Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-07-02


early, aud his old wife was just rolling
up her knitting to ascend the
stairs-a mild-facs woman with a
white -frilled cap and brown calico
gown. While out in the dewy star
light by the gate Leah Linton stood,
leaning her elbows on the fence aud
talking with showily-dressed young
woman of about her own age.
"Never seen the city?" exclaimed
Flora Plimpton, echoing Leah's last
words. Never seen = the - city?
Well, / declared l don't believe there S
another girl in Tauhasset that could
say thatl You're too deliciously green
for anything, Leah Lintonr'
In the soft, metallic starshine Leah
felt herself crimson to her very tenn
pies, with sense of being somehow
put in the wrong.
NO." she admitted; "I--"
''Leahl Leah'' called Mrs. Halli-
days gentle old voice from the win
dow. ''Time to 60 to bed!''
''Tll be there in minutei' Leah
called back.
And then they could hear the sash
softly close again.
Such stuffy old place!" said
Flora, elevating her eyebrows. "And
yet you tell me they've got money!"
mime hundred dollars in gold
eagles" said Leah, with a certain
pride in her accents. II saw Mr..
Halliday counting it out yesterday.
He drew it from the bank to buy the
mountain wood lot, and the lawyers
are delaying the title longer than he
expected"
II should think he'd be afraid of its
being stolen" tentatively observed
Flora.
''Oh, it's locked up in the old Dutch
cabinet, safe and soundl Besides, no.
body knows but what it is still in the
bank. But really, Flora, I can't go
on this excursion with you Fourth of
July" she added, regretfully.
"You can't go? Aud why not? Oh,
Leah, you must go! Mr.. Ferguson
will be so disappointed if you aren't
there. can tell you, Leah, he's fair
ly rayed about you ever since he
saw you at the station, the day he
came down to see me. I should be
quite jealous if | hadn't another fellow
in my eye. He says he won't go if
you don't, aud you'd hate to spoil the
excursion, wouldn't you? Why can't
you go?"
''Mr. and Mrs. Halliday have ar
ranged to spend the day with their
married daughter up in Beverly" said
Leah, deiectedly. 'They always go
every Fourth of July
ooh, the selfshness Of old peopler'
said Flora, Indignantly. "And leave
you poked up here alone, when there's
an excursion boat stopping at Tauhas-
set Dock, with band and awnings and
all, and you never were on an excur-
sion in your life Oh, I don't wonder
Its enough to make anybody cryl"
as big tear-drop or so coursed down
LEANS cheek and splashed on the
sweet -brier leaves below. Look here,
Leahl It's shame you never should
go anywhere or see anything"
They're nots-selfish!" sobbed Leah,
an instructive sense of justice rising up
in her heart. 1.-The are just as. good
to me as they eau be, and I love them
dearly. But 5hey don't like me to mix
much with the young folks hereabouts.
They're mostly tritling and no ac-
count, You know, in the factory and
down az the rubber works"
'Fiddlesticksl" said Flora Plimpton.
"What's that but sheer selfishness? /?
Leah, you shall gol Now listen to me!
Once get 'em fairly started off with
that old rattle-trap of theirs, with the
one-eyed horsen-she laughed ieering-
ly-''and then you come down to the
dock aud wait for us. I'll see that
the boat don't go off without you"
Leah drew quick breath.
81 never was on steamer in my
life" said she. 'But, Flora, L hate
to deceive them"
"Where's the odds?n airily demand
ed Miss Plimpton. You've got to de-
ceive people sometimes if you went to
get your rights.
Which ethical fact Leah was not suf-
ficiently posted to dispute.
"When do they start off-at seven
in the morning?' pursued Flora
"Goodl We're not due at the dock
antil nine. There'll be lots of time for
you to fix yourself up and come down;
and mind, you wear that same pink
muslin you had on at the station.
Ferguson's fairly gone on that pink
gownl"
Leah's cheeks, for az instant, were
roster than any pink gown could be.
~ needs to be washed and ironed, T"
sai1 she. :.
"Oh. you can manage itl' said