The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-08-14

after her, determined to overtake her
and try to explain matters, before she
succeeded in arousing the neighborhood.
He overlook her much sooner than
he expected. Right at the foot of the
veranda steps lay little white figure,
moaning as though in pain. Bob bent
down and asked gently, 'Are you hurtr
And as he spoke the moon came sud-
denly out from behind cloud, and
shed her full light upon the PROSTATE
figure, revealing to him not as he ex-
'pected, one of his aunt's maids, but
lovely, little golden haired fairy that he
had never seen before. AS he spoke,
she raised herself to sitting posture,
and put up her hands as if to ward him
off.
Don't touch me, please. If you
want my purse and jewelry, 60 back in
to the room and get them, but in the
name of manhood and honor I ask you
not to touch me-
Her voice was singularly clear and
firm, though there was just enough of
pleading in it to 60 straight to the heart
of the listener. The long, thick braid
of golden hair fell over her shoulder
and lay upon her lap, and pair of eyes
dusky as moonless night were raised
imploringly to his.
Poor little darling, whoever can she
be?' he thought, and then said aloud
in his softest and gentlest tones, 4 know
you can never forgive me for frighten.
ing you so, but indeed it is all the re-
suit of very awkward blunder on my
part, which 1 hope you will allow me to
explain. First, as you are doubtless a
guest of my aunt's, tell me, please, have
you not heard her say that she is ex-
pecting visit from her nephew, Robt.
Burton?'
A startled glance from the dark eyes,
wave of crimson across the white face,
and slight inclination of the head
were all the reply he received.
well, l am Robert Burton. 1 came
in the night, but my aunt, not expect
ing me till morning, had retired, and
disliking to awaken her, l thought /
would take possession of my old room
and give my aunt surprise in the morn
ing. Why, my poor little girl, you are
hurt; your forehead is bleeding. Oh,
dear, | feel as if had acted the william,
and l know you can never forgive me.
You are hurt and half-frozen, and !
think the only thing for me to do now
is to call my aunt and make a full con-
fession.'
But even as he spoke, his companion
sprang up, and exclaimed, vehemently:
'Oh, no, no, Mr.. Burton! Ifyou want
mo ovor to forgive you for this night S
work, give me your word right here that
no living soul shall ever know what has
occurred.
She stood on the step beside him as
she spoke, her long, flowing mig ht-dress
trailing behind her, and one little white
bare foot peeping out from beneath the
snowy ruf1es, and the thought flashed
across Bob's mind that, after all, heaven
was not the only abode of angels.
He gave the required promise with
alacrity, and the next moment his an
gel had vanished, he heard his room
window let down with bang, and found
himself standing alone upon the veranda
steps, with the damp fog of the morn
ing hours settling around him. Slowly,
like one in dream, he made his way
to the back of the house, aroused the
cook, and induced her to smuggle him
to an unoccupied room, where he lay
awake till dawn, thinking and dreaming
of the lovely little lady that had so sud-
denly and Unexpectedly crossed his path
soft, black eyes, and hair like burn
ished gold,' he murmured, and then.
lust as the faint light of dawn came
stealing in through the window, he fell
asleep, and dreamed that his sister Jen'
ME, with priests robe on, and prayer
book in her hand, was marrying him
to a short, fat, dumpy little widow, with
cheeks as red as peony's and little
wisp of sandy hair, twisted tightly al
the back of her head, who ere the cere-
mony was half completed, threw hel
arms around him and began kissing him
with so much ardor that he gasped foi
breath and flung her from him. Where.
upon he suddenly awoke, and found
that he had flung the covers off the bed,
and that the kisses had doubtless come
from Aunt Martha, who was just disap
pearing through the open door, evident
ly frightened away by his being so start
lingly en- disAa6iAe.
Half an hour later he entered th'
breakfast room, and Aunt Martha, afte
giving him warm welcome, said:
ooh, Rob, I've got the sweetest littl'
woman here visiting me that you eve
saw; sh-here she comes now.
The door swung open, and his COLDER
haired, dusky-eyed angel swept grace
fully in, and like one in a dream, h
heard his aunt say:
MRS. Blondette, allow me to presen
to t you my nephew !. Mr.; < Burton 4
A budding spring, long, warm sum
mer, and a golden autumn, have glide'
by. Once again Thanksgiving day is
hand, and this time there is merr
wedding party assembled in Aunt Mar
tha's coy, ld-fashioned parlor. Al
the Burtons and all the BlondetteS hav
gathered together to see Bob and lv
married; but the face that is brightes
and fullest of fun is Jennie's as sh
comes in, and going up to Rob, whls
pers:
'The widow is ready, my boy, an
awaits the bridegroo,n's coming
And then she led him to the room
and he found Ivy standing before tn
glass, and Aunt Martha arranging tn
folds of the long billowy veil that te
around her.
'Now, Isn't she lovely, Rob. and ism
her dress perfectionl' queries Aur
Martha.
'Yes, she is very lovely, and her DIRE
. is very beautiful, assented Rob, as
drew her to him, and kissed the swee
red lips. But, auntie, saw her ono