Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-08-06

I
rent oi their big spare room. And Mr..
Trudkins brought letter Of rccommen-
dation from friend in Packerton. and
he dressed in the latest fashion. and had
a big black moustache that overshadow-
ed his upper lip like a penthouse.
"0l, ma, how very gentcc he isp
said Abby Jane, all in a fluttor Of admir-
alton
avery nice young man indeed"
responded the deacon's wife.
And Che very next week, Abby Jane
came down to the Leeds farm house.
eHsye You heard this news of your
ElizaY'shc asked of the farmers wife,
a mysterious whisper
Ehr said Mrs. Leeds.
"she's nothing but a play actress"
said abby Jane, nodding her head until
the stuffed blue bird on her hat quivered
as il it were alive "AIr. Alphonso Trud-
llins saw her himself in the Great New
York Combination troupe. She was acting
a woman who was married to Cuban. and
lost her pocket handkerchief, and was
afterward choked with the pillo VS. off
the best bed. Desdemonia her name was.
think"
well, and suppose she was2" said
Mrs. Leeds, who was too good general
to let the enemy see what havoc had
been carried into her camp. ''What
thenlp
'What them" echoed Abby Jane.
'Well, do declare, Mrs. Leeds, l am
surprised"
81 don't believe a word of it." said
Mrs Leeds, defantly.
''But Mr. Trudkins saw her with his
own eyes!" cried Abby Jane, flushing
scarlet with Indignation. 'He knew her
the minute he looked at her yesterday in
church. Elizabeth Elesmere her name
was he says, in the advertisements, and
she danced dance, with yellow scarf
and lot of roses, between the pieces,
making herself out to be a Spanish man
doline player. It's enough to make ones
nair stand on end to hear Mr.. Trudkins
tell about it."
'It don't do to believe all one hears"
said Mrs. Leeds, losing all count of the
eggs she was breaking into a china
bowl in her CONSERVATION. "And
Stapleville does beat all for gossip"
'Well, you can ask her yourself, and
see if she dares deny it' said Abby Jane,
exultantly s'Here she comes now. Ask
her--only ask herl"
s--Yssfsiiza came into the kitchen. with
the spec box in her hand. Mr.. Villars
follpwd close behind, tanning himself
with straw hat
FAave come from the men in the hay
fefd, said he. "They want another jug
Of col ginger and water, with plenty Of
molaes stirred in, Aunt Leeds. Good
mornAg, Miss Clark hope the dea-
con hquite well this morning2"
A6g Jane turned PINK, and smiled
herInst seductive smile.
II quite so, she simpered. "I-I
onl came on"
psit true, Eliza2" Mrs. Leeds asked,
sharpF- Have you been deceiving mea
Are you play actress all this time?"
Ehn's large eyes turned slowly first to
one, then to another of the little group.
She Gid not blush-it was los her way
but the color ebbed slowly away from
her cream pale cheek.
81 have been deceiving nobody,n said
she. 81 am not an actress now. I have
been one. But did not like the life, so
left it. If anyone had asked me,
should have told them long ago"
Mr.. Villars came forward and stood at
the girls side, as he saw his aunt shrink
away.
well" ne said, ''even taking
it all for granted, ''where is the
harml'
Charles! Charlesl' cried Mrs. Leeds,
putting up her hands with gesture of
warning. Remember poor Avice p'
ut Is because | remember her that l
speak thus" said Mr.. Villars, calmly
a had an elder sister once" he added,
turning to Abby Jane Clark, ''who ran
away from home and became an actress.
She had talents far above the average,
but ny parents were old fashioned peo-
pe,md their ideas ran in narrow grooves.
They disapproved of the stage, so Alice
left Us. Whether she is dead or living
we know not but wherever she is, l am
sure that she cannot but be good and
true and pure"
Abby James eyes fell under his calm
glance. She was a little sorry now that
She bad chosen to come hither and bear
the news herself.
somehow, Mr. Villars had taken it in
different spirit from what she had an
tcipated. And Eliza's soft, languidly-
moduIated voice broke on the constrain-
ed silence like drops of silver dew.
Ihave been an actaess, and perhaps
should still have heen on the stage, " she
said, had it not been for circumstances.
Ny father dealt in stage properties, and l
washOaght up to the business, but still l
never liked it, But one cannot easily
4 step out of the path where ones feet have
been placed, especially if one is wo-
man.
'However, the turning point came at
lat Our leading lady fell sick of
, contagious fever, in lonely village where
, we bad stopped to play one night. The
Manager packed up everything in a panic,
t and bade US all to be ready to go. told
him could not leave Mrs. Montague
5 alone He said that if l left the com
! nany thus, should never return TO IT,