Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-08-28
AN EDGED TOOL.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

By AMY RANDOLPH.
"N1iss Morel wanted, Immediately,
in the showroom !"
Shrill and sharp and clear the mes
sage came through the speaking ube
into the great room where all Mrs.
Cavendish's young women were at
work-the great, bare-floored echoing
room, which was lighted only from a
skylight of frosted glass above.
Valencia Morel rose at once. her
pale olive cheeks suddenly suffuscd
with scarlet, to obey the summons.
She felt sure she was to be scolded for
sighting the pipings on the skirt Of
old Mrs. Mickels blue satin dress.
But Mrs. Cavendish, sitting at her
desk, received her graciously.
"Miss Morel," said she, on sec
ond thoughts, yon may trim Miss
Vavasa's moire antique with lace in
stead of velvet. Miss Gay, the fore
woman, will give you all necessary
instructions.
After n moment she added:
"My dear, you know that seldom
interfere in the private and personal
affairs of my young women. Bat |
am informed that you are escorted
home every night by gentleman who
must certainly bo above your station.
Miss Morel. | am not your guardian,
neither do Ipossoss any authority over
you. But do know something of the
world, and | bid you bewareD
Valencia Morel was quite silent If
Mrs. Cavendish had for an instant
supposed that her favorite trimmer
was going to coniide in her, she was
mistaken.
Half an hour later, when the girls all
swarmed out of Mrs. .Cavcndish's work
rooms at the sound of the o'clock
bell, Valencia Morel contrived to be Il
little behind the rest, so that it was
quite dark when she reached the cor
ner of the street, and quick, silent
shadow. with the fiery end of a cigar
burning in front of it, moved mp TO
her side quite as matter of course.
"Valenciaw softly spoke the phan-
tom
ayes; it's l." said Valencia Morel,
coquettishly pulling the blue vail a
little farther over her face. "And
Mrs. Cavendish has somehow found
out that you walk home with me eve
nings.
"Well, what them" demanded the
owner of the fire. tipped cigar, in a
debonnaire and defiant sort of way.
"Is it capital crime?"
''N-no; I-supposo not" said FaIcu-
cis, dubiously. "But, Hector"
"WeI?"
'I do wish knew what the enl Of
all this was to be-"
Captain Hector Maurice liftel his
primrose-kidded hands deprecatingIy.
$50 like woman" said he. "Bless
their dear little hearts, they never can
be contented to let we'll enough alone"
"Well, if you must know" inter
rupted the gallant captain, 1--WE are
nearer 'the end of all this than you've
any idea Of"
"What do you mean?" Valencia
stood still, with a face as white as
marble.
81 mean simply that PIN 10 be mar
ried in three months"
"Married!"
eyes, married. Why not? She is
not as pretty as you are, Valencia. ="
with a sigh and shrug; "in fact,
she's as old and ugly as Medusa, if you
know who that classical character was /:
but she's rich, and | never was one of
the kind that could live on love aud
poetry. Now don't turn crusty, Va
lencia." as she involuntarily drew
back. "You know Pm desperately
fond cf you and all that sort Of thing,
but l must marry money or it is all mp
with mel And you must have known
that VIC couldn't go on philandcrins
like this foreyer!"
Valencia looked at him with eyes
that shonc dangerously.
"Hector Maurice" said she, "you
have been playing with me all this
time. Beware do not turn out an
edged tool!p
"My darling, only listen 10 me-"
He took both her hands by main
force and renewed his caressing pro-
testations while he walked along al
her side. Presently she turned, with
short, harsh laugh.
"Don't mind me, HECTOR" said she /;
was little out of temper. IT
came SO suddenly, you know. And
perhaps was unreasonable. But I'm