Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-04-06
WILLFUL MADGB.
BY IRENE PRESTON.

BY IRENE PRESTON.
"Thcyll not treat mo as if l were
| grown-up child. They'll not select q
husband for me. dctest Mark Thorn
ton. Illua away il they doa't stop
pcstcring me about him."
/ Medgc had rushed from the presence
of her elders, with rather disrospectful
haste, had ordered Brownie, and was
arranging herself hastily in her riding
habit. Her eyes were flashing, aud
two red spots were Turning in her dark
checks.
She descended the stairs, holding her
head like a young princess, not deign-
ing to look right or left, and passed out
into the sunshine. Tom held Brownie
beside the block; Madge sprang into
tho saddle and gaIloped off down the
road in the direction of saxonville, a
small railway and post-ofiico station a
few miles distant.
Miss Mary and Miss Martha watched
the angry cloul OF dust settle away, ard
then looked at each ether he lessly.
They meant well, they were painfully
conscientious, after their light, bat
somehow they lacked the tact and wis,
dom to govern this girl, whom their
brother had founl in the south, shor;ly
after the close of the war, homeless,
friendlcss child, and had brought her
home and adopted her.
"Shos so high-'trulg and willful,
sighed Miss Mary.
Il wish George would como home, "
remarked Miss Martha. ssRxerythipg
has gone wrong since he went away.
He has knack of smoothing things
over. The more wo try to smooth the
more we ruff, her, aad she's never been
the same anyway since she came home
from that visit in the west"
Miss Martha would have been still
moro unhappy had she known the exact
foundation for the fact of her last as
scrtol. Nudge had formel tho ac-
quaintanco Of Alfrol Winship during
that vi it She had kept up secret
CORE spondcnce with him ever since,
which was easily managed, since she
always rode to thu cfiice for the mail,
and was to-day expecting letter.
a am old enough to be my owa mis-
trqss, she thought, all tho petty re-
straints that had chafed her wilful, I'M
pcrious spirit from childhood coming
uppcrmost. 4 will not submit any
logger woul like now to ealop on
and on away into freedom. am an
alien any way. feel like Gagged bird
all the time. There is wild blood in
my veins, I believe. Whatever my
parcntagc l never came OF such hum
drum stock as these peoplc-acverl'
Her thoughts touched upon Mlrk
Thornton. lie was owner of the c,tatc
adjoiuing that of Mr.. Bishop He wal
ten years older thaa sh,, a-d had mad,
no secret of his preference for her SIN
liked HIM fairy well until she founS
that Miss Mary and Miss Martha wishes
her to marry him, when he began 1
treat him vi reczin- civ iity.
Tame ard commonp ace, alway
reading and studying. What do I wan
of himl' she questioned spitcrully, Civ
ing Brownie an extra touch with th
whip. want vim and da-h of spirit
How Alfred Winship-"
She had reached the station. She rod
up to the window, through which ii
postofice clerk handed her mail ;
usual. She repaid him with a dazzin
smile as she caught sight of Alfred
handwriting, lifting him into the sevent
hclvtn, for She was beautiful, and in h
gracious moods irresistible
She let her rcins fall upon Browniq
neck while she read Alfred's letter. HI
heart gave a great bound. Ho was col
ing east, woul be il Boston on tt
10th.
GLOW delightful it would be-
wrote, 'if you could get out of 20
cage for week and meet I
there. Isuppose the dragons would
sooa give you PERMISSION to visit Il
moon without an escort; and yet
could have a delicious time if You ecu
in me-
Had some evil clairvoyaace convey.
to Alfred Winship the present state
Mad ges mind2 In her unreasoning rel
less mood, with her "balarce whee
George Bishop, away, she was opsa7
any suggestion that had a spic. of III
iom in it. kh
"Why not break loose from thisl
straint at once and forever! Wig
meet Alfred Winshlp as he suggd str
She knew he was desperately in i
J with her, AMI she had never ssaf
J happy moment siaea she parted fn
him. n
If I had any privileges IKE o.
girls" she thought bitterly, 81 GO;
invite him out to see me. but Mis- sy
and Miss Martha would be scandal
% tho r,ant;on of such thing l.