Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-08-14


70 buy if marry that bald headed
scarecrow, as s'pose shill A fine
thlhg for you to come asking for duds,
missr'
but aunt, returned Avis plead
ingy, q haven't anything fit to wear
to church
"oh. indeed 50 you 90 to church
70 show your clothes. hey? You bet
ter stay at home if that's what you go
fur An when marry old Hartletop
why he couldn't have had a decent
name | don't see you wol't be no
better off than you are now, if he is
rich. shill be as savin' Of his money
as kin, so when he dies I'll have
something fur myself. An now 60
long an milk that COW; she's been a.
bawlin' this halt-hour,"
The poor major, half-stupefed by
this astonishing revelation, stumbled
of the steps and got out Of the gate
he scarcely knew how.
And now here was a predicamcnt
How was he to marry such IA vira-
go2 he reasoned, mopping his head
with huge red handkerchief. And
yet. how was he to get out Of marry
Ing her, if She chose to accept him?
He had serious doubts whether be-
| ing called "bald-headed scare crow"
would exonerate man, in the eyes Of
the law and public opinion, in refus-
ing to fulfil his offer Of marriage.
And yet, marry her he couldn't-he
wouldn't. Thus be assured himself
over and over again.
Miss Angerona, meanwhile, proceed
ed to write her letter, accepting Major
Hartlotop's proposal. Having writ
ten it. she laid it on a corner of the
table to dry, and with compressed lips
and a look of determination in her
cold, gray eyes, she drew another let
ter from her pocket. and opening it,
read:
"MY DEAR AVIS: / have called
twice to see you, but your aunt refus-
ed me admittance to the house. | am
therefore compelled to write what |
had meaut to tell you personally. You
must know plTeady that / love you,
Avis. and / want you for my wife.
viii you marry me? Please answer
as soon as possible, as l shall be in
great suspense until | hear from you.
Yours forever, RICHMOND ALDER"
Hun I, mntterea Ns'sa .nn:ssrs,n'' !. =
~wHtfi smile OF grim satisfaction.
ITS well | didn't give her the letter.
shan't allow her to marry very soon.
She's too much help to me- | couldn't
get nobody to take her place an do all
she does fur love nor money. And
now fur your answer, Mr.. Richmond
Alder"
And taking up her pen, she wrote,
slowly and carefully:
81 have received your letter, and
my answer is No. can never marry
you. A. DILwoRTH"
"That'll settle him." she decided.
AN 'taint no forgery. either, seein'
"a stands for Angerona as well as
Avis"
And inclosing the two letters in
envelopes, she directed them. slipped
them in her pocket, and carried them
to the post Office herself.
"Now | know they're SAFE" she
commented, with sigh of relief, as
she retraced her steps toward home.
x Y x 4 4
Major Hartletop had passed a
wretched night. According to his own
statement, he had not slept wink.
When Jake Soper, the hired hand,
brought in the mornings mail as
usual, he felt a nervous tingle down
to his finger ends.
With quaking hand he opened
Miss Angerona's letter, and, much to
his relief, read:
4 have received your letter, and my
answer is No. | can never marry
you. A. DlIwoRTu"
10 say the major was delighted
would hardly express his feelings. He
almost felt as if he could forgive Miss
Angerona for calling him a "bald-
headed scare-crow," in consideration
OF her having refused him.
Tucking the letter in his pocket, he
went whistling about the house, like
school-boy.
Alter dinner, he saddled his riding
mare and rode down to the village. TO
see trader about buying some of his
fat cattle for beef.
ylpg his nag under a shady tree,
ne proceeded toward the village store,
and met Miss Angerona face to face
She simpered, smiled and tried to
oi'lsh' The major bowed coldly and
passed on.
Astonished and chagrined, Miss
Ahgerona detained him, and demand
ea the cause of such behavior.
What behayior?" asked the major
eoldly.
10 pass me without speaking. when
when we are engaged to be married.
Engaged" cried the major. "Why.
you have refused mel"
didn't; accepted your contra
uieted the lady, fatty.
nave your refusal in black and
"iil'e' here it isH' he retorted.
ana taking crumpled note from
ms pocket he read il ont tn her