Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-03-10
FAIRY'S SECRET.

| IA llIp 10 tle eIOWstOncI OIL
are too good to me, papa"
took her in my arms, my own
child, from whose check the rose had
faded, and in whose deep-brown eyes
sad shadows had grown.
She was of nature peculiar 10
those whose childhood days have been
spent with elderly people. She felt
deeply. Events that merely ruffied
lighter natures left lasting effects upon
her. had watched her tenderly since
her mother had put her in my arms,
and lef me alone. When she grew
listless and the sweet eyes drooped,
laid aside all cares and took her
away.
She looked so like her mother the
day we took the train at Chicago. Her
brown dress, just matching her eyes,
lent deeper shade TO her chestnut
hair. As we ncared city in Nortll-
I<tt-
1t is a city built on seven hills"
"Galena!' shouted the brakeman.
"What climbers the people must be
here" she continued, looking at some
of the long rows of stairs ascending
the steep hills.
The city seemed TO be laid out in
Ter "es. We stood at the foot of
Main Street and looked up at two of
these terraces, with trees of an inn
,nse height apparently on each.
! settled myself comfortably and
prepared to 60 TO sleep. Fairy read a
while, but soon drew a locket from
her dress. She touched the spring,
and the sad look came again 10 her
sweet eyes. had tried TO learn her
secret. Was she signing for a moth
er's love ? Perhaps l had better get
married, | thought. resolved to
give the matter serious thought al
some future time. Unknown TO |
Fairy, / resolved to stop over at
Cheyenne, whore she was born, and
Ella, my wife, was called away.
Capt. Sorry had often asked me 10
visit the old fort. Ii would be like
old times to see the boys again.
"Do You remember Capt. Storey,
Fairy?' ] asked her. ale is an old
fellow like me, but n nobler soul
never inhabited human body
] did not think that Fairy heard.
She turned her head quickly and
caught her breath. "You wish to
stop and see him, papa?" she asked
sweetly.
"H0w well remember the morning
he came two years ago-you were
nineteen He asked for you as if you
were two-year-old. We saw you
kneeling over flower bed, your white
dress aud flowing hair making a pretty
picture. Do you remember told you
to come and kiss papa's friend? How
Hal went to kiss you and you drew
back so proudly. He rated me sound
ly for not telling him you were lady
grown. Why, Fairy, it seems but
yesterday that you played upon our
knees at the old fort. You were such
good friends after that. Why, Hal
was like second father" And SO |
ratified on, lost in old memories.
Hal had stayed at our house for six
months and had left suddenly, l
thought. He smiled strangely, l
thought, when l, with a fathers I
alteration, was charging upon Fairy's /
charms.
While | had been dreaming, we
had passed over the great pains, with
their huge herds of cattle and pretty
Western cities. Cheyenne was reached |
at last. How changed it seemed!
Some of the dear facos were the same.
They grasped my hands, these old |
comrades, and was young again.
/ was surprised when, turning sud-
denly, saw a tall, slender lady put
her arms arond Fairy and Hiss her
sadly. | knew her, Einor, my wlfc's
friend and the widow of our beloved
commander. She, too, was visiting
the fort. At the hop the next evening
it dawned upon me that Fairy was no
longer child, and that she was as