Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-01-27

Tue ground ana lett Tor removal. Ill
had forgotten all about it, and hence a
serious loss of time right in the busy
season.
Il took several days to obtain repairs,
anu IN the meantime the rain came OF
apace, dwelling the wheat to the ground
and causing great damage. Luke be
came gloomy, and Sarah could not helT
speaking regretfuIly Of the loss her hus
bands forgetfulness had incurred.
Everything was propltious Tor
quarrel and the quarrel came. Mutu1
recriminations became frequent and
seldom aid a day pass without unlovablt
scenes between the two Marpods. Tht
neighbors began to make comments
Gossips took occasion to condole with
Mrs. Marpod respecting the unreason.
ableness of her spouse, and, seeing her
take their sympathy kindly, grew bold
enough to betray all the rash thing,
LuAe had been guilty of prior to his
marriage, acts which ought to have been
buried long before in the graveyard OF
oblivion, so extremely remote was their
connection with the present.
Poor Mrs. Marpod! She took them
to heart and at tne next opportunity
hurled them at the head of the aston
ished Luke. He owned up to every
thing, NOT even trying to soften his
wite's too serious Interpretation of his
escapades, as he might easily have done,
D for tho sinf,,tposo x,.oo ,,,o-o ar.o;ret 49,,
yentionaIism than morals. He was in
no mood to extenuate, and declared
coldly that he didn't "care cent about
ith and that he "would do the same
thing over again for all of meddling
neighbors aud ill-natured wife," Life
gradually lost it charms for the Marpod..
Through perpetual clouds and storus
they pursued their gloomy path way to
the grave.
Sarah had begun to think seriously of
preferring charges against Luke for
cruelty and praying for divorce, waen
an event happeued that Temporarily dis
missed the idea from her mind and made
Luke more solicitous and tender. A lit
tie girl was born to them, aud because
it was in the spring time of the year ley
named her Flora. She came like ray
of sunshine to brighten the hearts of the
parents and show them their dependence.
on each other for happiness, but by the
time Flora was able to toddle around by
herself and lisp the names of papa and
nam ma the parents hal resumed their
old fault in1ing habits, ard having once
resumed them they were not long in re-
gaining their former facility in the use ol
sarc .sm and taunts.
/ Luxe in the first place found fault
with the mothers method of nursing and
: declared it a miracle If Flora did mo-
prove weak, sickly child. He was sure
that so much fussing would ensender ,
frail constitution, yet as she grew older
she seemed as strong and robust as a
child ever is that breathes pure, country
air.
On the other hand, Mrs. Marpod de
clared that Lule's example was enough
to contaminate the family, and that seed
sown in SO young mind would som,
day bring sorrow upon their heads.
"Mercy on me, mani" she woult
shout, "don't touch that child with
those dirty hands of yours. If you dom
know how to be civilized, you had bet
ter not try to bring up children"
One day, after a quarrel had beer
brewing between the parents for some
time, they came to an understan ling that
something mus be done at once. They
seemed tacitly to agree that the time had
come for them to separate forever. Dis
passionately they sat down to discuss
terms, and to an outside party all evi
deuee of ill-temper had passed away.
There was no question as to the di-
vision of property. Luke was willing t.
do more than Sarah wished, but regard
ing little Flora both were keenly sensi
tive. After discussing the matter TO
some time they agreed to hitcl up tn,
team and drive to town to sec Lawyer
Hobbies.
Not wishing to go before a court, they
decided that Mr.. Hobbies should draw
up all necessary papers and arbitrate as
to the possession OF the child. BY this
decision they were willing to abide So
with Flora on the seat between them
they drove to town.
In sad and faltering accents they tolc
Mr.. Hobbies how matters stood. Mr.
Hobbies, benignant gentleman, witt
long, white locks that had never beer
put to shame by single meau act In al
his life, and who's heart was as tender as
childs, tried to demonstrate, but both
Luke and Sarah were sure that the old
life would be revived and that it would
be better to separate kindly; and in this
they stood firm; so Mr.. Hobbies, muct
troubled, entered upon the business
Little Flora listened with open eve
wonder throu 3hout the discussion.
AT last she seemed to comprehend, and
the tears coming to her eyes, she toddled
to her father, and grasping his coat in
her tiny hands, lIsped plaintively: q
want to stay wiv 90, papa" aud then
turning, she rau, and burying her face
in her mothers lap she sobbed out. Il
luv 90 and want to stay wiv 90"
Mrs. Msrpod's eyes svam with tears,
Luke's lips worked conyulsively, and
Lawyer Hobbies brushed something from
his eyes.
Raising her head, she laid her face
against her mothers clee1 and m ir-
INJURED: 81 luv oof boz, want to liv wiv
90 bof.
The long silence that followed was
broken suddenly by Lawyer Hobbies
"rhe little girl is rightl' he cried, EN-
phatically. ''Sae ought to live with
both. Luke, confou I'd your pate, YOU We
got IA good wife to be proud of; and you,
Mrs. Marpod, have a husband to be
proud of aud by gosh," cried Mr..
Hobbies, becoming red in the face aud
striking the desk heavy blow with his
fist, "I'll have nothing more to do with
it. l tied the knot when 1 was magis-
trate, and it looks as though you had
lost confidence in me"
Flora ran to aim, and smiling eagerly
through her tears, cried out: ayes, yes;
| want 'em bof."
That settled it, for Like rose to hi
feet, and taking Sarah's hand in his muir
INJURED: ''Pll low that its been all IN,
fault, and if you'll forgive me I'll neve
| oct mad again