The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-07-20

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would open the door, and then sit sleepily
biting her tongue to keep herself awake
while the Countess discussed her admirer;
her figure, her disposition, her prospects
her handwriting, or her music master.
Mary though luxurious, had some health.
tastes She liked sea bathing, she like,
onions. she liked toffee, and she liked Ion:
walks Few of her acquaintances cared 70
any of these things. so she took her walks
as well as her onions and tofee, alone
Many people turned to stare at the tall
resilient figure, with its extremely fash
iouable costume-at the red head, with it
extremely high and pointed bonnet--as i
walked along the country roads that leaC
away from Hampstead toward Harrow.
One hot June afternoon the Countess haC
been talking at high pressure for gooc
hour to the author of r new Socialist novel
who had gone away undecided whether she
had or had not a thorough knowledge OF
the principles of political economy. She
had also received an offer of marriage from
4 sporting nobleman, for whom she enter
tanned a kindly feeling. and had refused il
on the ground that he chad no ideals =
His reply, that his ideal stood before him at
that moment, pleased but did not soften
her. She dismissed him, and Immediately
felt need for complete change Of scene
Half an hour later she was walking along
country road at swinging pace. which
was, 10 the gait of her women friends, what
the pace of the sheep dog Is TO that of the
superanuua,ed toy terrier. The day was
hot the roads we're dusty. The sky was
/ blue, but for black cloud bank 10 the
north. Presently the cloud bank spread,
the sky grew gray, the sun was covered
the birds stopped singing, the thunder
pcalej. and the rain came down by the
pailful.
The Countess kept ap her sunshade and
walked on: she had not passed any houses
for some time, and she concluded that she
would reach house shelter sooner by going
on shan by turning back
A. she walked she saw through the rain
small figure leaning against 4 tree. She
passs-i IL, half stopped, hesitated, and went
back.
Exolse me, she -aid, .'hu, do you know
i,'s dangerous to stand uu,ler trees in a
storm
The small woman vho stood there turned
dark eygs upon the speaker aud said
Il don't care
oh very well, you know your own bus
ines b,st. Mary answered and walked on
in a buE. Ba, again she saFncd--she
never dad know her owu mind and said,
pcrsaasively
Il think there's ea;iage nos far down,
wont you comc and shelter there? ia
offer You half my snushaje. but IT, we,
thr0agh
Here she laughed. showing her teeth.
Al this time the rain was pouring down.
The rad was a network Of little streams
aud pools
The woman under the irec looked II the
other With an expression of extreme Fepug-
uanee
Come along. saiI Madame dc l'illeruiay
ia her loua, hearty voice, and held ou, her
hand with q gesture Of invitation. The
other woman isuwusi, half drew back, aud
then came aero thc wci sTaSs aud walked
along the rad beside her
Mary felt interested. That II don't
care suggested romance As ,hcy walked
along IN silepcs she looked at her companion
Ia smsll person ia black, With dark hair
and eyes, arehei eyebrows, very pale face,
"a slim hgure aud quick, ligh, step.
No house was in sight, but the strength
Of the storm was aba,ing.
Il think is going to leave oH, said the
Countess which way were you going p
Il don't know
Look here, said Mary, abruptly, Il see
you re in sone trouble. Can't help yeu +?
will if can,
.'Ths, Is very rash offer, remarked
the little wouisn in black
Net at all. Please tell me, if you don I
mind. where you are going.
Il have nowhere 10 % TO, since You in
sist on an answer. wish you good after
noon.
Mary stretched cut plump OBTAINING
hand
Now don't be offended, she cried; II
didn't ask You out Of idle curiosity
People never do ask question cut Of
idle curiosity
''WelI, didn't, at any rate. thought
don't BE- so angry thought you might
come home with me, if YOU have nowhere
else to go
The other looked at her with prolonged
scrutiny.
For all you know may anything
and everything that is bad
"And for all you know, echoed the
/ Countess, with one OF her rare but brilliant
flashes Of tact; Il may be-well, anything
and everything that Tn not--too, Come
shall we walk back p
With a sudden gesture of confidence tn,
other turned to her,
"You are good she said. / will tel
you all about myself-my name is Emden.
"You shall tell me everything you thinl
you can trust me with, by aud by, whel
your are rested. Let's talk about tn
weather till then
And she stepped forward briskly,
That evening, in cool flowers scente,
drawing room the Countess heard Jea
Emden's story. A story too sad and to,
common. A story of a weary fight agains
poverty, wherein poverty always won.
''My father had genius" she said proud