Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-07-01

q hint OF sarcasm in her tone, ii did
MT think of that; | wonder did moi
think of itl"
The conversation soon turned upon
the expected journey, aud the escaped
patient was not mentioned again until
MIR. and Mrs. Chaplin were leaving
home the next morning.
"You arc no, afraid to stay alone,
are you, Ma,?" asked Mrs. Chapin.
Il an not alone," replied May.
"Bridgct is in the kitchen, aud there
are ncighbors almost within call BE.
sides, what could hoppcn1"
"Tho patient from the asylum might
call" replied Mrs. Chapin.
May Chaplin laughed. al would
much rather sec him than Harry Bris-
ton she said.
"What did say that for?n she said
half aloud as she watched them drive
away. al am afraid of that man
aud do not want to see Harry Bris-
ton. but can't stay here like a piece
of goods in shop window. and
Frank ought to know IT,"
L1er Bridget came with a pitiful
story. Her IN hher was sick, could
she 90 to her for one hcu !? And in
the kindness of her heart Miss Chaplin
hurried away and babe her stay until
night. Then as the gate banged be-
hind Bridgets substantial figure, and
Miss Chapin realized that she was
really alone, she locked every door in
the house.
But as the hours dragged by and
nothing occurred, she grew weary of
the stiffness of the house. and unlock
ing Eslo door, stepped into tho gar
den. She was bonding over rose
bush when the click of tho gate
aroused hcr; she looked up and grew
palo.
A young man of twenty-flvc, or
lhcreabou $, was approaching Even
in her sudden alarm Miss Chaplin fel
a thrill of pity for the intruder.
1t was too sad that ono SO young
and handsome should be insane; for
she had no doubt the man before !
was the escaped lunaiic, the man thai
had kept her in fear all day. A gem
temau evidcntly,and the advertisement
had described him we'll. But when
his dark eyes met her own she could
scarcely believe that the light of reason
had lcd. Magnetic eyes tAsx wore
tha,filrsy her tho1s.., ,,to ~, gs Dv-
fore their owner had uttered a SEN
tcnce.
I-l-have been expecting you all
day" she faltcrcd.
A look of surprise came into the
gcntlcman's face.
May noticed the change in his cx-
preston.
"Oh, dear" she thought, "perhnps
| ought not to have said that, | am
afraid he doesn't like it, must say
something clsc." She hesitated and
coughcd.
"Of course, I'm glad to SEQ you,"
she began. "Frank, my brother, was
telling me all about y,u this morning.
How handsome and nice you were.
and all that. you know" she added
hastily, fearing that he might. with
the cunning of the insane, guess the
purport of her brothers c)mmunica-
ton.
The gentleman stool gravoly re-
garling her; he did not look danger
ous, and the great wave of pity that
swept over the girls heart sent the
tears to her heart. If she could but
secure him in some way--not for the
reward, no such unworthy motive
moved her, but to save him from aim
less, helpless wandering, perhaps
from death, and to restore him to his
friends. She looked about helplessly;
her eyes fell upon a jar of preserved
fruit placed in the open vii dow of
the pantry to cool. A bright thought
came to her just as the gentleman
spoke:
81 am Harry"
"Yes, yes, know!" she inter-
rupicd, al knew you were coming.
i was going to carry these preserves
down cellar" She dragged the jar
from tho window ledge as she spoke.
"They are SO heavy! won't you please
carry them for mel That is, You
know, if you would just as lief" she
added hastily,
Tic gentleman slcl ped forward and
took The jar
"Cortninly," he replied courtcously,
his grave eyes regarding her. (which
way, plcasc?'
"Down !hesc steps if you will be
so kind, please; my brother had an
outside cellar door put in under thi,
side porch. A fortunate thing, and
very convenient"
al shouldn't think such steep stairs
very convenient" said the gentleman.
"Oh! dear, no, You arc right. They
are not convenient" replied Miss
Chaplin quickly. "Would you please
put tho jar in cupboard you will
find down there? You don't mind
tho dark, do you? you are not afraid
of it? mcnn," she explained con-
fuscdiy, "you can see in the dark,
can't you?'
The gentleman, half way down the
narrow stairs, paused and seemed