Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-05-07
HIS NEW COAT

as it really true, Max, that you az
going to have a dinner party at q
Grange? OF learned gentlemen' Am
papa is to be invited"
Fanny Leslie flung her little crociI
cap into the air, and caught 1t agal
with the dcxterity of a slight-of-haat
performer.
Max Lynfeld, who was sitting on th
low stone stilc that separated the w'll
kept grounds of the Grange from h
weedy wilderness of the Leslie estate
with a gun balanced on his shoulF lFel
and a game-bag slung over his back, hiSd
ded emphatically.
'.All the scientific lights of the conEsn
tion are to be invited" I" said he. IS X
tacles and baldheads will be at pr'S1i
um. Don't you wish you were leafpe(
old fudge-eh, FAM OF course, Jou
governor is to be invited. Don, i i,
know the most about Egyptology, pnc
ancient Roman letterings, of any old Zen
tleman in the land2 Isn't Professor fol.
mainc-especially anxious to make hi lac.
quaintance? And isn't Doctor Lelkun
going to bring, in his waistcoat poe tet,
slab of stone Clipped off from the bse
of some Assyrian statue or other for lin
to identify? What are you looking SO
sober about} Jealous because you csn't
make out the company, eh? I'm shry
for you, Fanny; but you had no busiiess
to be a woman"
at isn't that, " said Fanny, with ltli-
crous solemnity. ''What day is the In
ner to be, MAXI"
"The seventeenth. Just two VI
from to-day. But I say, Fan, wha IS
you in such hurry for?" -
Its almost sundown, 2 said h
lie, gathering her scarf about her 81
ers IN q hurried way. ssAnd i "
WASTED ever 50 much time here air,
Good-by, Maxw
Eyes; but l say, FANNY
The only response to his appeal was
the light, quick sound of the girps bot
steps, as she fitted away over the q pet
oil autumn leaves that covered the -,
into the yellow mist Of the October ] ef.
noon.
What pretty girl that isln Max
field murmurcd to himself. seHer ewes ife
exactly the color of hazelnut, and she e8
got the sweetest little sugar-plum a.
mouth that ever beheldl But | AIT
see why she need be in such hurrys
And he disconsoIately picked upke
game-bag which he had unbuckled FIN
his shoulder, and strobe away, whistlk.
Meanwhile, Fanny Leslie had ID
to the dreary, old-fashioned stone hoh,
blotched with mildew and full of a sh-
traI silence, where old Mr.. Leslie n,
spectacled and absorbed, among Ns
books, and Alma, the eldest daughsr,
was in the Kitchen making damson nd
ding for dinner.
She looked up as Fanny came fyingsn
81 thought you never were comSg,
Fam" said she "Did you bring .hc
powdered sugar?"
Here it is. Fanny flung a little pa
per on the table. ''But oh, Alma tn
dinncr-party at the Grange is to be o.
the seventeenth, and papa is to be one 0
the invited guestsr'
Alma Leslie paused in her task 0
sprinkling snowy sugar over the crushed
purple damsons in the plate.
"oh, Fanny" said she. ''But o
course he can't 60. He has no coat fit t
be seen at a dinner party in Colonel Lyn,
! fields house"
Alma, he must gor'
How can he, Fanny?"
1t will be such treat for him, Alma
to meet those scientific gentlemen, ant
get glimpse of the world he has 50 Ion!
left behind him, pleaded Fanny. "W
! must manage it somehowm
Alma knitted her black brows together
How much money is there in tn
drawer, Fanr' she asked, abruptly.
Il Idon't quite know-ffteen dollars,
think"
'All this proves the impossibility 0
our fine dinner-party, Fam" said Alma
Struggling her shoulders. s'Fifteen dol
lars would just about purchase the clotl
for a new coat.
Fanny looked gravely at her sister.
"Well, /" said she, ''that is all I want
give me the cloth, and I'll make tn
coat.
what nonsense, Fannyp
1T isn't nonsense at ALL"
9 You make broadcloth coatr
'Why shouldn't l? Didn't | make
cloth ulster for myself, and make it nice
too9"
But you are not tailorr'
erll be tailoress, which is jast a
good"
You have no pattern, Fam"
4 can rip papa's old coat apart ant
get the pattern from that, Alma. When
is it? Is he wearing it nowp
''He has got on that old dressing cow
Of hla, y saia Alma,
nTheh act the apab~thats 4 dear