Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-10-16

"Child!" echoed Miss Miriam.
"Why, she's sixtecn-old enough not
TO want play-placc like a baby
The deacon was silent. How could
lie make his practical, level-headed
sister comprehend the sentiment of
the thing3
"Shc's pretty good worker, aint
shc?' said he
"4cs-by fits and starts. But you
can't never depend on her. | tell YOU.
William, that play-actin' blood's in
her, and there's no gcttin' it out. She
dances and sings and flies around like
all possessed as long as she feels like
it, and then she seems to think that
'bein' tired is a sufficient excuse for
anything. asked her either day why
she was 50 different now from what |
noticed at the Home, and says she,
'Oh, ! was struck dumb for fear Won
wouldn't take me! was SO tired of
that place! And if you hadn't took
me, should have run away
"Alda, says |, you mustn't talk
so'
"'Well, | should, says She"
"Poor little girlv' said Mr. Mills.
"Therc she comes now, with her
apron full O wild red plumsl" SAID
Miss Miriam, with start. "And |
left her washin' down by the brook.
Why can't She stick 10 her work."
For Miss Mills, like many another
good housekeeper, had made an out
door laundry in tie summer time in a
shady nook by the brook, where
huge kettle boiled under gipsy crotch
and the water supply dubbed past
over bed of stones.
Ada Black came slowly up the path.
She was auburn-haircd, with one Of
those radiant compilations that arc
slightly marred by freckcs, and red.
dish hazel eyes full of weird lights
strengthening girl, yet singularly
attractive
"Sec whit | found i'll the woods, ,
she said composedly.
Miss Miriam pushed aside ner
trophies with such abrup ness that
the rcd plums flew this way and that.
81 don't care what you found"
said she. "What business hqd you in
the wood,?' Have yol finished the
washing?"
al couldn't" shivcrcl Aida. at
made my arms ache so. | never
washed before"
They its high time you learned, /"
sail Miss Miriam. "Go back to your
tubs, and don let me see your face
again till The wa,h is all done. It's
not a heavy one, and I've told you Just
how 10 do it,"
AIla's coun;enlMcc fe,l.
Gam to work all the time?" said
shc pas.iona.cly.
"That's what we're put into this
world for,' said Mis-, Mills, didac i
caliy.
Il don't like to work. pleaded
Aida. ''Not all the time, l mean"
at don't matter what You like or
villa. you don't like" said Miss
Miriam, sternly. "Go back and finish
that washing at once!"
Aida looked at her mistress with
slant red lights il those wonderful
hazel eyes Of hers. For a second it
seemed as if downright rebellion were
impending
The deacon, still polishing the gilt
tering scythe blade, awaited the eli
max, not without interest
But finally the girl turned around
and went back to the shady spot where
the kettles boiled and the water went
singing by.
And there, rs afterward transpired,
she sat, reading an old story paper,
and eating late blackberrles, until the
horn blew for dinner.
81 was tired" she said indifferently.
al couldn't work any more.'
Miss Miriam's slender thread of
patience gave way, At this last trans
gression.
"William," said she to her brother,
Give made up my mind at last. Aunt
Dorcas Keep wants 'help up in the
Black Woods. Aunt Dorcas is wo-
man who won't stand no nonsense.
She was matron in the penuentiary
for ten wears. If there's any work in
Aida, Aunt Dorcas Keep III get it out
of her. I'll send Aida there instead
o going myself, this harvest timew
"Ain't it a pretty rough place to
send the child?" asked Deacon Mills,
obviously.
"Its just the sort of place she
needs" retorted his sister. II wish
you'd harness up and take her over
right away. must get rid of Aida
somehow"
But the house seemed strangely
lonesome when Aida Black was gone.
The sweet, piercing voice, caroling
out the refrain of old ballads, the mer-
ry laugh, the glancing to and fro OF
the shining red-brown head, the
masses of wild flowers which the girl
was wont to put everywhere, were
missed beyond all Miriam Mills cal
culatiou. Still she scorned to com.