Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-05-04

t9' MUSE WIS very quiet, yet her
father she knew was up; she heard
salking past her window, as was
MI Nont, at break of day. What if
he stroll toward the river. The thought
put spurs to her feet, and she flew
rather than walked down the stairs.
She could not resist the impulse to
stop at her mothers door, and knock
ing, entered.
Mrs Graeme was not yet up, and
she did not tseem surprised when Cathie
came IN, ms she frequently visited her
room In this way Cathie paused but
a moment TO give her tender good
morning kiss, and then ran out again,
lest her tears should betray her.
A few moments later she stood by
the river, and Rex, appreciating her
feelings, for he saw at glance the
hot, tear-stained eyes, merely reached
out his hand, which she took; and
then she was in the boat, and they
were floating down the broad stream.
1t may seem strange that they
should take their departure in the
bright light of early morning, but
Cathie would not have it otherwise.
Several days before Rex had rowed
down the river with their trunks and
sent them on their present destination
by rail Thither they were repairing
now. Cathie had gone through the
orchard and held in her trembling
hands branches of fragrant apple
blossoms.
For some hours there was no un-
easiness felt at either home by the alb
sence of son or daughter, as both
We're wont to take long morning
strolls, and Cathie frequently stopped
at some friends house on the way.
The doctor had driven into the city
soon after she had taken her depart
ure, and it was not until his return
that Mrs. Graeme began to feel
troubled about the absent girl.
Whats that about Cathie," he
assed sBeen away all day, eh? Oh,
shes all right. Trust Cathie for
thst p
hs old doctor laughed, expecting
e " moment to hear his daughter.
ss hurlti sosat tlara. .re2. ssst when
the evening shadows fell, and the even
ing meal was over, he, too, became
anxious. He waited awhile longer,
then he had his horses harnessed
again, and started out in search of her.
1t was midnight when he returned,
more deeply troubled than he had ever
been in his life before, and when his
wife met him at the gate, nearly i'll
with anxiety, he said IN low tone, as
he gave the reins to a servant:
"She's gone, Margie-gone with that
rascal. l learned that he, too, had not
been home since early morning, and
Dan Russ told me he hired his boat for
the day, and he said he saw Cathie 60
ing down the river in it with Rex early
this morning. He supposed it was all
right, though, and that they were of
for some picnic.
Then DIR. Graeme, for the first time
in forty years, uttered an oath.
'Don't john" said Mrs. Graeme.
''You frighten mel" And she buried
her face in her hands.
"Well, mean it !" said the enraged
doctor "Catherine Graeme is no
longer a child of mine, and her foot
shall never cross my threshold again.
The fool-to throw herself away on a
puppy like that!'
1t was in vain to try to oappease him,
Mrs. Graeme saw that she was only
adding fuel to the flames, so she
quietly arose and retired to her room,
with feeling of relief as to Cathie'
safety, knowing that she would soon
hear from her, and that even if her
husband persisted in holding his wrath
against the young people, she would
ind way to see her birding again.
The doctor did not drive to the city
the following day, and consequently
did not get his mail until evening,
when his man brought it. There wa'
a letter for "mother" with the envel
ope directed in Cathie's well-knowr
which the doctor after {
glance, threw into the waste baske
near without opening. Ant
with his eyebrows knit, and his ha
drawn over his eyes, he went out OF
the veranda to read the evening
paper.
He had sat there but a few moments
when Mrs. Graeme heard groan, anC
looking out in the on-coming twilight
she saw the paper had fallen from hel
husbands hands, and he seemed like
one turned to stone.
Whats the matter?" she asked has
tening to his side.
He looked up at her in a dumb
helpless sort of way, and pointed tc
the paper. Picking it up, she ran hel
eyes hastily over its columns, anC
caught the names of Catharine Graem,
and Rexford Bayliss as among tn,
killed in a railroad wreck of the day
before. Oh, the wonderful courag,
of woman! She bent over her hus
band and kissed him with face white
than the dead.
"Oh, father!' was all she said, an,
together, arm in arm, they entered
their darkened home.