Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-05-07
LAND, MAY Z, 1886.

Inc next two days were days of cut
.,ng' stitching, pressing. calculating, in
y big, sunny south room which the
Ieslie girls called their boudoir.
old Mr. Leslie sat among his dusty
'0uies and ponderous dictionaries, with
pehcll back Of each ear and a pen in
ms hand, making notes and scribblrne
EOh Paragraphs all unconscious of what
was going on around him.
II I'm to be at that dinner party Of
'a'ants'' he said to Alma, q must settle
TINS question as to the authenticity of the
hudeie monograph.
Certainly, papa" said Alma. in an
distracted way, as She hemmed new
Oack silk cravat, and pondered as to the
Praehcability of new gloves, and wheth
CT her father could be induced to wear
them if they were bought.
Papa said Fanny the evening be-
fore the eventful day, I'VE want YOU to
try on your coat tonight
"To try on my coat." vaguely repeat
ed the philosopher. ''What coatl what
for2n
Oh, just to see if its all rightr said
Fanny, not without little qualm of ter
ror lest her father should discover the
pious fraud and object to wear home
made garments.
Absently, Mr.. Leslie rose up, divcstcd
himself Of his faded dressing gown, and
put on the new coat.
Alma and Fanny viewed him with crit
ical eyes, and exchanged glanccs of salts
faction at each other
Does it feel quite comfortable. papa2,
said Alma.
every nice, my dear-vcry nice, said
the philosopher. "Really didn't know
that old coat looked 50 nice. Take it
away, daughter, and brush it thoroughly,
and have it ready for me tomorrow,
with fresh necktie and clean pocket,
handkerchief.
And once more he plunged into the
depths of the Eudcic monograph ques-
tion.
"Fanny," raid Alma, in low voice,
sit's successr
"Alma," responded Fanny, in the
same tone, 81 kne,c that it would be"
Mr.. Leslie went to the dinner party at
Lynfield Grange, and astonished severa'
dozen other old gentlemen by the dcptl
Of his wisdom and the profundity of hi
learning, and nobody discovered that tn
homemade coat was not the chief d etor,
OF a New York clothier.
But Fanny Eeslie was not destined
hear the last OF the coat. Miss Heller
/ st. Joaquin, who had Glanced to surpri'
them in the task, whispered it mysterious
ly to her dearest friend Mrs Emerson
Fielding. And every one knew, pres
emily, that the Leslie girls had turncc
tailoresses and taken in work by the day
1T was Fanny said Miss st. Joaquin
81 saw her myself, pressing out the seam
of coat with prodigious smoothing
iron-a mans coat! They tried to shuf
file it out of sight as soon as possible, bu
they weren't quick enough for mew
"Well," said Max Lynfeld carelessly
"why shouldn't they sew mems coats a
well as woman's worsted work?"
Mrs. Emerson Fielding elevated he
pretty little nose.
'1'm afraid, =" said she, eve shall hav
to leave the Leslie girls off our list for tn
charade-partles next winter"
Max Lynfeld rose up in exceeding
great wrath.
''rhen you may leave m off, tool
said he, and stalked out of the room.
He went straight to the old stone
house. Fanny was in the garden, gath
ering chrysantheums = great white
fringed beauties, and buds that were lik
balls of gold, and little brick-red bios
SONS full of strange aromatic fragranc
like Eastern spices.
"Fan," said he, eff you had wanted
money, you ought have come to me
Haven't we been friends long enough t,
induce you to put any confidence in me2
Fanny looked at him in serene surprise
But, Max, said she, eve don't wan
money-no more than usual, that is t,
say Everybody wants money, l sup
pose"
And she clipped off stem of rich ma
room flowers, and laid it lovingly anon,
the rest of her floral trophies,
Honest Max, who had no idea of di
plomacy, plunged headlong into the sub
ject.
'Then," said he, ''what's all this story
about your taking in tailor-work?"
About my taking in tailor-work2n
'Yes. Miss St. Joaquin saw yor
working at it,
Did she2o Fanny's cheeks famed
scarlet. "Miss St. Joaquin had bette
nave been attending to her own business
but since she has told you half a story
may as well supply the other half.
am sure it is no secret
And she told Max Lynfeld the Who'll,
Of the simple tale.
Fan, you're trump!" said he. "Anc
you really made that coat yourseBao
\ really made that coat myself-witf
2 iittle help from Alma" proudly spok,
Fanny.
= should like daughter like you
'nat Is to say, when develop into an ole
gentleman of scientific tastes, . said Max
"oh, you'll never develop into a scien
tlst, " said Fanny. ''You are a deal toe
active and wideawake. You're not hall
wise enough.o
At this Max's honest countenance fell.