Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-07-27

'B W num- anu nt lOOhtu
rouna rather sharply once, and was not
sure but that he caught the trace Of a
hastily suppressed smile on the face of
the depure puss at his side. He did not
ENJOY The performance bit, and was
greatly relieved when the curtain went
down for the last time.
He did not walk home with Miss Kurt.
but called cab and giving cabby the
street and number told him to hurry up.
lie was bound to get away from female
companionship just as quickly as he
could
MISS kurtz said nothing at the un-
seemly haste. The squire did not 90
home for day or two, but stopped at
the hotel. He could stand most any.
thing but he dogged the issue of having
to defend his former principles against
his Later actions Finally he screwed up
coui Hs senough to return home, and to
his immense relief no one, not even
Wildly, said word to him about the
theatle and he hoped it had been for
gottcn, but he was doomed to 9th r
morthlcations. One day at dinner he
was discussing a business question with
MS orolher-in-law, and to prove mis- point
drew letter from his pocket, on un-
folding which a photograph of Miss
Kurt dropped out upon the table. There
was general litter, which to the poor
squire was worse than unrestrained
thuneer, and gathering up the letter and
photograph he boted from the room.
lie determined to call on Miss Kurtz that
very evening. He must return that
photograph.
vi how it came into his pocket he did
not have the least idea. lie presumed
he hid taken it up with some papers he
had geen showing to Miss Kurtz, and
put Il in his pocket himself But at any
rate nemust return it. She might think
he had stolen it. He paled at the bare
thought for he prided himself greatly
on his honor.
The evening came and found the
squire at Miss Kurtz's home, not very
talkatiyc, but very fidgety; but that
young lady was exceedingly pleasant and
chatiy. After several Intellectual at
tennis to say something, the squire
blurhd out, neryously:
liss Kurtz, have something very
o ldiio say to you this evening"
MISS kurtz blushed and said to her
self so soon. 1t can't be that l have
snbfued him 50 quickly" then aloud, as
thefquire still hesitated: '1f you are
plea,ed TO make me your confdant, !
shall be glad to hear what you have to
'sy ytb~ss, Mis-, nurt., I've been
thinking that isl was going to say
or no | have something to tell you that
| don't understand, ~ continued the
squi:e.
Il am sure, Mr.. CraJtree, if l can en-
Tighten you shall be pleased to do So"
We'll, hardly know what you will
think of me, and maybe you will think l
am acting strange, but assure you that
it Is something that has worried me a
great deaf ever since | discovered it."
''He is going to propose sure enough, 8"
thought Miss Kurtz, as she replied; Il
certainly shall think nothing but good of
you, Mr. Crabtree, and l don't think you
need to have any concern" and she
blushed and commenced to upbraid her
self, thnking 81 ought to be ashamed
OF flirting with him, he is really very
nice, aud do like him, and | believe |
will accept him.
Il had feared that you would not
understand me-that is, that you would
not accept me-my-" blundered the
squire, totally oblivious of the construc-
ton Miss Kurtz was putting on what
he said, and she, not for moment think
ing that he meant anything other than a
formal proposal for her heart and hand,
and having decided to accept him,
Interrupted his bashful stammering at
this critical point as she gently touched
his arm, saying:
Il certainly accept your proposal, and
return your love, and know we shall be
happy," as she extended her hand and
laid her pretty little head upon his
shoulder
The squire was thunderstruck. Had
all the horrible demons of Mythology
faced him he could not have novel or
uttered a sound. He was horrifed,
paralyzed, his jaw dropped, his face
assumed a ghastly look. He hardly
breathed for few minutes. Miss Kurtz,
taking his Mortified silence for the depth
of a very different emotion, gently raised
her hand and patting him softly on the
cheek, drew his head down to her and
kissed him plump on the lips.
That kiss broke the spell. With a
yell that might have shamed maniac
the squire tore himself from her cling
ing arms and rushed frantically and hat
less into the street, where he continued
his wild run, he knew not where, NUT
tering as he sped along:
''0h, heavens oh, heavensm
1t was now Miss Kurtz's turn to be
as the frantic squire dashed
out; her eyes opened wide with wonder.
She stood thus for a moment, and then
she did what any other woman would
have done under the circumstances,
threw herself on the lounge and burst
into tears, saying brokenly, as she did
SO: = thought he was eccentric, but |
didn't know he was a lunatic." Still
lying there, weeping as though her heart
was broken, sauire's cousin WILDLY