Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-02-03
HOW THE ICE BROKE.
By EMMA A. oPPER.

They'll never get acquainted, said
Mrs. Woodward-"never!n
"Who-Cal and Lncy?n Mr.. Wood
ward queried, absently, busy with his
management of the colt.
They were going to Town on neces-
sary business, and Lucy Donner, Mr..
Woodwards pretty niece, and Calvin
Pierce, Mrs. Woodward's cousin, who
were simultaneously visiting them
Lucy and Calvin left at home.
"Of course!" replied Mrs. Wood
ward, who was ambitious and ener-
getic and mothcrly all together.
"They will never get acquainted. Cal
is so dignified and quiet, and-and all
that; and Lucy is so slly-so very
sweet, but so shyl They've been hcie
weed today, but"
"You're aching to hatch up ro-
nance" said her husband with an un-
sympathetic snort of laughter. "Let
EN- alone. Can't a girl and fellow
come near each other Without
"Joe, said Mrs Woodward, with
tears in her kind eyes, "Cal is such a
splendid fellow, and so rich, and Lucy
is dear girl and poor school
teacherI"
Her voice broke.
"If they could only break the ice
once!" she said, despairingiy.
Mr. Woodwork raised his brows and
gave tho colt cut Mr.. Woodward
was not a match maker.
Lucy was kneeling by the window
in her room. Her hands dangled oul
of it. Her deeply blue eyes had
bright light in iliem. and her sweet
face was healthily flushed. One week
of new milk and fresh eggs had done
wonders for her.
How green and shady and delight
full was the yard below How pictur-
esquc were the barn, with its wide
open doors, and The red beehives, aud
the well-house, and the grape arborl
1t was Il little lonesome though
Lucy was accustomed 10 flat, and the
fact that the nearest house was quar-
ter of mile away sometimes startled
her. Uncle Joe and Aunt Kate were
away this afternoon, too; they had
just gone.
Where was Mr.. Pierccg Lucy could
not see him anywhere. Had he gone
of, too? Oh, dearl She knew he
had. And the hired man was away
of in the ''north lott
Visions of tramps and other for
midablc objects rose before Lucv's
startled eyes. She was trembling a
little. She rose and went fluttcrine
down stairs.
Mr.. Pierce was not in the parlor
She called him timidly, without result
Then she stepped to the porch
'Alr. Pierce.a she repeated.
lie certainly was gone. Sho went
down the walk aud through the east
yard and the leafy back yard, repeat
ing her frightened call with tremulous
frequency.
"What made him go of - she re.
nccted Indignantly. "'He knew Id
be mere all alone. He's perfectly"
Horrid tremblcd on her tongue, but
her tongue refused to utter it, A tall,
masculine figure was coming up the
road-a figure with bundle OH its
back.
A iramp-a tramp, of course! What
else? Lucy sprang toward the front
door. A shrub impeded her, aud she
almost tripped on a root. She sped
on, out of breath, and with her soft
hair fallen loose, and brought up with
sudden violence under the taIlest elm
tree in the east yard.
Mr.. Pierce sat there serenely slniI-
ing, with book face down on his
knee.
"Did YOU hear me call?H Lucy
gaspcd,
Mr.. Pierce's smile broadencd.
'1'm afraid So he murmurcd,
with an irresistibly drolly-apologctic
gaze.
"You did it purposely!" said Lucy,
reproachful and incredulous.
Mr.. Pierce looked the comical EN-.
bodiment of humiliation and rcmorsc.