Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-09-12
THE MAIDEN'S MITE.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

al am disappointed in her." said
Ernest Vail, sadly.
He was sitting by his open study
window, with the perfume of a great
old-fashioned sweet-brier bush float.
ing up, where the lances of the de-
icious summer had pierced its green
glooms, and sent up an incense OF
I subtle fragrance. Far off on the up
lands the hay-makers were at work
on the bough of the apple-tree beyond
catbird warbled IFS mcllifuous re-
frain. And Rev Ernest Vail pushed
away his books and papers, and looked
thOughtfully out over the lovely world
Monday is generally a .'tired' day
with clergymen. Mr.. Vail felt the re-
Sction of hard work and fevered en-
thusiasm; it was that, but it was not
altogether that, which damped his
spirits and cast the grave shadow over
his countenance.
"Do you mean disappointed in Cora
Arden?" said the old doctor, who sell
dom failed to comprehend the varying
moods of his sons nature.
"Of course do"
"Then you are doing her injustice, -
said the doctor, who had come in for
newspaper. "She is one of the
sweetest little girls in the world, and
oac { the best.
ut is possible" said the young man,
languidIy. Nevertheless, | am disap-
pointed in her. ! did my best yester-
day. | could feel, even while spoke,
the flame of my masters altar burning
within me, the electric current of
sympathy reaching from heart to
heart And believe the con
gregation sympathized with me
with one accord, as | spoke
of the needs and acquisitions of our
foreign missions. The collection was
most liberal; gold and bank bills, even
rings and lockets were pied upon the
plate. But | sat where | could not
help seeing Cora's hand as she put in
her Offering
"And how much was it?"
"Only ten-cent piece"
"Don't be fool, Ernest" said the
old doctor. "I dare say it was all she
could afford"
'ess&tgif5 n1e that old Arden gave
Cora hundred dollars for new
blaok-silk dress last week." returned
Ernest Vail.
"Well, what then? She couldn't
put dress into the collection-plate,
could she?'
"But the dress need not have been
purchased"
"That is Cora's business, not yours
nor Nellie's," brusquely retorted Dir.
Vail.
every true" said the young clergy
man. "But still, | am disappointed
in her."
And the old gentleman went back tc
his office muttering:
al wish Nellie would mind her owl
business. I've set my heart on having
Cora Arden for a daughter-in-law
And Ernest is just whimsical and ca.
PRECIOUS enough to allow mere trifc
like this to turn the current of hi:
whole lifel"
But if Ernest Vail could have beer
gifted with ubiquity and allowed tC
peer into the little room where Cora
Arden was patiently sewing button,
on her little brothers coats and trous.
ers, he would have seen some very
genuine tears running down her round
fresh cheeks. Moses Arden sat oppo-
site, knitting his brows darkly behind
a newspaper.
"lt's all nonsense" said he, gruflly
"Foreign missions, indeed we need a
home mission a deal more. These
clergymen are always begging; it.:
their business. And if you really
wanted to be generous, why, in the
name of common sense, didn't you
take part of that black-silk money i?
"Because, uncle" said poor Cora
scarcely able to see the eye of the but
ton she was sewing on, 81 had or
dered the dress"
"Where is it?"
Cora was silent for moment. and
then she answered: 81 gave it to Mary
Ward, uncle; she is to be married
and she had not a single silk dress!
thought it was mine to do what
pleased with. l hope, uncle, you're
not vexed?"
"Upon-my wordl' said Mosei
Arden, with the slow tide of rising
wrath dyeing hiC face with crimson