Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-06-05
THE NUT-BROWN MAID.
BY MARY c. PRESTON.

Never had the world looked so love-
ly 10 Inez Kent-never had life
seemed so well worth the having, as
when, turning her pretty pony's head,
she rode homeward with Nane Carol,
her distant kinsman, whose mothers
guest she had been for whole month.
lie was so tall and princey; so
graceful, courtly, polished and then
the only son of one of the richest wo-
men in the state; and Inez, with all
her beauty and her grace, was not over
burdened with worldly gear, nor had
so eligible a party ever shown such
pleasure in her society; and Incz
Kent was very worldly and practical,
despite of a pink white dantiness,
delicate ethereal softness of
face and manner, which made her
chief charm.
"Of what are you thinking, little
cousin?" Vane questioned, with
smile, as they cantered side by side.
"Iour face is full of sunlight. Is
there some lover who is responsible for
those dimples?'
NO." she answered, with a blush
and shy, swift glance into his laugh
ing eyes. 81 have no lover, Vane. and
l was thinking only of how happy
am here
lie smiled very kindly-almost, she
thought, tcnderly--at her.
"You have frightened our house,
he said, softly. "Do not think of going
from us yet. We. my mother and
myself, could not
At that moment the pony Inez rode
gave a sudden shy, and he caught the
rein, as she uttered slight shrek, and
held the animal in.
A young girl, with the sweetest,
brightest, sunnicst face Imaginable
veritable "nut-brown maid"-was
stepping lightly down from a stie,
and her great, black, shaggy dog had
leaped before her, causing the fright
of Inez Kents pony.
"Come, Shock !" the girl called;
and the dog ran forward TO her out
stretched hand. 81 am so sorry," she
said, looking up at Inez. awe were
running a race, and did not hear you
come. l fear my dog has frightened
you"
"He frightened my horse" Inez
said, in cold, curt tones, at which the
brown eyes below her grew distressed
and Vane's fingers dropped from the
pony's rein.
81 am SO very sorry" the girl said
again.
But Inez made 10 reply, save 10
shake out the rein and camter on.
Vane, as he followed, barred his
head and bowed low to the small,
dark-faced stranger, who made so
pleasant picture, standing in the sun
set with one little brown hand resting
on the head of her dog, and a deep
flush on either olive cheek.
al wonder who she wasp he said
presently to Inez.
The porcelain tinted beauty merely
shrugged her shoulders and curled her
lip.
"a gipsy, fancy" she said, even
ly.
But Vane Carol knew that the face
he had seen was not that of tent
born waif-tllat the voice he had |
heard Ind caught none OF 10 mnsic /!
from wild bird or stream ct; and |
somehow the words he had almost |
said to Inez remained unspoken, while |
he and she rode iu at his own gates,
and the day died suddenly. in paling
clouds and sharp wind-arrows.
1t rained within an hour, and for |
three days and nights there was The
ceaseless beat of rain drops, heavy and
fierce, upon the world about them.
Then, in the grayness of a wind.
swept, rainwashed morning, word |
was brought him that below in tile
village there were poor wretches who
were struggling with the risen wa
ters.
For the river had crept beyond its
banks and poured its overflow into
the valley, where hundreds dwelt, and |
aii night long it had crept higher