Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-10-30
MANS CONQUEST.
BY ANNA SHIELDS.


Mr.. Edward Carpenter was de-
scribed by the gossips Of Sncwville as
a "crusty old bachelor, too hateful "a
live" having refused for some % OF
80 years to yield 10 the fascinatiOns OF
maid or widow lie lived in large,
old-fashioncd house, occupying the
lower floor only, and his domestic du.
ties were performed by Jonathan
S;ubbs. who was older and ciuslicr
than his master, but who cooked and
cleaned to his entire satisfaction.
Unprejudiccd eyes would have seen
that Mr.. Carpenter was yet on the
bright side of fifty, that his features
were fine, his eyes large and express
i've, and The form that he clothed in
mean, shabby garments was erect and
vigorous. That he was wealthy, all
Snowville knew, as wei as that there
was but small part of his largo in
come spent upon Ills personal wants.
But lie was stern, harsh to the bows,
savage 10 intruders upon Ills privacy
and had been heard to declare that
"lle hated a widow or a brat. Ii
anything was more detestable than a
widow il was a brat; and if anything
could be worse than brat it was a
widow"
Therefore, May Carroll, being la
wi ow, though not yet twenty-foll.
and mother of Nan, who was bit
four, bestowed upon NJ. Carpentdr
her most scornful glanccs and witEcr.
ing frowns.
Nan was tiny creature-blue-eyed,
fair-haircd; and to see her draw M
her childish stature to its full height
and flash contempt from her baby face
was really something wonderful.
Who first called Mr.. Carpenter "Old
Snap 'em-up," from the short, cross
speech lie bestowed upon children,
was never clearly proved. But cvery-
body in Snowville knew the name.
Still it was rather startling TO the
proprietor of the title, when saanter-
ing through tie woods, just at dusk
one summer evening, to feel a wee
cold hand slipped into his own, and TO
hear pitiful voice say:
"Plcase, Old Saap-'em-up, take
Nan home; Mans lost!"
lie looked down. A baby face. red
with weeping, purple wi II berry
stains, but beautiful with its LARGE
brown eyes and rosy lips, looked up
at him. No hat, and the golden curls
all tangled; one shoe quite gone; an
,S2,Ea.na belry-stained and torn; hands
grimy and dress 10 match. That was
Nan!
"Nm's so tired" she pleaded, "and
the little chicky is runncd far awav."
Was that Mr.. Carpenter who lifted
the child and put her on fallen tree
IS tenderly as her mother could have
done? Was that Old Snap-'em-nn.
who said: "Thc naughty chicky!o
and then dipped his handkerchief in a
little run of water, and gontly washed
Mans face and grimy hands?
eyes it was" said Nan, "and it
ruined so far that Nan lost her shoe
and hurted her foot, and she's so tired!
Please take Nan home!
And Nan was lifted into strong
arms and Graded SO comfortably that
she was fast asleep when Mr.. Car
penter met Mrs. Carroll in distracted
search of her darling, and did not hear
him say in his gruflest tones:
eyes, found her. Here she is.
and ! wish people would look after
their own brats, and not let them run
wild all over town."
How could the mothers thanks be
gracious after such speech as
.hat2
,Dat she did net fail .ta. give her
timid acknowledgment of his kind
ness, her great, blue eyes misty with
Tears, and her little white hands
trembling as they were stretched out
TO take her one treasure.
"You know ! am teaching all dav."
she said in apology, "and must leave
Nan with Jane. or / cannot earn
enough to feed her."
A grunt was the answer to this. and
Mr.. Carpenter strobe homewar,l
frowning heavily, like the woman
hater he was known TO be. How could
Mrs. Carroll know that just such baby
blue eyes as hers had desolated his
life, just such a wee rosy mouth spok-
en- false vows and broken faith.
But Nan remembered the gentle
touch, the sympathetic voice lone
after that naughty clicky was entirely
lost. She was a thorough gypsy
almays wandering away ~ snito a4