Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-12-06
THE STRANGER.

but eighteen, and just engaged to Frank
Fonton. If you want to hear about it.
sit down on the stool at my feet, and
prepare to be bored.
We had been sweethcarts for long
time. Went to church and singing
school together; rode, walked, danced,
and took long rows on the river which
ran past my fathers house. In fact.
this had BEEN going on for so long d
time that we finally dec ded that we
might as wei be always together, and
SO the preliminary arrangements were
begun, and our wedding day drew
near.
We lived on the banks of r.ver-
one of the loveliest streams in Lousians
"a quiet spot some distance from any
pl antaticn; lut as soon as our marriage
took place we young folks were to re,
move TO a reighboring parish, and
thither Flank went, shortly before the
wedding, to prepare our new home.
lie left me vhusy as a. bee with the
trousseau and arrangements for the affair,
which was to be grand one for the
country, as my father was welI-to-d
planter and the only child.
He had been absent about a fortnight,
and was expecting him buck daily,
wien one day father came with
troubled face, in to the room where
was sitting, surrounded by lace and
muslin and dainty necessaries of toilet,
which were just as much the fashion
then as they are now, Bessie, popular
cant to the contrary, notwithstanding.
'Letiie, said he, hurriedly, 1--WE
got to 60 ever to Squire Bent's to see
about scmc titles. | came near forget
ting the appointment, and Iil have to
hurry right fast to get there on time.
Can you do without mcl' l laughed
and nodded; then suddenly an uneasy
feeling took possession OF me. I re.
membered the money-qpite large sum
with which Frank and were to ''bc-
gin the world, AID which lay securely
hidden away III inc n'5'dse, the nest egg
of our futlre fortune.
knew that was destined to a lonely
night of it, for father could not pos
sibly return with, twenty four hours;
the servants had all gone 10 break
down. +" on It ncighboring plantation,
except an aged crone, Aunt Dinah by
name; my mother was an inval d, wc,k
and eivous; l felt hat alone as l was,
the outlook was not very enlivening.
Father observed my troubled express
sion.
Il don't e, how l can help it,
daughter, - he SAID gravely. This is
very important matter, and admits of
no delay. 1t is the fault Of my trelch-
crous memory; had l only remembered
the engagement with the squire / would
have kept some Of the seivlrts at home
as protection for you.
But was no coward, and so l kissel
him and laughed away his anxiety, and
saw him depart with assumed cheerful
ness; but as he rode down the avenue
which led to the outer gates, l saw him
turn in the saddle and gaze after me
anxiously once more.
returned to my household duties
and my pleasant task amid the pillows
Of lace ana muslin, and so sang and
worked the long, bright day away.
1t was nearly sun ct.
had persuaded mother to lie upon a
couch, which l had pushed out lpon
the vine-covercd gallery, and seating
myself leside her, l began to read
aloud some wild old tale of super
natural horrors, upon which l had
stumbled. Before had half finished
| had worked myself into. state OF
nervousness, ani as noticed the paling
face of my mother, l tossed the book
upon the table, with contemptuous
expression, and arose to make her tea.
At that moment tho gate la'cl
clicked, and as / turned in its direction
! could not repress cry OF alarm.
Ny eyes fell upon strange sight.
The figure of woman--a very dwarf
in siza and siature-clad in a fade
black Dress with a battered bonnet
upon her head, and torn shawl about
her tiny, STOPPING shoulders.