Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-07-13


Thea stopped to pick it up.
"Why, what is this?" she said, with |
a curious, sweet-pea flush drifting |
across her face.
Josephine made snatch at it,
cts part Of my adventure" she
said. "Give it to me-quick, Thea
Oh, such handsome young fellowl"
Thea was silent moment. She
hesitated. Then she gave back to 10
Pearl the silver quarter, with the date
"1S74 on it, the tiny hole drilled at
one end, and the curious little scratch
across the fine Greek nose of the God
dcss Of Liberty, and her heart sank
like lead in her bosom. For she knew
that it was the love-pledge she had
given Henry Barron, year ago.
And after chance Irritation on the
cars, for she knew too well the pro-
cllvities of her wild little protege,
Gipsy Abraham's granddaughter, for
the fash of a pair of black eyes, the
smile Of cherry lip, he had flung
away the precious gage d'amour given
by her hand.
10 Pearl was not in fault. She had
never seen her friends fiancee-in
fact, sFAdid not know Of the engage
ment.
"No, said Thea to herself, ''it is
not hr fault. But that she that
<qara think % lightly Of my
I,
s1ss'ss.-'' 'ss-s' ''''--s
81 from about her neck
and aiins tic second cleaning silver
crcletqut into the tall grass, where a
cluster IF daisies nodded their coro-
neted heads.
Her eyes flashed. A deep crimson
spot glowed on either cheek. In all
her innocent life, Dorothea Dale had
never been SO near a passion as now.
HE shall not come to this house p
she told herself. "No-I will not see
him Where would be the use? I'll
try to be dignifed, but l will not see
him. No, never again-never!'
At the same moment she started as
if some electric current had thrilled
her veins. A familiar voice was talk
ing to her mother in the kitchen be-
low-Henry Barron's voice.
81 just missed the Lowood Station, F"
said he, "and I had to go on to Brick
Depot, so it was half an hours logger
walk to bring me here. How 1 grudged
every step of the way But you're
sure you are well? And Thea-where
is Ihea?"
just then warm young hand grasp
ed D9rothea's arm. 10 PEARLS peach
soft cheek was laid against her shoul-
der.
"lfs he" she whispered-"my
hero Who is he? How comes he to
be hdre? Oh, Thea, how good he was
to m9 Not like those silly chatter
ing ypung men with the long nous
tacAff and the knob-headed canes, but
as II ne were some calm, quiet angel
out 4 another world. l had lost my
tickef, you see, and I hadn't a cent of
mon9y In my pocket, and, oh, was
IN sqeh distress, and those horrid
youlP men were giggling and whisper
ing fnd the conductor stood there as
grim and hard-hearted as stone gor-
gon fnd all of sudden that gentle
MAJ put his hand into his pocket and
gaw me this silver coinl Oh, he
coudnt have been politer-like if /
hadeeen lady bornl Me, the gipsy $
graiqchild-Jo Pearl. And then he
ro' quietly up, to avoid my thanks,
ant went into the other car; and
thes In the folds of my frock, was
theVcset all the time. So 1 didn't
nag 10 pay the silyer-piece to the
corrctor, and 1 hated to give it back,
beasse-because it was so kind in the
geHmanl Tell me, Thea, was it
WA in me to keep it?"
va turned around, with the sweet
essa nshine on her face.
wasn't wrong" she answered :;
a-yet | think you had better let
mave it back to him, Jo."
" 10 Pearl, to whom Dorothea
D9 was sort of lesser Providence,
su4Ssiyely placed the silver quarter
ln friends hand, and crept back
toy little bedroom with the sloping
re to brush her crispy curls.
pile Thea, stealing down the back
stSase, went straight to the tangle
4iver-sprayed daisies, and felt
Sc among their roots for the coin
ST PAD but now flung Indignantly
avn
she had lost it? But no, thank
plpaence, it was therel And once
ne she fastened II around 10, L;..