Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-01-30
HASTY WORDS.
OR, A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.

The inmates of the Melrose farmhouse,
which consisted of brother and sister,
we're seated at an early breakfast.
Jack Melrose, a frank faced, hazel
eyed fellow Of "a, was already attired for
the business trip which occasioned the
unusual early meal. He seemed i'll st
sase, and fingered over his eggs and toast
"a an unusual manner.
What is the matter, Jackl" asked
Lillias. noticing his preoccupied air.
Nothing" he replied, starting and
Gushing.
You look as guilty as If you were con-
templating murder OF matrmony"
Jack laughed nervously.
Perhaps i am, he said.
Murder will osti" laughed Lillias
You are going to marry Who is shey"
The young man blushed like . school.
boy, as he answered:
viva Gray promised last night that
she would take me for better or worse.
"Oh, Jackl" cried Lillias.
That was all; but there was such a
ring OF pain in the tone that her brother
looked hastily up from his plate and
asked:
"Lillias, you don't object to my mar.
rying, do your"
No, dear-but oh, / do wish you had
chosen some one elsel Viva Gray is not
a woman to make any man happy.
"Lillas!"
II can not help speaking the truth
She is vain aud selfish, and il you marry
ner you will repent it; she will make
your life miserable
Jacks face flushed angrily.
:" / think that l am the best judge Of
my own affairs. Strange that you never
found fault with her before.
Because her character did not then
concern me, she replied. mo, Jack, /
would gladly welcome her as your wife
If she were a woman whom l could
trust"
"Lillias, remember that you are speak.
ing Of my promised wife y exclaimed
Jack, pushing his chair back from the
table. Console yourself with the thought
that il you don't like her you need not
live with her. "
" But you will, retortej Lillias hotlv.
And | would rather see you dead t,..l
welded to that selfish doll.
e will endure THIS no IoBger.' And
Jack left the room, banging the door
behind him; the next moment Lillias
heard him galloping away.
She dropped her head on the table and
burst into tears. For the first time in
their lives the brother and sister had
parted in anger.
Since the death Of their parents, which
had occurred five years before, the brother
and sister had been all in all to each
other. With the help Of a faithful do
mestic Lillias had kept house; while
Jack, with the aid Of Uncle Peter, Aunt
Martha's husband, managed the farm.
About six months before our story
opens their mothers only brother died
and left them his entire fortune, some
$50, ,0OO Since then cloud had dawnsd
on the horizon; Viva Gray, a spoiled,
selfish beauty, made decided overtures
70 Jack, much to Lillias's dismay; for
she knew it was their uncle's money
that called forth the bewitching smile
and alluring manner which had made
captive Of her brother.
Lillias's momentary fash OF anger was
soon washed away with tears, and then
she would have given much could she
have recalled her hasty words.
II will say no MORE" she thought.
at eniy makes Jack angry, and he will
find it all out for himself soon enough,
poor fellow!"
But she carried heavy heart all day.
About 4 o'clock in the afternoon the
storm, which had been threatening fol
hours, burst with the widest fury.
The trees swayed and snapped in the
wind. while the rain fell in torrents.
This is the hardest rain / have seeE
for many day, said Uncle Peter as he
came into the kitchen, where the two
women were huddIed together, awed by
the fury Of the storm.
aIs the creek risingi" asked Lillias, as
he shook the water from his dripping
garments.
"Not much yet, replied the old man
@But 1t will if il keeps on raining this
way. Il Mr. Jack a-coming home to
nightS"
He intended to. replied Lillias Bui
hope he will stop over until morning.
so do /: that old bridge over the
creek is not the safest in dry weather.
let alone an evening like this.
Half an hour later the rush and roar
Of water told the listeners that the creek
was rapidly rising out OF its banks.
The shades OF night gathered rapidly !:
the rain still fell in binding sheets.
LiIlias shuddsred as she listened to the
apgry boom OF the creek; but she hoped
that Jack would not attempt TO return il
the rain.