Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-09-21
STRIKING A MATCH,

''Well, Miss IIildebu | must say
I'm real sorry you and Nj. Snsster
have fallen out like that"
oh, Mr.. Collins, indeed you arc
mistaken. There has been no falling
out between Mr. Stngster and myself.
Indeed, am not on sufficiently sociabe
terms with any of your gentlemon
boarders to have a quarrel
Saying which, Miss Hildcburn, a,
slight, dclicate-fcatured girl Of eigh
teen, walked out Of the room with even
moro than her wontcd dignity Of man,
ncr and carriage.
"Neverthelose, notwithstan ling re-
sumcd Mrs. Collins, taking up her
ironing, Il do believs there's been a
misunderstanding between those two,
and real pity it is. for he dill admire
her am ,zin'ly. He couldn't conceal It.
Olly they seldom know what good for
en-. aid she's a-lcttiu' her pride stand
in ;ho way Of her happiness now.
Pale, indeod3' snccrcd Miss Jane
IIumphrios, Mrs. Collins niece aud as
sistaut, tall, red haired, stylishlY-
dressed damsoI Of five ind thirty. =
like to know xhat right girl who
oarns hor iivin' " a by givin music lesser'
ma al Tor Sifr. pthour his te~.lte 5eheve
no ever had Serious thought about
her"
La, Jane, don't see whore your
eyes kin be, il you diIn't sec how fair
y wrapped up in her ho was about two
weeks age. He is a splendid young
man, anyhow, and pll try and see If /
can t mend matters between en-"
You'd better be mindin' your own
bu iaess, I think, Auat Martha" said
Mis- J'ao with spiteiul laugh.
n v1r yoa mind, jane" persisted
the warm-honrted Mrs. Collins; 'Tn
manage in some way. You say she's
afrli of ghosts, poor lamb!"
Tho following evening the kind
hearted landlady tapped at the door of
the scanti y furnished fsurth-story room
occupied by Lucy Hideburu, and from
which now proceeded melancholy
strain.
Studying your piano at nights
again3' qucried Mrs. Collins rcproach
fully, when the young girl opened the
door
q am very busy just now, and must
put all tho time lean into study"
well, but you mustn' forget what
the doctor told you about overworkin'
your brain, said Mrs. Collins. Glow
ever " she added, 81 won't detain YOU
| kin help. I'm come to ask
avor. I'm going 10 the concert this
'vonin'. So il Jane. Sos everybody
n tho house, | b'heye; aad tho girl has
;one to bed with toothachc. So I'm
soin' to ask you to give an eye to tho
uFaace. I've Just Iut on fresh coal
md opened the lower doors; Lut will
-on please 60 down at eight o'clock and
lose the doors?'
Certainly" assentcd Lucy, upon
Which Mrs. Collins produced lantern,
aging:
Just take this down with you; the
ellaPs all dark, you know"
I
Lucy took the lantern, closed tile
Dom door and returned to her piano.
'hilo Mrs. Collins walked away, chuck
ing to herself
That lantern Il 90 out just five min
tes after she sets it down, and sho,l {
nd herself all in the bark. And she's {
raj Of ghosts, poor lambl But what |
somebody who amt ghost shou d t
iPpen to be goia' down there about tho i
me time, and be obliged to strike a a
atch to calm her fears2 j
And even while indulaing in thi L
easing ref ction, Mrs. Collins tipped p
a door on the second floor. G
Her summons was responded to by p
p'easant-looking young ma. who just Il
W, however wore very DETECTED Il
untenance sC
= Mr. s4ngster, didn't exree. 10 Il
d you home this evening. fc
Il diln't feel like going out to-
{ht," replied the young man in s.
'ary tone.
"Woll, since you arc going to bo at fo
me-, said Mrs. Collins, "woud you til
so kind as to look after the furnace? sh
. left the lower dooFsopen lut Ill III
very much obliged if you go dowa in
about eight o clock and close en-. IA
d you needn't take light. There'l OF
one down there" tet
'lr. sangster readily promised to m,
nPly With tho reqpo,t, aud Mrs. Col v.
vent away hoping for what she th
EtAnWaA ha II l.