Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-07-29

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fear he will miss the train bat brings
her.
And where is he puIting up?
Didn't know there was aacsher board
ing-house around here.
AT McKailan's-otlsry side OF the
river.
Strange | haven't sea Tom yet,
mused Bolton. forgetting = hs him.
self had orly arrived tt day be-
fore.
You'll soon see bin II be e.
4e0rting the fair Isa ssl 3inzile the
nskt half=hogr.' -
looking at his watch.
There was a long pause, during
which the latter got up and started
away, leaving Bolton to mediate on
the singular news which he had just
heard. For it was singular-that a
man with so many physical mperfec.
tions as Eldridge possessed should be
so readily accepted by weman like
Isabel Hartly.
He looked forward with some curl
osity to a meeting with her. I'll
have a good chance to study the girl.
he said to himself, boarding in the
same house with her.
The distant sound of carriage wheels
warned him Of some ones approach,
and looking out from among the Gle n
ats vines which covered the pillars of
the porch before him, he saw an OPEN
carriage coming through the gatew.y.
In that carriage sat two ladies and
his old friend Tom.
1t drew up to the steps, and TSm
helped them to alight, and Mrs.
Walters-the fat. pompous landlaly,
came hustling out to meet them.
'Why-there's Harry Belton. How
are you, Hal? exclaimed Tom or
daily, as he caught sight of his
friend.
A tall, fair woman with dark blue
eyes and naughty face. turned her
head at this exclamation, and Belton
found himself confronting Tom and
his betrothed. Tom introduced them
adding. as Isabel bowed and passed
into the house: I'm glad to leave
her in such good hands, for I've got
to run up to the city for few days,
and l would be sorry if Isabel and
her mother were lonely meanwhile.
Mrs. Hartly, who had been con-
versing with the landlady, now came
towards them and Tom made his
future mother-in-law acquainted with
Belton. After a few pleasant re-
marks she followed Isabel into the
house, and the two friends were left
alone.
1t was on the tip of Belton's tongue
to ask How in the world did you
manage to *in such a woman?' for a
more beautiful creature he had never
beheld; but the sight of Toms empty
sleeve checked the question. He re-
membered in an instant the many
noble qualities OF mind and heart
which the cripple possessed, and did
not wonder then.
What brought you here, Hal P
asked Tom.
The fishing
And how long will you stay?'
oh, for week-month perhaps,
he answered carelessly.
I'm glad Of that, said Tom, for
I'm sure you'll do all you can to make
it pleasant-for them, he waved his
hand towards the house, and an en-
barrassed smile fitted over his grave
pale face.
"You may feel safe Un that, re-
turned Bolton. And while we are
on this subject shall offer my con-
gratulations. You needn't blush, Tom:
| admire your taste, upon my soul I
do
No one could help doing that,
but
But what ? seeing that he paused.
But the reflections that have been
made on her taste-that's what cuts
me, said Tom slowly. "And-and
I'm afraid she's made mistake, and
that l was blind and mistook her
gratitude for love Or
Nonsense, mani cried Bolton,
who could help loving you? You've
got too much mOdesty abOard-that's :
the trouble. Keeps yOu from putting
the proper estimate on yourself.
Keeps you from seeing yourself as
other people see YOU
Toms chesrfulness returned almost
instantly under the fire of this friendly
sympathy. Some people always get
rated far above their merits. he said
gratefully. and I'm one of thnsa