Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-09-04

=
parted that Christmas day, and ho
had never seen her since. Two years
had made change. Two years ago
he had a cherished theory that it
would be impossible to bring tears to
those brilliant gray eyes. Somehow
today that theory was destroyed. Two
years ago she could laugh at you,
mystify you, allure and deceive you,
but love you never, so he believed.
'"Tis summer, fiery summer,
Upon thy cheeks divine;
'Tis winter, icy winter,
In that little heart of thine"
But to-day-to-dayl Suddenly a
hope, a slight but exquisite hope,
stirred within him. A slow fire of
passion darkcncd his searching eyes.
Miss Dolmer, to whom he had intend
ed to propose in the course of week
Miss DOlmer TO whom he had paid a
number of business-like attentions
sank swiftly out of sight. lie re-
membered dream he had the sum
mcr before in which Dolly Humphreys
had been walking by the sea and he
had kissed her and walked to spend
week IN utter misery in botting out
every memory that crowded into
view.
"Wherc were you last summer in
August?" he asked.
al was at the sea- Shore" she
answered, and colorcd little, that
same delicate pink that he remembered
with vividncss that was half Joy,
half pain. 81 spent hours literally on
the beach. Nobody else had any lik-
ing for it, they preferred gayer spots,
but became quite a solitary last sum
mcr, and used to watch the waves
through the long ternoon. Mamma
rather nervous, for refused any
Ten l,dls'o.ia ,g.ss divided be-
.-.cen a fear that | was meeting an in
eligible suitor or getting bit touched
in my head. will say that she might
have had some reason for the latter
theory, had ! told her what queer
fancies | had, for | got quite under
the influence of the curling green
waves"
ga modern Lorelci," said Aiken.
Il was much more like ship
wrecked Mariner" said Dolly, smiling
softly. al had one idea that | re-
member, that if waited very patiently
the waves would wash up at my feet
treasure. What the treasure was |
did not know, but something that
would rejoice me forever"
'Thc jewels of some poor mermaid
who mislaid them," suggested Aiken,
watching her with hope growing in
his heart.
"l had fancy, also," went OH Miss
Humphreys, rather shyly, "that some
of my old friends might turn up;
you among them. That you might
suddenly appear walking along a's1'
smooth tawhy sand, andwe would have
friendly talk together"
"If had only known" said Aiken,
between his teeth. "But," he added,
smiling a little. 81 wouldn't have
come as an old friend. | never was
one." Dorothy looked into his face
with hurt wonder, which changed
as he added, 81 was your lover, dear"
"What were you doing all last sum
mer," she said, hastily, leaning for
ward and setting six small stones in
an even row, while her cheeks again
colored pink.
al worked" was the brief answer.
''All the timer" raising soft plying
eyes to his.
''Most of it; but did not mind the
work; it took my thoughts from other
things, and | had nothing pleasant to
think of.
"W.hat melancholy young mani"
said Miss Humphreys, lightly. "You
should have paid the sea a visit as |
did, and found solace for your ills"
"Did you need solaco also?" asked
Aiken, eagerly. "Were you not happy
lo0.'
"Nhat an impertinent question:"
and Dolly laughed little. "Why
should not DO happy?"
al thought hoped" went OH The
young man, earnestly, with intense
pleading in his eyes, "that perhaps
you were lonely, too. That perhaps
You had little of the heariache that
was with me night and day, and has
been these two long years and more.
| hoped that you perhaps regretted
your cruelty TO inc at the last, and
would at least let me try again. ]
| know l have no right" he contin-
ucd, ''to cherish my hopes-you Ger
tainly did your best to crush them out
but we had been SO happy before |
grew quite mad about you, and you
had seemed to like me then, and so it
suddenly comes TO me that now, after
these years, you might give me another
chance. God knows | ask nothing
better than to spend my heart and soul
in tlVi< 10 makoyou love me. SDca's,