Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-01-13

N'O0 c'9sj VIII MS neau
hanging down.
'And who are you7" said he, pleas
antly. cone Of the family9o
"oh' I'm Chrissy---the youngest girl,
you knowW explained She.
"rhe youngest chl Are there many
Of your
Chr'ssy eyed him with a sidelong
glance.
"He's curious about US, thought she.
"Wcll, that's natural And she an
swered, complacently:
"WeIl, there's Georgia---she's twenty
two And she's engaged to an officer in
the army although she thinks l don't
know it. And Kate is twenty, and she's
gong to set her cap for the new priuci-
pal of the school. At least she says so.
She's tired of making over old gowns.
and dyeing old ribbon, and keeping
genteel boarders. l don't envy the prin-
cipal Of the school" Chrissy added, Civ
ing old jerks an admonitory touch with
the whip, as he showed an undue in
clination to sidle toward the entrance of
Bowory Lane. 'Kate has got an awful
temper. She flew into passion and
boxed by ears just before l started"
Boxed your ears~ repeated the
stranger repressing strong inclination
to laugh. "Why, how old are you2"
I'm sixteen an half, #" said Chrissy,
almost wishing that she had not told
the incident, as the crimson flush rose
up to the very roots Of her hair. "And
she oughtn't to treat me like childl /
wish She would get married and go
away, should be deal happier with
out her Oh, OH there comes a load of
barrel n Old jerks is awfully afraid of
-rfsi -->-s-- -
het me take the reins," suggested
her passenger
And presently, under his charge, old
jerks who, to do him justice, had
evinced no particular emotion of any
sort, was engineered safely past the
fearful object.
And then Chrissy pointed out the
various localities to him, tod him about
the ghost that was said to walk in old
Squire Hart's deserted house, showed
him the place where a fox was shot in
the spring, and confded to him where
to 60 if he wanted to find the finest
nutting copses of the vicinity.
And while she was charging on these
subjects, old jerks stopped sleepily at
the front gate of the pretty BIessingtoa
cottage.
All the Morcfcld heads were at the
window-Mrs. Morefeld, Jeanette
Morefeld, Susanna Moref9Id, and the
married Miss Moref9ld, whose present
name was Mrs. Josiah Stubs
'Bless me!' said Mrs. Stubbs, in
stage whisper "what a very gonteoI
young man.
cts the city boarlcr," explained
MIS- Bessington, between the twinges
of her neuralgia. Doctor Buffer
recommended him here for pure country
air. He's just up from malarial fever
and needs change, and Doctor Buffer
dear, good man-knew how we were sit.
utel, and that we had nice front room
to spare
"Humph!' commented Mrs. More
field. 'He doesn't look much like a
sick man."
While Kate ran out to open tho door.
all smiles and froshly-tiod pink rib
bons.
Is it Mr. Dorrance" she said. 81
am Miss B essington"-with her most
engaging air of welcome. "Plea.e
walk in. hope you haven't been very
much tired by the journcyg
It's Kate whispered Chrissy, sud
denly overcome by pangs of compunc-
tion. Don't let her know I told you
about her temper
Il am afraid there is some mistake" F."
sad the gentleman, pausing in the very
act OF taking his valiso out of the wagon.
My name is not Dorrance. And l was
going to Mr.. FaIkner's place, where l
have engaged board for the winter. l
am John Wilder, the principal of the
Graded School,"
Chrissy dropped the reins, jumped
out of the wagon and ran to hide her
self in the hay mows of the barn.
The Morefelds stared harder than
ever Kate BIessington looked in
inite'y puzzled.
Dear me" said she; "its one of
Chrlstine's blunders. We were very
foolish to have trusted her. Do come
IN, Mr.. Wilder'-with still more win
some smile-''and rest yourself, and
nave some tea. We are all anxiety to
become acquainted with our new prin-
aipal' Petel Pete don't unharness the
noFsel Go right back to the depot
Mr. Dorrance must be waiting there
yetw
But Mr. Wilder, with a curious ex-
preston Of the mouth and eyes, declined
Miss Blessington's Invitation.
lie would go Immediately to Mr..
Falkner's, he said, if they would be
good enough to tell Aim in what direc-
tion it was.
And so he bowed himself away,