Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-07-04

dler! Whichever he is, won't hav5
him inside the gate"
s'He looks tired, Auntie.'
Miss Martha Pitcher screwed hGI
lips up tightly, and looked at her nj 9
and namcsake with a whitening ed
preston.
"Now, Matte" she said severeIs
II won't have it, Every time a trant
comes by, you get him milk, or brea
Or something, and as for those horr~
peddlers
Here Miss Martha's breath gave out
Little Matte, shy, timid, blue-eyef
and pretty as a wild-rose, colorcd Z
little, and then said:
al don't think we are any poorer
Auntie, for the little we give away"
"'Well, it is yours; do as yoi
please"
For little Matte was the owner d
the farm and very small income, Of
though as she was only II, her au /
managed the household, as she lHsi
while her brother lived, and Mr.. Pot
ter, the lawyer of Arrowdale. was
guardian for the small property Mat
ties father had left her.
1t was cne of Miss Martha's pecu-
iiarities to lay down the law to Matte
very emphatically, as TO the child she
had brought up from baby, and then,
suddenly remembering that the Girl
was really the owner of the place, to
retreat, as above described. from heT
position. And little Ma tie, submit
ing in all things to her annt's dicta
ion, took the permission grateful
aever asserting herself as owner
mistress.
In the present instance she sai$
Eistfully:
"Then | may give him some milk, u
ne asks for it?''
"Oh, he'll ask fast enough! He I,
opening the gate now. Gracious
= l,i1.4 sk's Sd
beard, for a civilized countryw
1t was a very handsome beard
Miss Martha had only had the taste V
admire it. The nose above it WIS
handsome, too, so were the even
white teeth under the heavy mustache
and the large, brown eyes, half hidder
| by the broad slouch hat. He whI
1usty, but not ragged, and his flan4 4
shirt had the collar turned down over
loose black tie, hidden, to be sue
under the curling, auburn beard.
Matte, tripping lightly down tht
garden path to the gate, was rather
startled at the tone of the high-brec
voice that asked:
"Can | get some luncheon here?
cannot find any tavern or hotel on tn,
road"
"Oh, no; l mean, yes" said Matte
blushing furiously under the gaze Of
the soft, brown eyes.
al mean," she said, recovering hel
composure, "there is not any hote
within three miles, and you can hav,
! some luncheon with pleasure. If yol
can wait half an hour we can give yol
dinner"
For that this was no tramp Matti'
saw at once, though she had seen littl
of gentlemen in her life, Miss Marthi
keeping al men, excepting the farm
hands, at respectful distance from he
maiden domain.
Thanks! | will wait with pleas
ure, if | may rest on your porch.
Em very tired"
He stepped wearily and slowly to tn
porch, and sank down upon tn
ehintz-covered, big armchair with
sigh of relief.
"Would you like a glass Of mil
now?" Matte asked.
81 should, indeed, very much"
But when the milk came, in prett
glass goblet, upon a dainty chin
plate, it was Jane, the servant gir
who brought it. Matte, suddenl
shy, was setting the dinner-table wit
clean cloth and napkins, and the bel
china.
"Gracious, Mattel whatever al
you doing?7 cried Miss Martha, con
ing in the room.
"Hush, Auntiel he is a gentleman
and he is coming in to dinner"