Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-03-25

grinned. -
"Would you like one7"
81 don't mind"
''Because--I know one"
$500"
''Yes. That's our Pink nurses name.
She watches you from behind the cur
tain"
"So?"
"That's all, )" added lie with dignity.
"You can go now"
And Mr.. Ripley went home, but Mr..
Ripley has since confessed that he never
felt so queer in all his life, and further
more acknowledged that if he had not
got religion during the previous spring
he should have been tempted to believe
in Fate.
And in fact Mr. Ripley, the village
telegraph operator, began to act as if
under some sort Of spell. Just in front
of Catalpa Cottage, out near the print
tive horseback, there was loose plank.
1t was a singular fact that the window
where the Pink nurse lurked commanded
view of this loose plank.
Now, avoid that plank as he would,
Mr.. Ripley no sooner reached that spot
each day, in the full Consciousness of the
eyes behind the window curtain, and the
calm, judicious aspect of small figure
in the hammock, than some demon lured
him to il, stubbed bis toe with it, and
allowed him to pass on with neck and
ears perfect match to the Pink nurse.
One day he distinctly heard litter
from behind the curtain.
"Never mind" came the small voice
from the hammock, ''she likes you lust
the same, if she does laugh at you. She
wouldn't watch for you every day, you
know, if she didn't" Which was a
sensible conclusion for a ve-year-old
girl.
But that plank grew to be night
MAZE to Mr.. Ripley, the telegraph opera
tor. Every day he found it there.
One night at midnight lie had
dream. All in the moonlight of per.
feet June night she heard the fairies:
"Knock knock knockl'
1T sounded real," she announced
ever her oatmeal porridge.
And it probably was, to some extent,
for the plank was found firmly fixed in
its place that morning by three bright,
new nails.
''It's coming true" whispered lie to
himself, and she told the same thing in
strictest confidence to three intimate
friends, after the fashion of her sex.
But as they happened to be merely /,
hop-toad, demure lady-bug and a gaudy
humming- bird, the secret was still a
secret.
That night whcn Mr.. Ripley went
home to his supper, zie sat on the horse
block.
'Did you nail itl" she promptly
asked.
s'Nail what9" responded Mr.. Ripley,
with brief glance at the window cur
tain.
"Thc plank. think it was fairy.
She thinks it was you. Was it2"
But Mr.. Ripley passed on speech
less.
And as he went he was quite angry
% find himself marching to the tune of;
Soon they'll be married,
Never to part.
Aud, on the last day Of Jne, when the
cataIpa blossoms lay like silver upon the
lawn, zie propounded a remarkable quss.
ton at the luncheon table.
"Do all men say they never kissed
anyone els, in all their lives 2 When
they get engaged, l mean" she asked
with her mouth full of spongc-cake.
"What eau the child mean |"
calculated Aunt Louise in amazement. 4
Zie sat up very straight.
81 mean that Annies got aloe, now.
OH, it's truel And they say that I'm q
darling-but 1 knew that--amays.
That's chestnut. Aud Joe told Aunie
that she was the very first girl he had
ever loved, and she wouldn't believe him
but she didn't get mad one Bit Why
wouldn't she believe him
"Because--they all say that" ex !
planned mamma, stirring the cream in 8
cup Of coffee.-New York Truth