Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-03-30

"Nell, guess you'll call her a bru-
nette, for she has the lovclicst black
hair in the world; but have promised
to bring you to sec her tonight. Say
you'll 50, Uncle zyac-rH call for you
At s, shall ~
TT had been many years since Sp;iggs
had gone out calling and he was 10th to
begin now, when h. needed all his
time for his investigations; however,
he promised aud sent his nephew away
rejoicing
I9prigqs found Mabel all that Dick
\ pd claimed for her, and was well
pleased with his boys choice; yet the
evening dragged somewhat, and his
dress suit made Uncle Z9ke overly con
sciou' of his society shortcomings.
He was standing near the window for
moment alone, when h} heard his
name called. Turning quickly, he saw
Dick approaching with vision of
loycliness on his arm.
One lock was enough, and the next
instant Spriggs had wheo.ed about and
jerked aside the haugings. Trotting
slowly past, and directly under the
street lamp, was the inevitable white
horse.
Then he remembered that Dick posi-
b. wanted to present him. and, drop
ping the curtain ia great haste, he con
foatcd the pair The vision had a
Geld and naughty look. and Dick was
cearIy embarrassed. sPriggs appreciat
q his awkward position fully, and with
cat effort made himself exceedingly
able, Indeed. in his abject hu-
Sion he was so devoted that Dick
ted to whisper to his fiacee; ;'Your
n Yny- headed friend seems to have
c3ught Uacle Ze'1c harl.Y
When Spriggs went home he sat down
and went over the events-of the cvening.
The vision was certainly Aapds0mo and
could talk as few women were able, but
he shud1cred at the thought of he,
hair 1t was al unmstclabe red
Nevertheless, he had asked pcrmis-
sion to cali AMI it had
Leen graciously granted, Spriggs
called and then called again. III short
time his lei ur3 hours wcr3 about evenly
dividel betwccl his investigations and
thevsion. Spriggs was struck harl, so
hard, iadeed, that when in her lizht-
ful presence he almost forgot his hobby.
He invariably hired white hor C, how
ever when he took her out driving.
Once he had the temerity to try bay
horse, but he never r.re ted the expert
/ meat. He was uneasy the Who'll. time,
for while his hear a s I'll were with
his companion his mind and eyes sadly
missed the familiar sequence
Oae evening as matters were an
preaching a crisis, Spriggs found him
self seated in close proximity to his
inamorata, He had fully made up his
mind to settle The matter at once and
have done with it. There was Just
rough Of manly conc it about him to
make him feel assure that his suit
would not be unsuccessful, but It was
with considerable trepilation that he
approached the subject. The couvorsa-
tion had drifted, as lovers talk invari-
ably will, to the personal, and Spriggs
was expatiating on carly struggles and
ambitions.
Il had a hard time when I was
young" he was saying My nature
was not one to make friends readily,
aad female friends were exceedingly
rare. Indeed, my mother was the only
woman with whom felt really at ease.
Then, as my business grew, l had so
much to attend to that social pleasures
were Almost unknown.
There was silence for moment; both
intuitively felt that the time was al
most at hand. The vision was seated
laclng the deep bay window with her
head just touching the curtains, while
spnggs sat so that his back was to-
wards the street. He generally sat that
way when ia her company, to avoid the
temptation Of looking out when he
heard horse passing.
Then Spnggs meditatively resumed:
Until lately thought that l should
always move along in the rut | had
fallen into, lut now l am bold enough
70 hope for something intiaitely better"
As Spriggs in his earnestness leaned
forward his quick car hearl th distant
plt-a-plt Of trottiag horse. His first
impulse was to turn and lool out, but
with a mighty effort he restrained him
self, and, leaning still further, he
groped blindly, excitedly for her hand.
Nearer and nearer came the horse, but
Spriggs now had firm grasp on her
hand
Il do hope for something infinitely
better, and-and--"
WELL" softly brclthad the vision,
while her glorious eyes gaz2d dreamiiy
past him into the dccpenlnt night.
"And-and now it all rests on n
single word. Can you--wili you-dear
Miss Lucy--is that white hor cl