Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-02-12
TOBACCO. MARYLAND. FEBRUARY 12. 1892 )

You must give little companies, too.
Otherwise you'll be left like mean
old ma'd.n
Aud Miss Puppies bright black eyes
sparkled merrily.
''Tll talk to your uncle rbout Il
when he gets home," said she.
"ll won't be of any useIp sighed
Kathleen.
AT noon, however, the depot boy
came plunging through the drifts with
telegram.
Mr.. Dilkes had heard from his
brother in Pennsyl vauia, who had had
some sort Of accident. lie had decid-
ed TO go directly 10 him for few
days.
KATY" said Miss Dorothy Purple,
waving a very prStty pocket handker-
chief above her head, 'this is provi-
dental intcrposition."
"What?" cried Kathleen.
s'We'lI have the Twelfth-Night par
Y now" said Miss Purple. "Write
your invitations at once. Send 'em by
the depot boy. Don't you see there's
no time TO be lost? I'll help you with
the cake and coffee, and | know a
grand recipe for icc-crcam."
"lce creaml" gasped Kathleen.
Why notp said Miss Purple, with
brd-like tip Of her head. "There's
plenty of ice and snow outside. and
plenty of cream in your milk-room.
We can have kisses and notices, too.
know how to make 'om; aud | shall
want lot of spruce aud hemlock
boughs 10 decorate the roomsIp
81 can git 'em for yelp said the de-
pot boy, displaying teeth enough for
an occlot.
Aud as soon as Kathleen had caught
her breath, til, proceedings began in
good earnest.
"What will Uncle Dilkes sayp" cried
Kathleen, as they stood ready on
Twelfth Night, all dressed, with the
supper table spread in the big kitchen,
temporarily transformed into a bower
of cyergreens, and the big parlor de-
nulcd of its carpet and bedecked
with wreaths of princess pine and
clusters of scarlet hollyberries, while
''Dlack Jack Blackman,p with HE fid-
die, and little Billy Nickham, with his
clsgionct, sat waiting for the arrival
of the first guest.
80, don't care what he aaysl' said
~ Nrothy, audaciously. ~ Gu
ont happen to know, do you, child,
hat twenty years ago, before you hal
'pcned those big blue eyes of yours
N the wickodness of this world, lie
sod TO be a beau of minc?"
''A-beau of yours! Uncle Dilkesl
Why didn't he marry you?" ques-
ioned Kathleen.
''Hc didn't quite ask me, Katy.
Iou see, in those days, before my
'lessed father went into Mexican sil-
.cr mine spcculations, | was Miss
'urplc of Purple Hall, and he was a
,oor oung farmer. He didn't like
0 be thought a fortune hunter, l sup
'ose. Well, times have changed.
IN poorer; he is richer; and we are
10Th wiser; only tell the story to
,rove to you that Pm not in amy way
fraid of Harmon Dilkes. There
ONES sleigh full of people,"
The Twelfth-Night party was a
brilliant success. The ice cream was
surprise; the snow-mountain of a
axe developed series of the most
effects; the notices made
70 end of fun, and the dancing held
mt until long after midnight.
:. a9!deHly ~ The midst Of wild
Tirginia reel, the door opened. Mr..
bikes stood there, fur capped and
like Santa Claus in a
ablcau.
Black Jack sawed the fiddle strings
With his bow. Little Dick puffed his
heeks out over the clarionet like one
# Raphae's chcrub'; the dancers
lew by, and only Miss Purple saw the
vision.
She closed the hall door, and met
Santa Claus face to face.
"IIarmon!" she uttered, gently.
"Why-Dorothy Purplep
Exactly" said the little old maid
I've como 10 visit you. Kathleen
las ma le a party in my honor. If
-ou find a word of fault, I'll leave the
Iouse tonight"
IL! Fault! Dorothy" brealhlessly
ried the farmer, "if you were the
queen | couldn't feel more honored.
i Oh, Dorothyw
She laughed little Historically.
"Thcn You haven't quite forgotten
ne?'
"Look here, Dorothy-you amt
ich grandec no longer. amt afraid
o speak my mind to you, as l once