Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-07-09
HASTY WORDS.
OR, A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.


Jack Melrose, frank faced, hazel
eyed fellow of "a, was already attired for
The business trip which occasioned the
unusual early meal. He seemed i'll at
ease, and fingered over his eggs and toast
in an unusual manner.
What is the matter, Jack2" asked
Lilias, noticing his preoocupied air.
"Nothing," he replied, starting and
flushing.
You look as guilty as if you were con-
tomplating murder or matrimony."
Jack laughed nervously.
perhaps am, he said.
Murder will out!" laughed Lillias.
"You are going to marry. Who is she2"
The young man blushed like a 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
ling 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"
mo, dear-but oh. do wish you had
chosen somo one else! Viva Gray is not
"A woman to make any man happy"
"Lillias!'
81 can not help speaking the truth.
She is vain and selfish, and if you marry
her you will repent it; she will make
your life miserable"
Jacks face flushed angrily.
Il think that 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. No, Jack, I
would gladly welcome her as your wife
if she were a woman whom l could
trust"
"Lilias. remember that you are speak
ing of my promised wife" exclaimed
Jack, pushing his chair back from the
table. Console yourself with the thought
that if you don't like her you need not
live with her."
But you will, retorted Lillias hotly.
And / would rather see you dead than
welded to that selfish doll"
Il will endure this no longer!" 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 faithful do.
mestic Iillias had kept house; while
Jack, with the aid of Uncle Peter, Aunt
Marthas husband, managed the farm.
About six months before our story
opens their mothers only brother died
and left them his entire fortune, some
$4,000 Since then cloud had dawned
on tho horizon; Viva Gray, spoiled.
selfish beauty, made decided ovsrtures
to Jack. much to LilliaS's dismay for
she knew il was their uncle's money
shat called forth the bewitching smile
and aliurng manner which had made
Il captive of her brother.
Lilliass momentary flash of anger was
soon washed away with tears, and then
she would have given much could she
nave recalled her hasty words.
II will say no more" she thought.
at only 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 for
hours, hurst with the widest fury.
The trees swayed and snapped in tho
wind. while the rain fell in torrents.
This is the hardest rain I have seen
for many y day." said Uncle Peter as he
came into the kitchen, where the two
women were huddled together, awed by
the fury Of the storm.
us the creek rsing?" asked Lillias, as
hs shook the water from his dripping
garments.
Not much yet, replied the old man.
But it will if it keeps on raining this
way. Is Mr.. Jack a-coming home to.
aight7"
Ieinlended to. replied Lillias. "But
l hope he will stop over until morning. I"
80 do L; that old bridge over the
ticeh 10 nOl IIlS bdlcSt III uIy "odlucli 1
let alone an evening like this"
Half an hour later the rush and roar
of water told the listeners that the creeb
was rapidly rising out of its banks.
The shades Of night gathered rapidly
the rain still fell in binding sheets.
Lillias shuddered as she listened to tho
angry boom of the creek; but she hoped
that Jack would not attempt to return ir'
tie rain.
When Uncle Peter came in from at
tending to the stock, he said:
81 hope Mr.. Jack will stop over soms
place. for the creek is just ADJOINING; F.;
aud it is getting as dark as a dungeon
outside.
Lllias echoed the wish: she could not
shake off feeling of anxiety. She sat
by her window before retiring, and list
ened to the patter Of the rain and the
rear of the raging creek until she could
bear it no longer. Then she threw her.
self on her bed without undressing, and
soon fell into an uneasy slumber.
She awoke with start, and with a
wildly throbbing heart sprang from her
bed. How long she had been asleep she