Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-04-01
THE FIRST DELEGATE.
by EMMA A. OFFER.

Auhle was up 10 ner ears III WORK
She had come TO hcr Cousin Lorenzo
Fraser's TO visit, not looking forward
to a whirl Of gaicty, since Lorenzo
was minister.
But che had not even visited. Loren
EOS wife was sick abcd with mild
attack of pleurisy. The children hat
been sent to her mothers, and good
faithful Lorenzo was getting his owl
meals; but even SO, Annie had foun(
Mrs. Fraser in tho depth of a despair
which was quite frantic.
For tho conference was to be hello
in their church next week, aud they
were to entertain at least four of tho
delegates, and she sick abed, with thS
house in disorder and not q bit Of
cooking done!
Annie had Strengthened her pillow,
and smiled comfortingly.
"Then I'm glad enough / camo,'
shc said, encrgctically; sand I'll stay
longer than the week camc for, if It'll
necessary. Mother doesn't need me.
I'll sec you safely through the confer
once, and stay till you're up, Tilley.
know how 10 work, you know. Don't
worry bit now"
"Thc dearest girl in the world y
poor lilly had sighed, rcstfully, to
Lorenzo that night "Thc smartcst
and the best. and one Of the pretticsi,
too. Yes, she's unusual every was,.
i wonder how it comes she isn't mar
ried. or engaged even? When we
were there last winter, there was that
young man-what was his name
Whitbeck2 Whitcomb?-who paid bcr
every attention, and seemed so nice. F."
"Nicc young men who pay hand
some girls every attention don't al-
ways want TO marry thcm." said Lor-
enzo, with unexpected worldly wis
dom. mot but that Annie is good
enough for the best of them. But
I've heard since that that young
Whitby went West"
81 hope Annic's heart didn't 60
with him." lilly murmured.
That was how it came about that
AMMO was up to her ears in work.
1t was Saturday afternoon. She
had washed few things that morn
ing, and she Intended to bake bread
and some pumpkin pies and q cake,
and make apple and cranberry sauce
before night, and do the small IRON
ing.
A white cloth bound her yellow
head neatly, and long apron covered
her from chin to feet. A few blonde
locks escaped prcttily, and her heated
checks were bccomingly red.
But she was too rushingly busy to
give thought to her appearance; she
was saying to herself that if anything
happened TO interrupt her, she should
dic-when the door bell pcalcd.
She gasped and groancd. Dread
full She took her hands out of tho
bread-dough, but they were doughty.
and there were various smudgcs on
her apron.
She knew the pics would burn if
she left them; and how could she stop
to entertain anybody 1t was q
flushed and fustercd young person
who went frowningly to the door.
1t was man. OF course it was a
man! She had known it would be a
man. 1t was man with beard and
an utterly absurd long coat to his
heels, as though the thermometer was
at zero.
Annie did not like eccentricities, and
she disliked boards. She regarded
sliflly the third button of the obicc-
tionablc coat.
"Well?" she said.
M-you-I--" the visitor stam-
mcred.
And then the truth dawned upon
Annie.
"Oh!" she faltcred; "you arc one
of the delcgatcs2 You'll excuse nc
ought TO have knownl But we didn't
expect any till Monday. Come in,
please--come inl"
She was much abashed. A minister
and she with greasy apron. and
rag round her head! She talked on
with apologetic haste.
"Alr Fraser did not look for any of
the delegates this week, but of course
you are very welcome. lie isn't at
home just now, but you viii lay your
coat Off and make yourself comfort
abioa Pm sorry, but Mrs. Fraser is
i'll. am their cousin, and am taking
her place as nearly as | can"