Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-03-19

'Well, commented JACK. as she loft
nm TO MS me 1tations, / must say can
lot understand this extraordinary inter-
,st in my humble self. II Frank holds
he key to the riddle, I'll have It,
The riddle, as Jack called it. seemed
more OF riddle than ever, when n few
minutes later Mr.. Millard welcomed him
With the most cordial warmth.
Quite overpowered, Jack could only
nurmur his thanks, while the old gem
tleman followed up his first remarks Inv
number OF questions, most of which.
he answered himself.
"You are not like your father nv
boy, he said, sinking back in his chair,
and observing Jack with a scrutinizinr
interest. you don't remember him
dare say. We were great friends. His
death affected me deeply, and II was only
quite recently and by the barest chance
that l heard of your existence. Well
we'll, how time fliesl But "reminiscences
are always painful; let us talk of some
, thing more cheerful"
When supper was over, and Mary had
left them for few moments, Mr.. Mil
lard began to dilate upon the beauties Of
the country about them.
7oiuViu ~ oegOuu my Raruen gate,
he concluded, but Mary knows the To-
cality thoroughly.
Then | hope Miss Mary will consent
to play the guide for my benefit, re-
marked Jack.
Yes, yes, " put in the old gentleman;
she viii. As 1 say, she knows the
place thoroughly. She has lived here
so long and been so much alone, it has
been solitary existence for her-very
solitary She has had no friends: no
social advantages. Her lack of knowl-
edge on many points might impress
stranger unfavorably. have foreseen
all the possibilities arising from such
social isolation without possessing the
power to avert them. You will excuse
me for speaking in this way" he broke
of abruptly, as an expression of pain
lifted across his face. These thoughts
constantly obtrude themselves. Thev
pain me inexpressibly. 1 have broken
all my old ties. Mary is the one link
that holds me to earth-her welfare my
own interest in life"
These words, expressed with peeul-,
lar earnestness, moved Jack deeply. He
endeavored to put his own thoughts and
feelings into words, but found it well
III 81 lllpOSSlDIc W uO SO.
Miss Millard does not happen to miss.
any of these advantages" he said at
last. Perhaps lack of worldly knowl-
edge is to be preferred to an eycess.
She is"
Grandpa, are you discussing me?"
Both gentlemen turned with slight
start to see Mary standing in tn, open
doorway.
sYou were talking about me, she con-
tinued in a voice that held hint of
sharpness in its usual clear tone. Please
don't do so again, unless 1 am present
to have my say"
"A spoiled child, as you see, Beverly"
Interrupted the old gentleman, with
quaint humor. Il have found it impos-
sible to deny her anything. Now l am
allowed no rights whatever. Sit down,
Mary; we will promise to be less personal
in future"
Long after he was in bed that night
Jacks thoughts constantly returned to
Mary. Her bright, changeful face, her
quaint, original sayings, even her very
gestures, he recalled with wonderful
vividness.
why didn't Frank give me some idea,"
he asked himself. The slightest hint
that was to meet the most extraordi-
narily opinionated young woman,
ever fashioned by the hands of the Al
mighty. How she would make some of
Madam Grundy's votaries stare and
start. have an idea sha'n't find my
visit dull. I'm lucky devil, any way
you put it, and 1 must thank Frank for
this last stroke of good fortune. By the
way, 1 wonder how Frank discovered
the friendship between my father and
Mr.. Millard, and why did he not tell me
Of it? I'll tax him with it when write.
Now it is but poor part of wisdom to
exhaust my mental forces in this way,
SO to sleep and dream"