Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28
A SOLITAIRE.
By FRANK II. sTAuffER.

By FRANK II. STAUFfER.
Briee Rutherford stood at the viii
stone gateway of pretty old Englss
homestead. Tie bright moonlight
was cleaning upon the trees, the
shrubbery and the fountain. and upon
the massive buildings with thea
lowers, balconies and quaint archi-
tectural conceits. 1t was such !
picturesque view that the young Am.
erican tourist gazed upon il with ran
ture.
The stiffness was broken by Il /
dipping of an oar near by, and he wai
made aware of the fact that close ID
the left of him brook flowed through
the shrubbery into the river behind
him. He turned his face thithcrward,
and waited.
Presently boat shot out into tia
river, and he saw that The occuparl
was young girl with a plant figure,
a bright face, and exquisite grace ii
her movements.
He was as plainly defined. in ti
moonlight as she was, but she did ne
happen to glance toward the terracs
She was in such a happy mood that 81
gave voice to ii in song:
|Was there ever maid more fair,
Or truer lover,
Seen beneath the moonlight rare
On the Downs of Doyer2
The Downs, the Downs,
On the Downs of Doverl''
A second verse followed, and til,
young man stood spellbound n
had he hazard s-'ssaiz
ible, SO distinctly articulate. The
melody was fresh, pleasing, ,viyacious.
She disappeared beyond the trees
which lined the river, her voice dying
pleasantly away.
He had just turned to depart, when
several wild, piercing shrieks came to
his ears, and he knew that the fail
singer had met with some disaster.
He ran swiftly along the path which
skirted the shore, reached an opening
among the trees, and saw her strug.
Cling in the water, the overturned
boat drifting away from her. He
plunged into the river aud rescued
her, carrying her along the path to the
terrace.
She was able to stand upon the lat.
ter, and had entirely regained her
consciousness. She cast rnefu
glance at her wet aud draggled attire,
and then lifted her handsome eyes 10
the face Of the Young man who had SC
gallantly rescued her.
''Sir, | am extremely grateful tC
you," she said, sweet tremor in lel
voice.
Her screams had been heard at the
house, and her father and male do.
mestic came hurryiug to the spot. The
former was burly man, crisp OF
speech and stolid in his manner.
The daughter told him of the mis-.
hap and rescue, lie bestowed sharl
glance OH Brice Rutherford, and said
''send me your address aud III
compensate yon."
The naughty tone and the anap'
preciative glance angered the young
American.
"You don't owe lnc anything he
coldly said, as he turned upon his
heel.
"Sir, repeat it'll am extremely
grateful!' cried the young girl, will
a fervent glance and an inpulsivt
grasp of the hand.
Her father walkei with her up th,
terrace, the footmaN followed at their
heels.
The fair English lady had lie Fl some
thing in Brice Rutherford's 8 hand when
she pressed it. 1t was valuable
solitaire, very unique in its setting.
"Humph!" he CALCULATED, as he
strobe toward the highway which led
to the adjoining village.
Six years later found him at one OF
the celebrated watering places in this
country.
A handsome, intelligent, vivasious
young English heiress was attrae inc
the attention of the beaux, and h,
soon became as worshipful as the rec
of them.
He fell violently in love with her
He proposed to her in an inpetuou.
way, but, much to his chagrin, ht
was rejected
His pride was deeply hurt, aud ye
no hardly felt like blaming her. Sh,
was no fiirt; he had simply miscalcu
lated the extent of her preference fol
him.
A few evenings later as he strollet
to and fro on the veranda, he glance,
in at the open window and saw he
seated at piano, with several young
men nv her side