The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-06-13
NO. 80.

ASSOS
police and walked rapidly away.
Mr.. Drane turned to the lady's maid,
who, very pale, was leaning heavily
against tree.
81 trust that did not frighten you,"
he said. perhaps l should have been
less violent"
The maid did not reply at once. She
looked at Mr.. Drane in a daze of sur
prise until a faint color crept into her
cheek and suspicion of a smile crossed
her lips. Then Mr.. Drane remembered.
He glanced at his remnant of hat
which he held in his hand, and his eyes
immediately fell, but he found no COM
fort in his boots, where they rested. All
his gentility departed on the instant,
and he shifted awkwardly, trying to
speak and merely mumbling. With the
same irresistible gaucherie he passed
his hand over his chin, and the rough
stubble there gave further evidence of
his absurdly miserable situation. The
young woman seemed to realize some
what of his emotions, for her face in
stantly became serious and she said,
softly:
kindness, your courage, your muscle.
Truly am very grateful"
Mr.. Drane knew that he was blushing,
and he wondered whether his face were
clean enough to show it. He looked up
and saw the young woman's blue eyes
regarding him compassionately.
81 feel as if must apologize for ad-
dressing you at all, MISS" he half stam-
mered. II forgot my-well, my loath-
some appearance. 1t isn't mine, i;
isn't my fault; in fact, 1 am not exactly
the thing you see."
ooh, forgive me if l have appeared to
notice any thing but your goodness,
sir" exclaimed the young woman, ap-
preaching him impulsively as she spoke;
''you have doubtless been unfortunate,
perhaps seen better days. L am sure
you are a gentleman at heart, and am
grateful, indeed 1 am, believe me-" and
without further ado she took his hand
and pressed it warmly in both of hers.
Mr.. Drane WINGED. There was the most
delicate condescension in her manner
and tone; her action said what words
would have rendered offensive: "See,
recognize your nobility of character, no
matter how ugly is your disguise, and L
am not ashamed to acknowledge it," To
be thus treated by servant!
Yesterday this interesting young per-
son would have stammered in his pres
ence, hung her head and would have
been overwhelmed at receiving a serv-
ice at his hands. Now, forsooth, she
speaks grandly, airs her superiority,
condescends to grasp Mr.. Lawrence
Drane's hand! The unhappy man began
to experience profound resentment at
this conceited lady's maid when sur
prising change in her manner aroused
his curious interest. She let fall his
hand as impulsively as she had seized
it, blushed painfully and looked at her
white little hands which she folded be-
fore her.
"Alas! I forgot" she said, and her
lips trembled. "You can not under
stand, of course. Oh, dear! oh, dear!
You see; 1, too, am not at all what you
see me, or what you think am"
Mr. Drane hastened to give the lie to
his recent emotions.
81 am sure, MISS" he declared, gal
lantly, Il have seen you and thought of
you only as lady in distress to whom
it has been my unalloyed pleasure to
render some small assistance"
The young woman looked up again.
Her eyes were brimming with tears,
nevertheless she laughed softly.
81 can not help it, miserable as I am"
she said; ''for your words do sound so
incongruous, and she glanced as if in
spite of herself at Mr.. Drane's tattered
clothing.
eyes, MISS" responded Mr.. Drane,
humbly. Then gathering courage from
the remnants of his pride he added
"And do you know, miss, have thought
the same about your words" and he
made no disguise of looking at the big
cuffs, the emblem of her social position.
81 do not wonder" she replied, calm
ly, ''for am not miss at all. I am a
widow"
81 am deeply grievedr' exclaimed Mr..
Drane, hastily. "a blow of that nature
coming upon one so young must be Sc
we're indeed"
There was a most improper twinkle
in the young woman's eyes as she re-
sponded:
"Pray do not distress yourself. My
widowhood came so unexpectedly, was
such a surprise, in fact, that it was
more of a shock than blow. There
were certain compensating circum-
stances, but, of course, l ought not to
speak of such a matter lightly"
mo, l suppose not" admitted Mr..
Drane, rather obviously. Even in his
wretched situation he felt an extraor-
dinary interest in this young widow,
and he wondered again vaguely how it
came that she was away from her en-
ployment at daybreak. She was tapping
the ground with her foot thoughtfully,
evidently hesitating about continuing
her explanation. Mr.. Drane was nat
urally curious. circumstances had
brought them strangely together. What
could be better than to exchange con-
fidences? He began:
"You have been so good, madam, as
to admit the possibility of my having
seen better days. That is decidedly the
case, and l mean to see better ones yet
if luck is not wholly against me-"
Then he stopped abruptly, for the
consciousness of his situation over
whelmed him. and he felt the absurdity
of confiding in a mere servant. The
young woman did not notice his manner.
sit is you who have been good" she
said, land you ought to know more fully
how you have befriended me. My story