Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-11-27
At the Grove Cottage Barn,
BY EMMA A. oPPEH.


1t was really quite an ordinary
sight. Clara Morgan said TO herself,
with determined little smile and a
rush of anger at the dull unhappincss
which had strangely taken possession
of her.
She hummcd and fillipcd the leaves
with her parasol when she was safe
beyond sight and hearing, and all but
persuaded herself that she was think
ing solely of the dance i'll the Grove
Cottage barn that night, and that
West Peak was the livcliest and most
socabe mountain resort she had ever
visited, and what she would wear to
the barn dance.
But certain picture haunted her
sharply - that Of the slender girl,
whose face sho had not seen, and the
young imam in the white-linen suit
with a fine rcd stripe, and the red
cap, whose arm had been closely
around the waist of the slender girl,
back amcug the slrubbery into which
she had unsuspiciously stepped, and
from which she had hastily aud noise
lcssly Withdrawn.
The picture wa' disagfeoably be-
fore her still, as she mounted the
steps of her own pleasant boarding
pace-'.The Visia"-and faced the
groups of idle people on the roomy
Yeranda.
A bovy of laughing girls seized
upon her.
"Oh, CIara!s Oh, you lucky girl!
How did you manage it, you wre' ch?
lie wants to meet you-hc does. It's
true. Kit keon knows all about it'll"
came from half a doz,n. vocifcrously.
It's limits The we've all
been so struck on," said Kit keon,
candilly and breathlcssly. 'nIt's the
tall, handsome one at The Milford
House, the one with the red-striped
suit and red cap. that we've all been
just about dying TO know. Well, he
saw you Yesterday for the first time
you know we've all kept together,
so that he hasn't noticed u' individual
ly together an he asked Mr. Milford
himself TO bring him over some even
ing 10 call on you, Mr.. Milford told
Mrs. Deering about it, and she told
US. Mr.. Milford told him he'd meet
you at the barn-dance tonight. All
the Milford House people arc going.
Think of il Clara-tllat distinguished
looking fellow! Not but that you're
just as MISUNDERSTANDING, dear.
And he's got a lot of money, and he's
awful nice! Mrs. Decring said so,
and Mr. Milford told her. And wc'r
all so JEALOUS. but we wish you all
kinds of good luck" Kit Keon
wound W, in shameless fashion,
laughing.
Clara smiled. With all her graceful
beauty cnd dignity, Clara hal the
charming quality of good nature.
"Of course I'm delighted at the
compliment, Kit," sic said, lightly.
"Blt-I don't care 10 meet him; / do
not, indeed"
And amid The girls amazed and UNI
believing and bantering protestations,
she said to herself, passionately:
"The basencss of menl'
The Grove Cottage barn was really
lovely that evcning-sO everybody
said. The great-wide open doorway
was framed in gay paper lanterns, the
walls were evergreen-wreatded, the
rafters were gorgeous with flags and
bunting, and the fiddlers had a flower
trimmed platform.
1t was rustic affair, and West
Peaks summer boarders acted accord
in. -
At nine o'clock the barn was full,
dancing under way, and fan an iol-
lity were at high pitch.
Clara hal danced a quadriIle with
she could not afterward have told
with whom She stood tanning her.
self and rcfastcning her great bunch
of daisies, when Mr.. Milford, portly
and beaming, came bearing down up
on her arm in arm with a man inf
nite'y taller, Younger, slendercr,
handsomer than himself.
This is Miss Morgal?" he de-
manded, in business-likc tones.
g Then let me present to You Wr.
Ware. d. acquainted"
Mr.. Milford Withdrew with a
chucklc.
al am most happy" said the young
ran.
lie did not smile nor bow with tco
gl asG effu<ien. lie looked down upon