Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-05-14

nets footsteps over the grass.
As she reached the belt of woods close
to the apple-orchard, she paused in dis
may at the sound of a sweet, high pitched
voice.
It's Linnct!" she involuntarily ex-
claimed. "And she's scolding soma-
body. Dear me, whom can it be1 Sure
" not Ajaxw
''You are thief" she could hear Lin
net exclaim-"a robber! Let that bar
rel of apples alone, | say. l don't care
whether you are Squire Sandford or not.
That barrel of apples is mine!"
And as Rose drew near, she could see
this dimpled young Amazon resolutely
defending the barrel. of apples, with her
single strength, against Squire Sandford
and his stoutest farm laborer.
She stood there, with one slight hand
on the red-checked fruit, which was
brimming over the barrel-hoops, and be-
fore her the tall squire and his herculean
aid-de-camp were helpless.
'If you will allow me to explain"
practically began the squire.
II will allow nothingw declared Lin
net. 81 repeat, these apples are mine!
Touch them, at your peril"
Thus far the young heroine was a con-
queror. But alasl in that very moment
Of victory Nemesis was at hand. There
was the dull sound of trampling hoofs,
then a sullen below, and Ajax himself,
bursting through a weak spot in the
fence, was upon them.
Linnet Dessoir collapsed, so to speak,
at once. She forgot her heroism, her
dignity-everything but her danger, and
fley, for rescue, to Squire Sandford,
shrieking:
"Save me! save mel'
THE farmland dogged behind the
wagon; but Squire Sandford never
qnailed, but held her resolutely in his
arps.
I'Do not be afraid" he said, almost as
Il he had been speaking to a frightened
lid. "Nothing shall harm you, little
dep
1 4For an instant, things look very black
4 - Squire Sandford spoke gently ono
~ not hold my arm so tightly" sai'
" .I1eU me get at my revolver. / mus
loot the brute No, don't be so terri
led. Do not you hear me say that moth
l9g should harm yoa?"
And then the problem resolved itself
asproblems often do. Ajax, butting hi
huge head against the barrel of lady-ap
pes, sent them rolling in all directions
and caught his horns in the barrel itself
effectually binding him. He set off at
wild gallop down the hill, believing a
he went, and there he met his fate in tn,
shape Of two or three men with run
ming moose of rope and good stou
chain.
''Hello, pet!' shouted Farmer Heb
ron's voice. "What's the matter2 Sh,
hasn't tainted, has she, squire?"
And Linnet, realizing that she was safe
blushingly withdrew from Mr. Sandford'
sheltering arms, and ran to her uncle
II am so much obliged to you, sir,
she whispered. "And please-pleas
don't mind what l said about the apples
Toat are quite welcome to them"
'Heya Apples!" said Mr.. Hebron
"Why, Linnet didn't you know that
earted the barrel of apples that the
squire gave you home last night"
Linnet grew crimson all over, and fled
to Roses faithful breast for consolation
II shall never dare to look that MAJ
in the face again, she bewailed herself
"Oh, dear-oh, dear, what must he have
thought of mel
But of course Mr.. Sandford considered
it only righf and proper to call that eve
ming, and inquire how Miss Dessoir
found herself; and really the meeting
was not half as embarrassing as Linnet
had fancied it would be.
They had good laugh about Al ja1
and the apples; and Linnet confessed
how dreadfully frightened she had been.
"And with reason" said Squire Sand
ford. ''There was second or two in
which we were in very serious danger. .
'But you will forgive me about the
apples?' said Linnet, with pretty, coax
ing earnestness.
'0h, yes, will forgive you about the
apples!" Squire Saudford laughingly
returned.
And in that moment Linnet thought
what very pretty color his eyes were,
decided that he couldn't possibly be
thirty years old.
4
'Isn't it strange" said Rose Hebron,
that we have lived neighbor to Squire
Sandford all these years, and he has new
Ier been more than ordinarily polite to
ne2 And here comes Linnet, and quar-
reis with him at five minutes notice, and
calls him all sorts of names, and now
they are engaged to be married, and 1
am to be the bridesmaid
| mot at all strangel" said Miss Dessoir.
| TO me it seems as nice and natural as
possible. But you are mistaken about
hls age, Rosy. He is only twenty nine.
And if he were hundred and twenty
nine, ! should love him all the same"
l"of course" said Rose; that is what
lay engaged girls say. Helen Fore.<
Graces.