The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-07-11
miscellaneous.
MY MARIA.


| scarcely three months, and already the scarce
perceptible shadow of coming trouble was
darkening her life's horizon. Or, at least, SO
people limited
"Of course" said Aunt Amanda, "she
would die rather than complaint .ts
"To us, especially" added Aunt Laura
"when we opposed the match so rcsoutely.'
"She would have her own way" said Aunt
Amanda, mournfully shaking her head
"There always was a deal of quiet obsti-
macy about Hattie" said Aunt Laura
But perhaps it is our duty to solicit her
confidence now" suggested Aunt. Amanda.
Poor DEAR" she has no mother of her
own" sighed Aunt Laura acquiescingly.
And so the two gente-natured old maids
tied their stone-colored hats and wrapped
their fleecy shawls about their threats and
trudgcd over to Mayfeld house, where the
bride was in the kitchen, preserving ounces,
with big calico apron tied about her slim
waist.
Hattie was delighted to see her aunts-
that was quite matter of course. But it
took long time to make her understand
the special errand upon which they had
come.
"My DEAR" said Aunt Amanda, impress
siyely, "are you happy ?"
"Why. of course am happy" said Hattie,
with wide open eyes, "Why should l not
be happy?"
You have not yet tasted the hollowness
of life then ?" said Aunt Laura.
eau Met IN lhe ulGest Ised Hattie t %stAna
life to be hollowW
"They tell me" hazarded Aunt Amanda,
chat Mr.. Mayfield was very strict and arbi-
trary with his first WIFE"
"Wcll, he won't be with me r said Hattie,
n certain light beginning to scintillate under
her dark eyelashes and troubled color
mounting to her check.
"And," funerealy added Aunt Laura, ere
ports have reached us that old Colonel Hop.
kinsthe first Mrs Mayfeld's falher-is
great trialW
"Oh, don't intend that he shall be trial
to me p said Hattie, ladling the ounces
rapidly into row of crystal clear jars 80
So the two old aunts went home, feeling
little better satisfied about Hattie and her
happiness.
But when the stone-colored silk hats had
gone bobbing down the garden path, and
disappeared behind the hedge of privet,
young Mrs. Mayfield flung down the great
silver spoon.
"How do you know that am not happy ?"
she asked herself. II have rigidly kept my
own counsel-and yet people look at me
with plying faces, as if were u marlyrp
Old Colonel Hopkins was reading the
paper when Mrs Mayfield came, all dressed,
into the parlor. He was tall, cadaverous
old gentleman, with layers of white cravat
folded around his skinny throat, and CLASSY
light.blue eyes-an old gentleman who al.
ways spoke with sigh, as if the troubles
of the world were too much for him.
Miss Belleville's card" she exclaimed,
glancing at bit of pasteboard on the table,
HAS she called here ? Am | not to know
it ?"
The Colonel pushed his spectacles up on
his bumpy forehead, as he answered, in
mournful accents:
Eyes, she called. She asked for YOU"
"And what did you tell herr" Hattie
asked.
Il said you were engaged p tho Colonel
deliberately ans sered Miss Belleville is a
frivolous young woman, whose associations
can do nobody any goodW
to sec her" said she. "She was to tell me of
the date fixed for The surprise party at the
rectory"
Colonel Hopkins folded his paper in side
out.
eyes" said he, still in the same lugubrious
accents which grated on Hattie's feelings
like rasping file, "she mentioned some idle
merry making OF the sort I told her you
couldn't 60"
"But who gave you authority to make any
such statement cried Hattie, flushing red.
"Harrietp said the Colonel, "you forget
yourself You don't seem to know that YOU
are speaking to your husbands first wifes
father"
81 am going to the surprise party" said
Hattie, rapidly losing her temper.
mo, you are not" said the Colonel my
son-in-law, am quite sure, would not sane
| ton any such folly"
Hattie made no verbal rejoinder, but she
walked out of the room with silent dignity
which spoke volumes.
"Am mistress OF the house ~ she said to
herself, "or is Colonel Hopkinsp ?"
Harriet the old man called after her,
sis that your best gown"
Hattie turned back. mo" said she. "And
| il isn't my second best gown, either"
cts almost too good TO wear around the
house every day" said Colonel Hopkins,
scrutinizing the folds of black silk through
his eye-glass. my Maria only wore silk on
Sunday. hope you will endeavor to avoid
the pitfal of extravaganza. My son-in law e
income will hardly suffice to keep you in silk
gowns every day"
| Hattie Mayfeld scarcely knew whether to
| lhuSn OF cry WHICH She nau safely escaped
from the presence of this terrible old Ger.
berusl Here, then, was the secret of heI
troubles. Little petty annoyances, such
as she could not relate to the good old aunties
nor yet to the nearest neighbor, but which
nevertheless, stung her sometimes into abso.
lutte madness. Colonel Hopkins was pryine
and dictatorial, Maurice MayfieId was despot
ic and stcrn-Hattie, who had always had
her own way as much as any yellow butterfly
which scared in the sunshine found the chat
ing ofthose Invisible chains something almos,
unendurablel t7 leW
Dinner was ready when Mr.. Mayfleld re-
turned home from his office in the Main