Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-01-02
LITTLE QUEEN,
Bl II. HUDSON.

"Litle Queen" said the handsomcst
old lady alive to her granddaughter
whose pet name seemed the most ap-
| propriate that could be given her.
have dismissed Patrick. lie has been
robbing the dairy. ungrateful wretch.
Dolmdr discovered it, and begs that he
shall 90 today. Is it not dreadful"
'1t is, indeed grandma. Patrick is
as honest as man can be"
"But Dolmer, child, Dolmer
says
1--WE have had no peace since that
man was engaged" cried Queen. in
temper. "You have been deceived by
him. lie is horrible and wicked
creature, / am sure. Look at his
spotted face, his tiger-like eyes. The
hideous wretch is, have no doubt, an
escaped convict. hate him!
"What coarse language, dear. Dol
mer is a very wel-mannered man-ser-
yanl, aud 50 eager for my interests.
You think TOO much Of beauty"
"pat is not beautiful" laughed
Queen. "But look at his honest gray
eyes and good big mouth, grandma.
Dismiss Dolmer and keep Patrick"
The TWO sat in lovely room in one
of the handsomest villas on the Hud-
son. Behind the sofa on which they
had placed themselves, tall Indian
screen Of rare beauty hal been placed
10 warl off the draughts, which the
old lady feared, as most old ladies
do.
On This occasion it answered
double purpose, for behind it crouchcd
a slender, dark-skilncd man in a SER
want, jacket, who was listening in
tently to The conversation of the two
ladies
"Do mer Is Il good man. tic rsa,
and reads his Bible a great deal, " said
the ol lady.
"AlWays in public" said the girl.
"And The Benevolent Society speaks
so highly of him." said the grand
mother.
"What do they know of hm?"
asked Queen. "Guilt is stamped on
his face; he wants honest Patrick out
of the way; he is a member of the
dangerous class, am sure. Grand
ma, am afraid for you. Send him
away"
The old lady tossed her head.
81 am more competent to Judge than
you are, at your age, little Queen,
she said. "Suppose he has sinned and
is rcpcntant shall we not be merciful
to HIM: believe lie is truly good,
poor til NJ, and so attentive. Besides,
l manage my own home, little Queen.
| am not quite childish
"Ncry well, grandma sighed the
girl.
She passed ont into the hall. Patrick
STOOD there, with his fScy ~'ss--ss-A ed and
his hair touseed.
could Nick. savin' Your prisince, is
'avesdroppiug to your remarks he
said.
"No doubt, Pat" said Queen. "lIad
| my way, lie should 90 and you should
stay"
"Thauk yc,miss, said Pat. "Yon'd
never believe poor Patrick would rob
the dairy, miss, and stale butther an
eggs an thngs-Pat that is so CRATE
fuI he'd die for the ould lady and both
of yoz>'
'Indeed, do not" said the girl.
81 have tried TO get grandma to alter
her decision. However, | know where
to find on, Pat; and think you will
come back before long. will expose
Dolmer, if can"
Pat bowed, and went sadly and
slowly toward his garret to get his
little blue chest, and Bertha moved |
away. As she did SO a cruel face
peeped from behind pantry door,
sad two dark brows met in q scowl I
over eyes that were hardly human. /
The man who had listened behind the |
screen listened again. 1t was Dolmer.
$50 you are my enemy" he said.
"Very well, young lady, All is fair
in war;"
There was little supper-party at
the villa that night. A dozen of the
most elegant people of the neighbor-
hood had been invited. Bertha, in
her pale pink silk dress, with rosehuds
in her black hair, was beautiful enough,
but at the last moment the old lady.
anxious to atone for her passing i'll
temper added touch to her toilet.
"Come here, child" she said. "You
shall have my long promised diamonds
tonight. have taken them from the
safe on purpose. You know never
put them on now. You are inst the
style for diamonds
She placed the stars in her hair,
drew the golden drops from her ears
and substituted little cascades of dia-
monds, fastened necklace about her
neck aud bracelets on her arms. The