Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-06-10

= WV thV h'uls HuONc hti Hcou.
"Dnt am not 'all crcaiion,'" said
air. Vaudeville. "And | will en-
dcayor not to tramp any more than
can help"
alt isn't worth while for you TO
TO come in," Grid Natiy, solemnly re-
gar'ling him. "You won't like tho
house, anyhow
And why noi?' he questioned.
ats moldy," said Natty, sinking
her voice TO a confidential whisper,
"and damp. Aud the ceiling in the
blac-room has fallen, aud the paper
in tho dining room is all mil-dew.
Aud the neighbors say there's a
ghost, but | never saw it,"
"Ahl' said Mr.. Vaudeville. al
thought W. should como TO it at last.
A ghost, eh?'
"Ycs," nodded Nctty. "Down eel.
lar where the bodies of some Revou-
tiOnary soldiers were buried long be-
fore any ono ever thought of binding
house here. They walk there at
night and clank their swords. AT least
German Gretchen, who lived with us
once, used to say so. never heard
any noise but the ras. Bu: all the
same, it isn't comfortable to have
people SAYING that there's ghost in
The house"
"Nc; certainly not" acquicsccd
Mr, Mandcvi lc,
"Bcsidcs," added Nclty, rhc house
Belongs 10 a crab.
"A-what?" cried Vaudeville.
! "A crab," said Natty. "rhc land
lord, you know. He's cousin of
mamma's-nobody knows how many
times removed. But | know lie must
be horribly selfish and miscrly. And
: rather like the idea Of keeping pos
session of the old Morand Mansion, In
spite OF him dare say he's dancing
around tie Il lor Of his money vaults
now with rage about II. But we had
as much right to our half of thi old
property as he had, no matter hat
he law said. And We arc hcggars al-
most, and he is a rich man.
"Law," sail Mr.. Vaudeville, dryly,
f'bgt not equity. That's it, chS'
i've got possession Of the old
Tnass ali - Know" said the
'yoens Outlaw. "And VIC mean 10
keep it,"
"Bu. perhaps said Vaudeville,
''hc may not be as bad as you think"
"Oa, I'm quite sure of it," said
Natty. dccisivciy.
81 suppose" said Vaudeville, look
ing kcculy at her, "that you are
Natalie?'
She started.
elbow did YOU know?"
"Bccausc,' he answered solemnly,
81 am-lhe crab!'
"Whatp
al am William Mandevillc," smil-
ing rogushly. "Op II The door, Witty,
and let me in. want TO sec your
mother. Don't be frightened, child.
am not angry with YOU"
Natalie redeemed Indignantly.
"Frightrncd!' .he repeated. ~
never was frightened i'll my life.
Least Of all at you. Aud--don't you
think you really are crab, Mr.. Will
lam Mardeville?'
at is very likely" said he, with
great calmnesS, "that may have ap-
p,ared like a shclltish of that nature.
But | assure You ii has been quite uu-
intentional. have trusted too much
to my agent. lie told me YOU were
dcsirous 10 leave the housc!'
"Then," said Natalie, encrgclically,
.llc told wicked. wicked story.
Why should we leave it? We had
nowhere else TO go.'
lie turned around and held ont his
hand.
"There has been misunderstand-
ing all around," said he. "Natly,
shall we be rricl,l,?'
"With all my heart. l DON'T be-
lieve you can possibly be crab, after
all, and rvc been doing you injustice
all these years. And I'm sorry for
i:-so lhcrcW
So Natiy took him into the shabby
little boudoir, hung with velvet paper
in imitation of Venetian tapestry and
all sireakcd with blue mold, where
her mother sat covering over lire of
which Natty had gathered
for her along the river shore. For
they we're so poor, SO very poor, this
mother and her daughter, that even
the fire by which they warme.l them
selves was matter of grave consider
alton and contrivanco.
Mrs. Yanc was pale and pretty as
she sat there in the old silk which was
one tissue of mcnds and darns, but
she rose with tie air of a genuine
lady to shake hlnds with her distant
cousin.
"Mrs. Vane," said tlie young law
yer, with a smile, after he had cx-
planned TO her the strange manner in
which he and Natty had become
friends, after such strange passage
of verbal arms, "Natalic has shown
Inc myself in quite new light, 1t is
a peculiar sensation to see ourselves as
others see us. VIII you allow me in
some measure 10 right myself in your