Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-10-23

"" INV %" ahSle VI the very picket
fence which had offended Miss Fer
rand's artist eye, was secretly drawing
a folded note from her pocket and
scanning its contents.
'1ts rather mean to read a letter
intended for her," gleefully pondered
This young savage" but she needn't
have snubbed me SO about the Big
Reds; and I'd like to know what El
Harland has got to say to her, any
how"
MY Own DEAREsT:- ("Tchicl tchicln
with clicking of her tongue against the
roof OF her mouth. ~ didn't know things
mad got so far as that')-"I behaved like
brute last 'ght"-("Oh, did you, indeed?p)
land Pm heartily sorry for what said"
(''l wonder what it could have beenY')
Will you, like an angel, forgive me? and
meet me at sunset at the old mill and we'll
talk it over?
"Ever yours, repentantly, L. H."
"Oh," said Lofty, spreading the
hurriedly, scrawlcd note on her knee,
while her beryl eyes glittered diaboli-
cally-"at the old mill, at sunset!'
"She stretched her neck TO get a
glimpse of her sisters blue gown, as
it moved to and fro among the piles of
rosy apples on the orchard slope, and
then refolded the aotc aud dropped it
into her pocket.
"No, no, Princess Elder-Sister,
you've deserved your fate And ]
couldn't call Miss Fcrrand back if
would, and wouldn't if | could. And
you may stay and look after your ap-
Piles to your hearts content, and much
good may they do you"
But Lofty Tafton had not the pleas
ure of seeing just what effects were
produced by her neglect to deliver the
bilet-doux with which Ellis Harland
had entrusted her; for early the next
ltlint,ai...-. ~a..ein- from Lake Cham-
lsplain swoopcd down on the farmhouse
and carried Lofty off to spend the
winter with her own young daughter,
and tho February snow-drifts Law
white along the edges of the steel
frozen lake wien her brother Rolf, en-
route for Montreal, whittier he was
carrying some choice mink skins,
brought All instalment of home news
with him.
"Lois has been sick," said he, sreal
sickl
"0h, Rolf" Lotiy's conscience
reused mp into tardy activity at this.
"1s she better now2 Was it a fevcr?"
"The doctors could not tel exactly
what it was. Oh, yes, she's better,
but she droops around tho house as if
there wasn't any backbone to her.
Father. he's most a notion to send her
to Uncle Nicholas, in Southern Cali
forny, if she don't chirk up little.
And Cara Fcrrand she's engaged to
Doctor Bassett, and Polly Clask is
teaching the decstrick school. And
Ellis Harland he's gone 10 Eureka CITY,
in Idaho. Started off real sudden,
the very week you went, 7wYsiifo.ssssS ,esas ,ea9
comm TO bid us folks good-by."
"Not even Lois?'
"No, not even Lois. | did s'pose
there was something between them
two, but Iguess likely was mistook."
Lofty looked intently at his honest,
stolld countcnance.
ooh, what fool you are!" she
pondered-"what fools all men arel"
And Lofty made up her mind she
would return with Rolf on his home
ward trip. Even Undines have souls
of some sort, and Lotty's conscience
pricked her sorely. And all that af-
ternoon she spent in penning a letter
to "E. Harland, Esq, Eureka City,
Idaho," which she mailed herself with
an inclosure secured within its folds. |
"And what mercy it was" she
told herself, "that didn't quite mus
ter enough courage t. burn that
wretched scrap of paper!"
She went back. quite a subdued and |
proper-behaved Lofty, and developed |
an un Usual capacity for waiting on pale
Lois and clinging around her until |
the elder sister opened her eyes wide !
and murmured softly:
"Why, you are good little creature
after all, Lottyl !"
And Lofty burst into tears and cried
out:
"No, I'm not-Tm the hatefulcsi
thing alivci'
After that Lofty fell to watching
the front gate, and examined every
letter that came from the postoffice
with feverish interest.
But it was not until the footsteps of
spring left violet marks alI over the
wales that a tall, sunburned young
man strobe mp to the gate, with an
ovcrcoat flung lights across his arm,
and asked for Miss Tafton.
eyes," Lofty cried, breathlessly,
crowding herself before the maid-of-
all-work; "yes, Ellis, she is at home.
And oh, please say you don't quite
want to murder mel"
Ellis Harlaud fixed his stern, dark
eyes On her.