Why do you marry him, Aunt Par
don?" she asked at last. 'Are you
not happy here?"
"Beeause he is rich," answered Mrs.
Pardon, land | want a home of ny
own. I've no doubt you mean we'll
Laurel, but l don't always approve of
your ways"
Her niece was silent, and the prepa-
rations for the wedding commenced. If
Aunt Pardon did not approve of Lau-
rel, she had no hesitation in demand
ing her attention, her carriage, her
servants for this momentous occasion.
With great patience Miss Vale al
lowed herself to be set on one side in
her own house while the arrangements
for her aunt's marriage went on.
so vexatious"' cried Aunt Pardon.
THAT disobliging Miss Trimmings alb
solutely refuses to come out here and
make my dresses. but says she will un
dertake them if ! will come to town
for a few days. l suppose | must do
it; and Mr.. Crabtree proposed last
night that we come to his place, a
very nice private boarding-house
quite exclusive, in fact"
She stopped, beaming; but Laurel,
who felt really too tired for any new
exertion. hesitated to respond.
"Wouldn't some one else do?" she
asked at last. "Some less important
person than Miss Trimmings might
be found TO come here
'No, indeedl There's nobody SO
stylish and high-priced. We must 60
certainly we must, Laurell But, by
the way, Mr.. Crabtree says his nephew
your old beau, Baron Alyerton and
his wife are staying there now.
"Where?" asked Laurel, bewildered
"At his clearinghouse. People
say that his marriage didn't turn out
WELL" Mrs. Pardon ratified on, unheed-
ing her niece's silence, "for his wife
acted like crazy woman when he lost
some of his money last year--rated
him so, it was really quite scandalous
Did you see her on the beach last falls
Such a white-iaced thing They say
she takes arsenic for her complexion
don't call her pretty, though she was
all the rage five or six years ago
believe she lost her health-too mueh
dissipation. I've heard that she's a"-
fully Jealous Of her husband, though