Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-01-31


hen-coop into her sentence simply for
emphasis. It wounded Tom beyond all
expression. To offer himself to a Young
lady as husband. only to be rejected By
her as hen coop-this he felt was too
much for human nature TO bear. With
out further dalying he helped Daisy dis
mount, and drove away with a curt
adieu.
Wretched Miss Daisy gazed after him
with laclx-lustre eyes. feeling as spirit
less as glass of yesterdays soda water.
How angry he must have been to have
left her to unlock the door for herselfl
And, oh, dear, what allied the keyl
Would it never, never turna Oh. for
strong fingers Toms fingers! Pres
emily it dawned upon Daisy that there
must be some obstruction in the lock.
BY the aid of the moon she pecped in at
the key.hole and saw the trouble, In
locking the door on the inside Aunt
Abby had forgotten to remove the KEY
Daisy pulled the bell frantically till the
pcals echoed through every room, pulled
it till she broke the wire, but no sound
OF answering footsteps came Far away
in the north chamber Aunt Abby was
lying on her good ear, sleeping the sleep
/ of the innocent.
''She never hears anything when she's
on her left side" groaned Daisy, land
she may not turn over for the night.
Oh, what shall do2 What shall | do2n
She tossed pebbles against her aunt's
easement, and shouted her name again
and again; then desisted in sudden ter
ror. What If the tramp were still Turk
ing in the neighborhood, and should APP
pear at her call! She fitted around the
house like midnight ghost, only to find
every door and window fast. She looked
in at the lighted dining room, and the
appetizing lunch awaiting her reminded
her that she was faint and had eaten no
supper
Hungry and hopeless at midnight in
the country, where tramps were, and
where police were not Here was sit.
uation for girl delicately reared and
naturally timidl The only light to be
seen in the village was at DR.. Raymonds,
a quarter of mile away. Daisy knew
it must have been left burning for Grace
aud Tom. Grace could not have been
home long, for she and Jack had come
the long road by the mill.
IF | can only get there before the
lamp goes outm murmured Daisy, speed
ing along the street. What could she do
better than to beseech the Raymonds to
shelter herr She knew no other family
SO we'll, and, BESIDES no other family
was awake. After what had passed, she
shrank from meeting Tom, but she shrank
far more from meeting the tramp whom
her excited fancy was perpetually evOlv.
ing from the shadows. What with fear
and haste, she reached the threshold
breathless. Pushing OPEN the hall door,
little vagrant that she was, she stole in
upon Grace, busy in securing the parlor
shutters.
s'Hush, Grace; don't scream-don't
rouse anybody" she cried in hystericaI
whisper. 81 thought maybe you'd let
me sleep with you. I'm locked out"
Locked out, poor dear!''
Yes; I'll tell you all about it pres
emily. Can't so upstairs first2 I'm so
tiredlp
You're white as a sheet. birdkin.
Run up to my room. Fll follow as soon
as Tom comes in. He's at the stable
feeding Lady"
Lady2"
Hasn't Tom told you of his Eittle La
dy, the lovely FLY Uncle Ezra has given
him? She came while we were. at pima
fore.'n
. His little Ladym
Papa thought Uncle Ezra would bet
ter keep her till Tom was graduated:
but uncle pets Tom, and he said Tom
might as well have her at once"
Daisy heard the closing of distant
door, and fed to dream dreams too con,
fused for record.
As she was tiptoeing out of the house
in the early morning she cameupon Tom
looking gium and sleepless.
. / beg your pardon, Tom, for what I
said last night-about the hen-coop, you
know" she whispered, in dimpled con-
fusion. 1T was awfully naughty. /
take. it all back"
And will you take back all the rest.
DaisF9" implored Tom, cheered by her
bushes.
Flush! Can't stop, Tom. . said she,
with an evasive laugh. Ct must take
myself back now to Aunt Abby
q YOn must do no such thing. Daisy
Campbell, , said Tom, stoutly, his cloud
ed mind precipitately illumined by the
coquettish sparkle in her eye. " BY your
leave, madam, / shall take you back to
Aunt Abby myself. and l shall ask her
to lock you in next time, and keep you
for me. Come, the, carriage is ready.
Wen ride with the little Lady. 7-Har-
1ef'a RuSnr