Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-03-11

down her cheeks, and the end Of her
nose grow purple, like an under. ripe
plum.
"Iou an your ma we been awful
good to me, Lilian," whispered she.
81 won't never forget it. know I'm
an awkward country girl, and know
that my clothes amt up to the New
York mark, and don't even pro-
nounce my words like you do; but
but you've treated me just as if wa;
a quecn!"
"DJn't cry, Betsey," soothed Lii.
ian. "Drinll this hot chocolate, and
then lie die OH the sofa and rest.
You're tired ana nervous"
81 don't know about being ner.
yous." snorted Betsey, "but am
tired. | guess you'd be tired a-trlmp-
in mp and down to educational bu-
reaus, and intelligence offices, and
musical headquarters and all that sort
o thing. / dunno why can't have
the luck O. that Madam Sivardi that s
TO sing at your mas reception, and
gets fifty dollars night. It'll take
me long enough know to earn fifty
dollars at the Cockletown silk mills,
For even teaching school at Cockletown
Centre"
Lillian sighed.
"She isn't going to sing at mammals
receptions" said she. "NIrs. Magnus
Marlindale has been tampering with
her. She's going to play us false. At
least that's what mamma and | think. +"
"Liian!"
Betscy Bloom had suddenly straight
cned herself up an1seizoI her cousins
arm.
"Ycs?7
"Why couldn't I sing at your
mothers cvening?o
"You, Betsey"
eyes. wouldn't charge d cent.
Ia only be too glad of the chance. |
don't mean that | could sing Italian
bravuras and that sort of thing; but
know all Tie good old-fashioned
songs; and why wouldn't that please
people just for change? | could
dress up old woman style, you know,
and it would be little different from
the common. And III sing White
Cackadc, and 'Banks of Allan Water,
aud Bonnie Doom and Cruel BAR
bara Allen Grandmother Boom
taught me lots o them old-fashioned
songs"
Lilion's eyes sparklcd. She sprang
TO her feet.
"Betsey," said she, "ifs good
idea! Wen try it. | don't believe
but that it would please mammals
friends more than the Siyardi herself
But don't te i mamma. You shall do
your practicing when she is out and
We'll make it a genuine surprise"
"Pd ruther the artist fellow
shouldn't come" stipulated B.tsey,
rather awkwardly. "IIo always
looks at me SO sort O queer and
amused, as if l wasn't lnore'n than
half ciwfized."
"Do mean you Mr.. Lowric? He's the
best naturcd man in the world"
"Al the same lie makes me as nerv-
Gus a cat"
"Well, perhaps lie won't come. And
now, Botsey, | must hurry back to
mammals guests. But l really think
that idea of yours is a capital one.
Wen think it over, Batscy."
Mrs. kyber was very low spirited
about her evening reception.
dts SO difficult" said she, to
make such an affair different from
everybody else's. do like nv recep-
tions 10 be characteristic. Aud Sivardi
would have been such a card 10 play
1t was perfectly disgraceful of her to
throw me over at the eleventh hour in
that sort of way; and espcc ally after
the invitations had gone out with
'Musiclr in the corners"
"Wcll, mamma, it shall be 'musi-
cal ? treasured Lillian. "M?. Lowrie
will give you an air on the violin, and
I'll play some of my old harp solos"
"That's all nonsenscl"
"Mamma, do you mean to say that
we're not mnsical?" laughed merry
Lillian.
But all her badinage failed TO bring
a smile TO Mrs Kyber's pcrturbcd
countcnance.
The evening came; the guests as
sembled.
Mrs. Martindalc's special friend was
there, dispatched by that lady herself,
to bring back personal and authentic
account of Mrs. Kyber's discontinue
and defeat.
Jack Lowrie, the artist, was there
with his violin.
sIf the field daisy gets frightened
at the eleventh hour" rema ked he,
'In be ready 10 face the emergency.
But she won't be frightened. The
field daisy is too plucky for that"
"Jack," oried Lillian, "why do you
call her the field daisy p
"Bccause she's SO pretty"
.'Betsey Blooml Prctty?'
"Yes. Don't you think sop
"I-neycr did think So" said Lii