Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-12-09


amount to much of anything. Pretty
enough, if any one fancies her red hair
and eyes that have n yellow CLINT in
them like tigers, but that never was
my style of beauty. Give me girl
that has something more substantial
than mere good looks to fall back on if
the time should ever come when it is
necessary, instead of girl who has
nothing more than some mouldy classic
on tho end of her tongue, or some fritz
terry fancy work in her fingers !"
"La, sakes, brother" feebly expostu-
lated Mrs. Hunt, "you look as if it were
really going to be know Bessie is
fond of her books and pretty feminine
fancies, but don't blame the girl |
used to like EN- when | was her age =
But know she ain't any more like Jes-
sica or Minerva than they are like her, u
Abram Alvey was too deeply en-.
crossed 10 bis subject to heed the quiet
sarcasm in the last portion of her re,
Spouse.
fright, Emily" he retortod quickly
"no more she amt Jess or Min could
take hold and do for themselves if they
should ever have to, but Bessie there
laughp
Nobody saw the slender shadow Hi
across the window near which Abram
Alvey sat, neither did they hear the
footsteps which approached the open
door, then stole quickly and quietly away
A tall, slender girl, with wavy passes
of red-brown hair clustering around a
sweet, serious face, out Of which shonc
the wide brown eyes which bad in them
the yellow CLINT" to which Abram Al
vey objected.
Unwittingly Bessie Hunt had over
heard the whole of their conversation
which alluded to her. She had book
in her hand, and as she turned away
there was just suspicion of tears on the
long silken fringe of lashes around the
brown eyes, a tremor in the curved SEN
sitive lips
81 wonder" she murmured, AZ she
went swiftly down the grass-grown path
to her favorite haunt under clump OF
graceful. silvery larches, "if am 30
very useless Uncle Alvey certainly
thinks so but" with a sigh, 81 never
had the strength to do all that Jessie
and Minnie might | only wish had
though"
Poor child, she did not know, as she
uttered this vain wish, that it was liter
ally like grating the fair, frail orchid
blossom on the strong, hardy Northern
rose The harsh remarks that she had
overheard ranked deeply in her heart
just now.
But "truth is stranger than fiction y
Sunny skies and fair promises surround
ed Myrtle Farm and its inhabitants at
present There was no fear Of casualties
10 the heart of honest John Hunt, for
as be said. he'd "laid by n considerable
pile to use on a rainy day." if the time
ever came But they had no fear Of its
coming, not they!
But, alas for the constituencies Of hui
mainly! Down 10 the progressive town
near the outskirts Of which stood Myrtle
Farm, once week John Hunt carried
q goodly load Of farm produce; there hc
heard conversation which set him Il
thinking. Men talked of making a life.
time fortune in some bold speculation
Of getting "corners" in grain, buying
Glow" then selling "higb," aud, al
though he did not understand as clearl
az be ought, he would ponder these
things as he joltcd homeward over thu
rough country roads, and the more h'
thought the more fascinated and tempted
he became.
At last, one bright morning he start
ed for the market as usual, but beneatl
his coat, securely wadded into snuI
roll in his vest pocket, was a large rol
Of bills.
lie was going to try bis luck.
would be such fine thing for the bomc
folks, he argued to himself, il he hap
pencd 10 come out ahead. No though
Of the other possibility seemed TO trOubl
him.
lie seemed unusually restless for thu
next few days after his return. lie wa
singularly anxious to read the dali
papers.
IA body'd think you'd boon spocu
latin, john" observed Mrs Hunt, on
day as she repeated some remarks a thir
time before he heard her
A queer look settled over his face BIT
he made no response
But all at once he uttered stlaed OK
clamation and started 10 his feet; b
face had grown unuS ually pale and Il
hand which grasped his hat trembl'
With nervous agitation.