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

readily consented.
cannot tell you of that trip over
the Rockies. was inspired, uplifled,
awed. When deep emotions pass
over us We are sometimes left speech
less.
Thus with me, felt my disadvan-
tage; but words failed TO express the
grandeur Of those snow-capped peaks,
as they raised their jutted sides to the
blue sky, The deep canyons where
thousands of feet below flowed the
Colorado-ah, how clearly it showed
us that perseverance will wear away
the hardest obstacle, aye, even ada
mant The Mexican costumes still
cling about Santa Barbara and seem
to instill the air with vague, sweet
novelty. In this quaint city of roses,
so like beloved Italy, l left my darl-
ing in Mrs. Aloe's tender care. while
took trip up the coast. When l
met Hal at Frisco. l tell you, l felt
my iorty-lhree years lightly.
Hal went back 20 Santa Barbara
with me. was telling him how in
the last year Fairy had dropped. She
was 50 dear to me, aud. SO was my
friend, and l could not keep the tears
back. Hal walked down TO the beach
and back again.
'sBcrtie,n he said atslast, 81 am an
old fool, but lost my heart to Fairy,
that summer l spent at your home"
"Why, man, you are old enough to
be her father!" l exclaimed.
al am not yet forty. Bcrtie," he
said. .,Of coursc, know can never
81 ,sA,--....l ss.as ! as far above me asthe
ns'hte, but it IS real and earnest,
Berthe"
| looked at Hal. lie did not look
old. The brown curls were untouched
by times silver pencil. The unlined
face, merry blue eyes and stalwart
figure showed a man in the fulness of
his prime. After Hal had spent a
few days in Santa Barbara, he said to
to me:
"Why don't you marry Mrs. Aloe? |
She is alone; so are you and Fairy.
She needs woman's care; and Mrs
Aloe is such a perfect lady,"
pondered over his words. As
Fairy seemed better, we tarried in
Santa Barbara until nearly five months
had passed. l was walking on the
beach one day When saw Mrs. Aloe
coming towards me.
''Elinor," l said, II am blunt old
soldier, and l buried my heart in FL
las grave. But l have deep, loyal |
regard for you and you are alone.
Fairy and l need you. Will you lie
my wife,"
Ellnor placed her hand i'll mine, and |
NC We went TO the old mission church |
lnl were married there and then.
We saw Fairy as we came in, sitting
D the yeranda, gazing out on the vast
Pacific.
Fairy" / said, t;his is my wife"
My mother." And | left the |
-wo-dearest to me on cartll-to-
gcther.
We passed the summer in the Yo-
semitic, where nature shows herself in
majestic beauty. Capt. Storey was a
visitor to our home. Never
by look or action did he betray his
secret. With pain | observed that
Fairy avoided him. was on the
verge of telling Elinor more than
oncc, but could not betray my dear
friends secret. Fairy seemed so
happy, and yet at times there
came that wistful look that so puz-
zlod me.
''Tell me- said one day, drawing
her to my knee, She laid her head
on my shoulder, and sobs such as ON
Iy well forth when long suppressed |
shook her form. She had never kept |
a secret from me before, and l was
panied. When she felt better she told
me that there was one presence she |
Ionged for, and who, though perhaps
she loved not more than she did inc,
yet one who, when away, seemed to |
take some of the sunshine with him.
This from my Fairy, whom had
guarded so carefully and so well.
Who could he be? All, poor Storey!
His chances were gone, indeed. If
Fairy loved like this, she would never
love again. sis it unreturncd, dear?'
| asked her.
'.Ycs. father, he is far above me.
lie thinks me a child"
How my heart aehed. My Fairy
was woman with womah's doom
upon her. l told her then of her
molher-how she had left me and how
dark tho world all looked. "But,
DEAR" l said, ''you are a soldiers
danghter. Then she kissed me aud
understood,