Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1885-11-20
quickly than its wont.


ther Of the manner in which the after
noon had been passed. Nor could
she bring herself aftrrward to mention
chance meetings which always seemed
now to be occurring between the own
er of the Lander place-whom she had
learned was, by reason Of his good
looks, good character, and very pros
porous worldly conditions, the great
"catch" for al the girls thereabouts-
and hers If Several of these had
happened on Sunday mornings when
Gail had walked over the snowy fields
to the little Episcopal church alone.
And these remembrances-of the ici-
cles gIistening on bare boughs in the
sunlight, of the crisp, cracking snow
un3er foot, of the handsome, eager
eyes bent down near her own-seemed
to be such as could not sufficiently
be brooded over during all the ensuing
week.
Had Mrs. Vancouver been a more
observant person she might have re-
marked certain subtle changes effect
/ ing themselves in ber daughters
warmer tinge at times in the soft cool
cheeks. little far-away look in the
chiidllke blue ewes, an absent minded
abstraction in fits, which generally
Hpndei with slight start. But Mrs.
Vancouver hal better things to think
of; va engaged in the maturing and
engineering oF one OF the many STRAIT
gle moves by which she managed to
"krrp ap' the appearance Of being sin
society,"" For instance, she was soon
going South now. They would be
ther" ii"e or six weeks at large ho-
I tel. But that would suffice. She
~oal b1 in position to say to those
%no inquired later, when having vlgo-
Tousle ecnnomized she could return
+ once more for a time TO civilization,
that they had been South for the
winter" The farm house would be
quite eliminated. All these devices
,add ned Gail; her mother said she
woul not have had the intelligence
to keep h.r head above water" To
the girl it seemed as though it would
be better not to effect that feat at all
than to compass it by means of these
continual sacrifices Of frankness and
truthfiluess.
/ One eveniug-it WAS weak before
/ the day set for depsrture--there was
ball given in the neighboring village
town hall. Esther Gardner had re-
/ paired to it with flying eolors and
compaSslnnating the poor stuck up
Icity people who misse.i such fe,tivi-
I ties
/ Gail, feeling little lonely and de
pre-sd. had wandered down into the
/ deserted sitting room with book she
did not read. Presently there was a
sound of footsteps on the piazza out
side. and then the front door was
opened and Hal Lander stood there.
Il thought shonld find you "
"Whv-how is it: Are you not at
the bail:'
She stood in the brisht circle of the
shaded lamp. tall and slight in the
long, warm crimson dress. He, bring
ing in with him a gust of the keen
night air. stood and regarded her.
Wont YOU sit down." she said
iaintly
| The whc'e house was still. The
ticking OF the great grandfather's
clock in the next room could be clear
ly heard Overhead Mrs. Vancouver
was pIacidly reading some memoirs OF
Napolronic salons.
The next day the worthy lady had
commenced packing up her things ;,
1t was growing dark, though the days
were now so perceptibly lengthening
and Gail had been out since early in
the afternoon. Mrs. Vancouver was
becoming somewhat uneasy when a
small day. in a red comfortable, came
humping up 10 her room door with q
bit of a note. The chirography was
tremulous that Mrs. Vancouver failed
to recognize il at first as her daughter S
But directly she did so. tearing the
missive open in very Vancouver
ish furry. It ran thus:
Ny DEtR MOTHER: Please, oh please DO no
be d resdfuiy angry with me could not help
Il Iruelv and really. love Hal Lauder very
much, ard he loves me. 1t is not sudden. We
have loved zach other all winter-oniy did
not dare tell YOU. And now am married to
MIN, dear mother. We were married just ar
hour ago Itis all right if yoa will only think
so. Everyone will tell you how good he is
And oh. d lar mother, he is my husband nov
hope you will forgive US both. We are going
away now. But oh! hope you will soon lei
me kiss you again! Your devoted daug hter
ABIGAIL LANDER.
D.! S-I am vrrv happy dear mother He is
so good to M
This pitiable little espstle Mrs
| Vancouver read thrice through and
then had an attack of the most genu'
inc, cid fashioned Mysteries. She took
to her bed and the head Of the Van
couvers, Calls eldest uncle, was in
hot haste telegraphed for.
He was hard headed man gifted
with stong sense, aud after looking
into the facts of the case, he past re
demption offended and insulted his
sister-in law by observing that per
haps, after all, Abigail had not done
so i'll.
Not done so i'll. What do your
mean 2"
Mr.. Vancouver explained that Mr.
Lander was proven to be a we'll brought
up young man of unexceptionablt
morals, IA fine fellow, and one very
we'll provided with this worlds goods
his father, thriving old farmer, hav
; ing left him various moneys, beside
the Lander homestead and farm.
| Giles in love with Gail-she is ii
love with him. he concluded. "The,
: needn't always live on this place. And
considering all thlngs-what with th'
state of your affairs and ALL don
: think it SO bad. guess the chile
will enjoy a quiet life of plenty, il
1 Ian