The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-03-03
EClL4 COUNTY. Md, FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1893. NO. rs

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and hat. Pm glad you came-glad to
see you! Stay to lunch, won't you?
Have this foot rest. Constance is home
upstairs, he said. in breath. just
wait, he added, eagerly. III go and
get her.
But he came back sulkily.
She went out with Kate, it seems"
he explained in an injured manner. Il
didn't know it. They're always gad-
ding about. Have some maraschino or
something's
Cordial at this hour of the dav?"
Tom protested looking the soul of re.
assuring good nature aud hetraying no
excitement at the fact of Constance's
absence.
He even took up newspaper.
HE doesn't care," George mused,
gloomily. Ma, be he isn't in love with
her after all. "
After he sat and eyed his stalwart
friend. and thought what good hus.
band he would have made for Constance,
and how blind and contrary and exas-
perating they all we're, and how help.
less he himself was to arrange matters
as they ought to be arranged, he fell
into unhappy silence.
HAS tle cashier of the Freesborough
bank rea.-y gone off with the funds ?"
said Tom, with his handsome nose in
the paper. There's rumor to that ef-
feet. Stewards his name. He's rich
enough, anyhow. He ought to be-"
The bell rang again It was Mrs.
parfitt, looking pretty and pink
checked after the fresh air and as blithe
Us though going to the Carpenters re-
ception in her old beaded wrap were
not going to be borrid necessity.
"On, you, Tom?" she cried, cordially.
II ain so glad! Poor George is SO
wretched with that cold, and you can
cheer him up p
Il don't need cheering up," said
George. huddling his shawl closer.
Where is Constance p
"Conny?' said Mrs. Parftt, brightly.
"Oh, we met Hugh Dudley in his cart
and he took Conny along with him.
What stylish turnout he has r.
Mrs. Parfitt unpinned her bonnet.
He did, did he ?"
Her husband twitched in his chair so
violently that his elbow knocked the
ginger tea cup to the floor. Tom picked
it up.
Il wonder if that scamp has taken
the money-if it will burst the bank 2"
he said. "Its shame T.
What bank q Mrs. Parftt ques-
toned.
An animated discussion ensued. Mrs.
Parfitt knew the defaulting cashiers
daughter Tom Danforth had known
his brother. George, who knew more
about him than either of them, con.
tributed nothing to the conversation.
He leaned back and shut his eyes. He
confessed to himself that he was en-
tirely out of temper. but he had-cer-
tainly he had-ample cause for being
so-ample distracting cause. He even
began to think about going up stairs to
bed as temporary escape from his
affections.
And I'm sorry enough for Sally
Stewart. There's Connyl'' said Mrs.
Parftt. Said she shouldn't be gone
long"
Constance came sweeping in. Her
,tylish long dress trailed after her with
fine effect. Her light coat was open
aud showed the white silk vest of her
'lress. Her little hat set back prettilv
IN her fair hair, which was blown into
many straying tendrils. George thought
with mental groan that she had never
looked so lovely.
"Oh, Tom, you ?" Constance cried,
quite as Mrs. Parfitt had done.
And then, not at all as Mrs. Parftt
1ad done, she gave him both her hands
and-it was no hallucination, it was q
fact--let him kiss her. She turned
upon her cousin with her blue eyes
sweetly dewy.
DO you like it. George p she said.
"Are you glad 2 know you like
Tom. Aren't you pleased? ? We'd have
told you before, but we've only been
engaged week, and nobody but Kate
has known it so far"
"And thought I wouldn't blurt it
out. said Tom, standing flushed and
beaming. II thought I'd let Conny
ell you, you know"
"Are you two engaged ?" George
roar d. He sought vainly to get his
wife's eye. Then how about Hugh
Dudley p
Mr.. Dudley p said Constance
vaguely. "Oh. Georgsl you haven't
thought that Hugh Dudley wanted me
or l him? Why, it's oil about Glace
Quinby. They were engaged, you
snow, and then they had some ridicu-
,ous trouble or other, and Grace aud
have been so chummy ever since I've
oeen here that Mr.. Dudley eame tight
20 me with it. He's been here two or
three times to tell me things to tell
her, ami I've told her all of them. for
Grace was foolish and hasty, and it
really wasn't Mr.. Dulley's fault at all,
and I've been ANXIOUS for them to
make it up. And now they have. He
came this morning to get me to go
there with him, and he met me on the
street and we went And Grace began
to cry when she saw him, and came
away and"
Constance was sympathetically tear
full.
We'll never quarrel, will We, Tom,"
she demanded, tanderly-
..Kater" cried Mr.. Parftt, sternly.
But his wife, laughing until her
cheeks were red, slipped her hand
through his arm,