Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-10-11
CAUGHT AT LAST.
BY NJ cADY.

never shall forget how it Jared with
me twenty years ago, when, as a girl Of
eighteen, vis'tel my friend, Mrs.
Miranda Brown, who with her invita-
ton wrote me these few lines:
1T will be such an excellent time TO
come, Olivia, for Mr.. sila3 S.Ikskin is
in New York making purchases for his
uncles store, and will be delighted to
escort you back. And I'll never speak
to you again if you don come"
This threat decided me- awaited
Mr.. Siikskins arrival with impatiance,
and hal my trunks alrcadf packed,
when one evening some one was heard
to rap violently upon the front door
an unnecessary cxertion, considering the
fact that there was q bell-and a voice
Of exceeding meeknoss inquired OF
Bildy:
"say, do you know anybody by the
nave of OIL i-vi a Olivy; L.doubc c,
Lee-Oivy Lee3 leskcd at the gro
ceryman's, but he did not know; an | |
went to the doctors shop and no said
he reckone twas here. Is ill"
1t was Mr.. S.lkskin, who had the en-
velope in which my friend had placed
his letter of introduction TO mo in his
hand. lie was small, very young man.
with baby face; and he smiled al over
as he pokcd the letter at me and said !;
'You are Miss 0livy Loo, | reckon.
This was Mr.. Silkskin. lie had come
to tea and to stop over all night, and TO
start off in the morning. to tho aston
ishment of my parents. But, not TO be
outdone in hospitality by Western folk,
they welcomed him heartily and sitting
on the sofa, he smiled at intervals aud
answered, "Yes, ma'am," and eyes,
sir, to every proposition. When an
inquiry was made as TO Chickamahoo,
he replied, '4hat all it wanted was more
lalics' society,"" and then aided:
Talking of that, swow, I've forgotI
end produced a note. 1t was from my
friend, and read as follows:
"DEAR OLIVIA: Bring me on hard. work
inc r,ir1 h Inf al bo r;a1
G -oose an ugly one, or she'll marry in a
month. Iinclose check for her fare"
Come an hour ago" said Mr.. Silk
skin.
- can get GzI~ !. sa,l ], remem-
bering our Aid Society and poor Mar
gaiet, who could not get a place on
account of her unprepossessing appear
ance. "But Hannah marricdl Ham
nah is fifty, and has been with the fam
lily always"
Ladies'" said Mr.. silkskin, care
scarce in Chickamahoo.
Instantly sent messenger TO Mar
garet, who was forty, red haired,
pock- ma ked, lame of one foot, and
blind of one eye, told her to pack up
at once and meet us at the depot In the
morning; which, to cut long story
short, she id We entered the cars,
and began our long journey in silence.
Dusing its progres Mlrgaret howlcd
perpetually over ''tho lonsomeness" Of
her situation, and Mr.. silkskin ap-
peared TO become almost deaf and
dumb. He smiled occasionally; and
when l spoke, he said, "Ye', maam,
that was all.
NJ awhile portly gentleman con-
versed with me over the back OF the
scat, pointing out places of interest,
Offering me newspapers and bringing
me refreshments at stopping places.
When he asked where | was going, and
| stated the fact that my destination
was Chickamahoo, he said that be was
glad. for they needed ladies' society
there. lie was kind, respectable, old
enough to be my father, and really re-
lieved the tcdium of my journey great
". As We approached our final stop,
ping place, he addressed silas silkskin
in these words:
young man, you take this cigar
and go smoke it in the smoking. car,
then come back.
Slas stared at him, but finally SAID
''Yes, sir" and went. The stranger
instantly took his seat.
'.I want to ask you something, ne
explained. ''Are you Mrs. or Mlssf
Mis- said.
Engaged to that young man ! sent
away9" he inquired.
"Oh, no." answered.
"Ahr said he Going to bef
Heaven forbidl' ans wered.
s,Varv we'll he observed sspm Sam