Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1894-03-24

asked Miss Talbot of her pretty niece,
Maud, who was enjoying. an afternoon
cup of tea in the lowest chair she could
find in her aunt's coy little drawing
room.
She was the only daughter of Miss
Talbots favorite brother, and had been
conscientiously spoiled by both father
and aunt, whose considerable means
enabled them to indulge most of her
whims, on the plea that she inner
tied her dead mothers delicacy of con-
stitution and must not be worried. The
latest of these whims had been to en-
gage herself at eighteen to "a good
looking young barrister, who, like
many of his fellows. had not yet had
an opportunity of giving his eloquence
to the world lie was not what would
be called n good ''parti," but he was a
gentlemanly, pleasant fellow genuine
ly in love with Maud, who, under all
her fanciful, spoiled childishness, had a
warm loving heart, that had really
given itself into Jim Burgoyne's keep
ing. Therefore, it was with no small
surprise that Miss Talbot heard the an
swer to her question, spoken in an ag-
greived tone:
mo! | told nurse to send the car
riage for me at six. ! hope that is not
too late for you? Jim is otherwise en-
gagged"
Otherwise engaged!' echoed Miss
Talbot, in amazement 'Why, Maudie,
what d0 you mean?'
Just what say, Aunt Joan! jim
seems to lind other things quiet as anus
ing as looking after me, SO naturally
don't trouble him more than | can
help" and the speaker put down her
cup and ciasping her hands round her
knee looked resentfulIy at the fire.
"And pray when did this state of
things begin?" asked Miss Talbot, re-
Stunning her interrupted knitting, n
smile Frightening her kind gray eyes.
"Oh, you need not laugh, Aunt Joan"
answered Maud, solemnly; lit is very
serious. am excessively angry with
Jim; and it will be some time before
can forgive him, and-and he does not
care bit!' This with little catch in
her voice that made her aunt look at
her sharply, and find that the eyes
staring at the fire We're full of tears.
HC sL!ll DduuoOiht, NOIluH
rose, and drawing a chair beside her
niece, put her hand upon her shoulder
saying:
"Child! what foolish tiff is this?
What has Jim done to offend you?"
Maud hesitated a moment, then her
Indignation found vent.
II will just tell you the whole thing"
she cried, land you will see il you think
he has behaved well. 1t all began at
that ball we went to last Monday
week. had promised him some of the
first waltzes and refused other partners.
and he aever came till more than an
hour after we got there. Then, instead
of apologizing, he merely said he had
been unexpectedly detained by friend
whom he had not seen for some time.
and hoped would give him other dances
to make up. / said | could not, and
told him l was not pleased, and danced
with other people all night He calmly
went and amused himself as if nothing
had happened, and danced three times
with Mary Lowell! / would not go in
TO supper with him, and made father
come home early. jim came down to
the door with us, and asked me to look
kindly at him before 1 said good night,
but | was much too angry, and never
looked at him at all. The next morn
ing he came, and actually laughed at
my reproaches when l was quite in
clined to make friends with him, and
did not see why ] complained. The
result was that / got angry again, told
him that if he did not care for keeping
his appointments with me he had bet
ter not make any, and would not listen
to any excuses on his part, but left him
and went upstairs. had note from
him in the evening, asking me to see
him and make friends with him
before he went off the next day,
but | thought it would be n very good
lesson for him to wait till he came
back, and / wrote and said that was
engaged, and that"-with n little sigh
twas nearl V week ago"
'Where was he going?" asked Miss
Talbot.
He had been engaged to some
friends for shooting long time ago.
He will be away n fortnight" There
was rather melancholy tone in Maud's
voice, in spite of her just indignation.
''And so, for senseless bit of pride,
you let this man, whom you know very
well loves you with all his heart, go OFF
without as much as kind word! Child,
child, you are playing with edged tools;
take care lest you wound YOURSELF it
is dangerous work" Miss Talbot's
voice had sad ring in it that made
her nearer look AT her in surprise, but
she went on without noticing her, gaz-
ing at the glowing Goals as il reading
her words there.
"Your silly little tale brings back to
me time that is long past and gone; a
time when the blood ran fast in my
veins, and my face was fair and smooth
like yours, though Isuppose you think
/ mast always have been forty years