Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-07-03

She was frank and sistcrly with us
and always gave us cordial welcome.
and we never guessed each others de-
volion, because we could not we'll
leave the city at the same time, Dick
leaving me in charge of his store and
clerks, and taking my practice in re-
turn.
Not until Unc'e Cyrus died did we
know that we both loved Harry, and
then crushing blow fell For it was
found, after our uncle was buried,
that lie had left nothing of a once
noble fortune. Nothing for the deli
cately nurturcd child who had never
known a wish ungratilicd. lIarry's
aunt, Mrs. Leyburn, took her home,
and the beautiful house at Oakhill
was sold. After all the confusion
was over and there came a breathing
spell, Dick took me into his conf
dcncc.
Like blows from a hammer his
words fell on my heart.
"Tom," he said to nc, al have
been over to see Harry. Poor little
girl, she is very miserable. All her
bright, pretty smiles are gone, Tom.
1t would make your heart ache TO see
how pale and sad she is"
All! Had it not already made my
heart ache?
"She has lost the klndcst father,
Dick" l said.
''And, as if that was not sorrow
enough said Dick, '4hey are not
kind to her at Lcyburn's."
"Not kind to hcr!" cried. 81
thought they fairly wor.hipcd her."
$50 they did when they thought
Uncle Cyrus was wealthy. Now they
tell her every day that She must find
something to do-somc work to earn
Il living"
"Ncvcrw cried. 'Why, Dick
we owe everything to Uncle Cyrus
and we are not poor men now"
Then Dick said, in faltcring voice.
"Do you think, Tom, il is too soon
after her loss for me to tell Harry how
| love hcr--.o ask her to be my wife?'
The room seemed TO be recling
around me; Dicks face grew dim; his
voice sounded far away. lie loved
IIarryl And | was only waiting un-
ill thd first bitterness of her grief was
over ask her to be my wife. Fool
that | was! What was my homcly
face compared to Dicks beauty; my
quiet ways against his grace and ten
dcrness? Before hc spoke again had
recovered from the shock his words
gave me, and resolved to keep my
secret Let him win her if hc could.
| dared not think of my own chance
if she refused him. Time enough fol
that.
Day after day he sought her, yet
kept silent Little guessing the tor
ture he inflicted, lie tod me of his
wrong, but ever with the same re-
frain.
"She gives me no chance to tell her
how love her, Toni She is like a
sister, only"
kept away, but my hope grew
stronger If she loved Dick as Il sis
ter might it not be that I-homely
and quiet as | was-had won the
deeper love craved. My patience
must have been great in those days.
Every lonely hour was filled with
dreams of lIarry's fair, sweet Tdcd,
her low, musical voice, her bright,
winning grace. recalled every low
ing word she had ever spoken TO me,
every caress she had given 10 me.
knew that even in her childhood | had
given her more than brothers love,
and | saw that her mother had dreaded
lest she should love one of the penni-
less boys who were so dear to their
adopted uncie.
We had begun, Dick and myself, to
turn some of our investments into
ready money, to make a fund for
Harry.
"She shall have the twenty thou
sand uncle gave us" we said, although
it would cripple us somewhat for a
time to fake so large a sum out of our
fortunes. Nothing had been said TO
her, for we were afraid she would re-
fuse to take 1t. We waited for Dick
to speak, but we gathered the money
together in bank.
1t may have been the longing for a
home that first suggested to us the
idea of investing part of Harry's
money 1--WE always spoke of it as hers)
in house and some furniture, each
hoping to share it with her. The first
real brightness that came into her
dear face after her father died was
when we told her we were going to
housekeeping, and begged her to help
us select and furnish home. Again,
starved my own heart, and sent her
with Dick house-hunting, until they
selected house that seemed the per-
fection of a modest home, most unlike
the beautiful Oakhill mansion. But it
was Harry's own taste that selected
the furniture, suited to the small
rooms, but good in quality, and Harry
said: "Ever so pretty"
at was all ready and paid for, and
6,,o .I,ousonJ dolIarS etiU In boul-