The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-02-26
CHAPTER VIII.
When shall we three meet again ?-M Macbeth.

| w llSh sllili VIC tlIto luGeI again !-hucOeW.
Seated in O'Ferguson Hall was
Mrs. Darby, with number OF
musty volumes strewn over table
that stood before her, through the
pages of which she was looking, as
if in search of some particular pas
sage. Their thick leather bind
lngs and fuzzy edges indicated they
were well worn law books; and,
having at length discovered the de,
sired passage, she pushed the rest
of the volumes IS aside, and com
menced pernsing an "act" in the
one she had selected.
Her slovenly attire consisted of
a faded dimity gown and an old,
tattered dress handkerchief, tied
negligently about her neck. Her
long black air, fiecked with few
streaks Of gray, discoverable only
on a close examination, was twisted
round a comb, that secured it in a
bunch or knot at the back of her
head. Her countenance was of an
austere cast and sinister expression,
with gray eyes sunk deep in their
sockets, while the muscles of her face
drew her brows into severe eX-
preston, and contracted the corners
of the eyelids into small wrinkles,
giving those orbs a serpent fasinat-
ing and angry look. Her nose, as
if to completethis hard countenance,
was large for that of a female, with
a hairy wart on one side of it. She
was of an uncommonly tall and
commanding stature, for a woman,
and her gait, the most unfeminish,
was a firm, long, and rapid stride.
Playing about through the room,
over the bare, broken floor, where
Mrs. Darby was seated, amongst a
motley collection of cats, dogs,
poultry and pigs, that entered one
door when desired and passed out
of the other at their leisure were
the two twin children, Timon and
Christianna. But what contrast
in physiognomy was there between
the two children! The boy, thick
tat, coarse, lubberly urchin, with
dim, muddy tireless eyes; while his
sister was ofspare and delicate form,
with soft, clear, white skin, and
melting blue eyes. So wide a
difference is seldom met with in
persons of the same family. The
boy, after hauling his sister about
for a while, like one of his pet
dogs, finished his impish amuse-
ment by lpushing the little girl
over so violently on the floor as to
make her scream out with pain.
Mrs. Darby, reused from her
book by the cries of the child,
turned her head and exclaimed
"L-or-d! Timon, what are you
doing to Christianna? Nina" she
continued in louder tone, calling
the old wench, "come here and at
tend to the children. Lord!
what are you poking about, all the
time, in that kitchen?'
The old negress appeared, in a
wrathful mood at seeing her favorite
SO lily treated, muttering to herself,
as was her CUSTOM
"Dat's one cussed, etarnal bad
boy; you nanny ought to spank
You well for hurtin' your little sister.
bod an she don't talk like she
was any kin to you. Come heah,
honey; come heah, till l take you
away fro dat great battle head"
And the old woman caught the
child-who extended her hands to
her, as to favorite-np in her
arms, and, wiping the tears from
her bright blue eyes, lugged the
girl away to her abode in the
kitchen, muttering in her vented
manner as she retired.
Mel and his companion, the
sheriff, now etered, and Mrs.
Darby, closing her quarto volume,
with a smile rose to meet them.
"L-O-r-d! gentlemen, take seats,
how did you make out?"
cha! ha! ha! make ont we
always make out WE'LL" said Mel,
laughing.
1t was Mrs. Darly's turn now to
laugh, which she did with loud,
hoarse "haw h-a-w!" "And did
you frighten cousin Greenberry into
compliance with our wishes p
ave can't give you an explicit
answer this hot day." Mel replied,
wiping his forehead, and, with a
sinister smile, nodding to the self
important sheriff, "until we have
our ideas collected with drink of
brandy-ha ha ha! Set out your
decanter, Mrs. Darly; we're as dry
as fish"
The hostess placed a decanter on
he table, with "a
"L ord! gentlemen, help your
selves; and let me hear the sub
stance of your expedition as soon
as possible"
"Here's health to the O'Fergu-
son cause ~ said Mel, pouring out
a glass of the liquor, and emptying
it at couple of swallows. "Help
yOurSelf Mr.. StuyyeSant. helm