Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-08-14

"With Mr.. Brownlee-ves."
"Oh, that is all right" jovially. q!
met him half an hour ago-you know
you introduced him here the other
evening-and he told me TO make his
apologies to you. Had to go to Saint
Louis at once. His father is very i'll.
So come alongp
Had Mr.. Brownlce actually made
this boor Lis emissary? Mazda took
sep forward. Her cheeks were be-
ginning TO burn hotly.
"I do not think he woull send his
excuses by-you," with a noticeable
emphasis on the pronoun; "and |
shall not drive in any case. So do not
let me de:ain you"
Mr.. Bascombe regarded her curious
ly. lie was not accustomed to deal
ing with this kind of woman. lie
sat down.
"Tll watt he declared. DTS
lovely day. Maybe you'll feel more
like driving after awhile"
Mazda glanced at The clock.
Twenty-Five minutes after two.
She turned to The window, looked
out. Il was one Of the most entranc-
ing and inviting of summer davs.
There was an unusual blueness and
brillianco about The world without;
aud il was not too es------ H--4
Still the livery team paved away at
tie curb; and still Harland Brownlco
did not come.
Threc
" Better not wait any longer" adj
vised Mr. Bascombe, with a short
laugh tha! was half snecr.
Mazda choked back the inclination
to break down crying. At all events,
sne need not remain IN the parlor.
She would 60 to her room.
She had just reached the door,
when the bell rang. She drew back.
An instant later, Della responded to
the bell, and then, tall, fair, brown
bearded, clad in cooi gray suit, and
hat in hand, IIarland Brownlee walked
into !hc room.
Miss Merrill" he began, " on con-
sderation, did not think you would
break YOUR appointment SO uncere-
noniously, and sol thought it better
to come and learn the truth of the
affair from your own lips-if / were
in fime!"
Bascombe dropped the photograph
album, at which he had been pretend
ing to look, and lurts into roar of
laughter.
"Such joke" he be e!lowed.
"When me: linn he tod me he was
going to take You, Mazda, to the ccle-
bration. and said you had sent me to
tell him you could not go, as YOU pre-
fcrred driving with me; that ] was
lust OH my way to deliver the mes
sage. A fine joke, eh? A capital
,oke, wasn't it? Thought I'll have
some fan foolng you both. Great
joker And he burst into another
coarse laugh.
! Nadia looked ct Brown'ce.
"TIc told me-" she said, ';you were
leaving town."
Then she turned to Bascombc with
flashing eyes.
i "There was no joke at all about it,
she cried. at was just the rude act
of an ungentlemanIy man Don't
ever dare TO come and see me-or
speak to me againl am ready, Mr..
Brownlee.n
But Nj. Brownee was not quite
ready, lie went up 10 Bascombc, who
lost some of his forid color under the
steady glance of the man confronting
him.
IF you fail to respect Miss Merrilps
command" Brownlee said, very
quietly, "you shall answer to mel"
Then be and Mazda left the house.
They were barely in time TO catch
their boat Mazda was in the gaycst
of spirits. The knowledge that Har.
land Brownlee was not the ca1 her
consin would have had her believe
! was tremendous relief. There were
several ON board whom they knew,
end q very delightful timc they had.
'.Thsro never were grander fire.
works." ayerFed Nadia, as they sailed
homeward in the moonlight.
"rJever!" with decision; "nor ever
such lovely day!'
They were walking up and down
tho deck. Overhead was a brilliant
sky below, lake that looked in the
moonlight like lake of cnchantment