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

Major Anthony Hartletop was a
very good match indeed, as Miss An
gerona Dilworth and the gossips very
well knew.
To be-sure, he was rather bald and
had a wart on his nose; but, then, he
was the owner of many acres of rich
land; he possessed herds of Cat, short
horn cattle and flocks of long wooled
Merino sheep; he raised untold quanti-
ties of amber cane, to be made up into
sugar; and was, all told, the richest
farmer in ths neighborhood Of Sugar
Maple village.
As for Miss Angerona, she was not
very young, but neither was she old.
She was not remarkably plain, nor
could she be called pretty. For the
rest, she was rather sharp-featured
and very sharp-tongued, so the leigh.
bors declared. though the rN=n
not discovered this fact.
Miss Dilworth was not a benevolent
person, yet she had taken her orphan
niece, Avis. to raise,
Avis Dilworth was hearty, merry
girl, in spite of her aunt's grabbed
temper, with a round face, deep dim
pies in her cheeks. pair of laughing,
blue-gray eyes, and plenty of vim and
life about her, though Gemure and
quiet as nun under Miss Angerona's
sharp eyes
Indeed, many people asserted that
if Avis were only decently dressed,
anG allowed the advantages she de
served, she would be quite a belle.
But Miss Dlworth's old garments,
however neatly made over, were not
sufficient to set off even a good figure
to much advantage.
They were all poor Avis was allow.
ed, however, and she sighed in vain
over the crisp new lawns, tie sheer
white mnslins, the nuted ruflles and
fresh. plumed hats of her more lortu-
nate acquaintanees.
At last Major IIarlletop had propos-
ed to Miss Angerona, in a good, sub
stantial, plainly-expressed letter; and
Miss Angcrona had determined to ac-
cep. the pr, posal.
eff he is bald and ugly" she re-
marked to herself, "he's rich. and
money covers Il multitude of bad looks
Bes des it'll spite that stuck-up Wild
der Flnkes, that's been asserting her
cap at him this month or more; an as
long as she wants him Id have him, if
he was bald as an egg an ten times as
ugly as he Isl"
But, in spite Of his defects, Major
llartletop was good-hearted, and as
romantic as many nan with a glossy
head of hair and no wart on his nose
He was really in love with Miss
Angerona, and after sending his pro-
posal, the moments seemed weighted
with lead until he could receive her
answer.
At last his impatience grew unbear-
able.
a won't wait no longer he deelar-
ed. q just call around and get her
answer right away, or | shan't sleep
wink tonight, know"
And popping his hat on his head, he
set off on the winding, country road
which led to Miss Angerona's dwell
ing, his mind busy with pleasant fan
cies of what the future might have in
store.
"How nice it'll be to have my wife
asserting at the head of the table, or
stepping around the house, oyerseein'
5he butter and cheese-makin, he
unused.
AN that pretty Avis, too. She
shall have better clothes than she
wears now. Is'pose Angerony can't
afford to dress her any better; but I'll
see to that She shall have white
dress. with lace fiounces, an one o
them crimpY things girls wear around
their necks. to stand up with us IN.
And so, his mind busy with cheerful
pictures of the happy future. he reach
ed Miss Angerona's house. ascenaed
the steps, and was about to knock on
the open door, when a shrill, high
pitched voice reached his ear.