Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-09-14
Blossoms Changed His Life.

ION, Frank, how lovely this air IS
How l pity the people in tho cltyl Tc
think anyone should live in city from
choiccl"
81 wouldn't damp your entE'~,',
Katc, but, a.ter all, man docs not e
much Of the couatry; ho is only .like q
chicken which com 5 homo to ;, 2
aud everyone does not delight in tate@
ing the train twice each d,y-I CAM t
say I'm quito reconciod to it myself.
But must be off! Goodbye, both OF
you" and giving his young vie and
little dau hter a plrting kiss, Mr..
Travis ran for the traio, whose warning
Shrek could be heard in the distance.
Kate Travis fingered on the porch.
1t was her first experience of whole
year in the country and every day
brought new delights. She had dis
covered 'Iu usy-willows' down by the
brook, and lad learned how warmly
Dame Nitu-o blankets the tender grape
vine leave. She had found the Shy
yiolct3 and ancmoncs' favori,o hiding
place1 and dccIcd her little homo with
laurel, and revclcd in the delights of
lettuce and raddishcs Of her town rai3-
ing" This particular May morning
was a day in which the mere fact that
one was alive was joy, and as thl
young wife looked at tho 11ecy cloul-
tho hillsides bright with rye, a1d tho
orchard one mass Of lovely blossoms,
she sighed for very excess of happiness.
II wish had given Frank a bra7ch
Of apple blossoms they would have
frightened up that droary cili .c,
thought Mrs. Travis. She, like tho
rest of US, often hal these atter-im-
pulses. but somehow this one would not
be shaken off. Kate Travis was not a
supcrsttous woman, yet such lur;-
ing desire to send her husband some Of
the bright, delicate blossoms grew upon
her that she feared to resist it. Just
before the starting Of the next train,
happy thought struck her, aud, donning
her garden hat, haviag hastily gathered
threa fos,- b,.-.-s:r--I 4Lc
Jack Dorset was thcr5--ho toe W.
later train quito often, Kate
rcgretlulIy, for she know by ma
signs that jack was not quito st
tive to business, not quite SO trN
manly as he had been.
jack, on his side, watched the briA
eager face as it came near "That Tram
is a lucky fellow" he thought. "Aftof
all, what fool a fellow is to waste time
or money on cards and theatres"
"Oh, } ck" exclaimed Kate, breath
lcssly--'I beg your pardon, Mr.. Dor
sctl Could you drop into my husbands
oflico ard give him these blossomsl
This brauch is for YOU"
Jack had only time to siCzs tho flow
crs and call out his thanks for his share
before he was whirled away in that re-
ieutless fatc-the train.
There were two reasons why Jack
Dorset had taken this later train,
though even to himself he acknowI-
edged but one that, as busincs, was
slack, it was just as well to sleep lIt-
tic later this spring weather. But hid
den far cut Of sight was another reason
aud Jack hal not been well seated when
that reason became apparent.
"Hello! Thought you'd be on this
train. Come along in the smoker;
VIC re just making up hand"
"No, thank YOU" SAID Jack, with
decision that surprised himself quite as
much as his comr1dc.
why, what's Lp3 Turned rusty
Come, you'Il haze your revenge on
me today. l shouldn't wonder if you
won enough have lark tonight"
The perfume from tho apple blossoms
had given Jack wonderful pleasure,
not unmixed with bitterness, and when
his comrade leaned over to whisper the
last sentence confdontially, the odor Of
stale Tobacco and liquor seemed ua-
bearable. Jack fairly blu,hed with
manly shame.
''No, no" he said; "Tll have none
of that sort of thing this morning.
aud, with a sud lie realiz ,tion of his own
helplessness and this bad fellows power
over him jack deliberately walked over
to old Deacon Taft and seated himself
by him.
The deacon Yves surprised. Young
men did not take much to him. Pr
haps he knew he was, at times, the
mark for their 'kcs. But the flow IS
helped matters.
"Thcm beauties, l do declare,
said tho deacon, "ani I'm glad to SEQ a
young fellow ike you think enough of
'cm to carry en- to town Why, l r.
member when flower just changed
my hull future"
TIL me alb, ut i, NJ. TAFT" said
Jsck with Sc s. OF having escaped
fror imminent rori.
''Waal, l don't know as I've told a
person about Muy's rose in years, and
eff any body had told me five minutes
ago that d ha' be.n telling it to you,
d ha' ju,t laughed at 'om, It would
seemed that ridikerlous. But seein' them
apple lessons has brought it all back
mighty strong, and l feel sorter drawn
to you, Jack Dorset, seein' you with
EN-"
Jack felt almost as if ho ought to
make some disclaimer; yet surely he
deserved some credit for turning from
temptation. After q few moments the
Deacon began:
~ was a boy about fourteen--.l pose