Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-08-06

hSOs
Etta's checks famed.
''You are the first person, she said
with quiet dignity, "who ever accused
me Of forward conduct Ihave no de-
sire to be in the parlor.
And taking Eddie down from his
high chair, she led him upstairs, know
ing in her trembling little heart that
she did desire TO see John Talbot, but
also that she had given no one reason
TO taunt her with the wish.
Don't cry, mamma; oh, don'tr'
pleaded Eddie, seeing the tears drop
ping on the sewing. "When Pm a
big man, I'll tell 'em ALI Ev'y one
'cept uncle He takes me to ride, and
don't scold you.
Aud yet Eta thought Rudolph's
contemptuous endurance of her pres
ence was as hard to bear as active ami
mostly. TO Eddie he was kinder, as
a disappointment" had made him
bachelor, and Eddie was probably heir
TO his name aud possessions.
Suppose you run to the summer
house, Eddie, she said, until mann
ma finishes this Dress.
"Will you come?s
very soon, dear. Get me some
butiercups."
The child sped away to find the
golden-hued treasures, seeing his
grandmother and aunts set out in the
carriage upon shopping expedition
He was arranging the buttercups upon
the summer-house table, when, with
cry of ecstasy, he dropped them all
and raced down the path to meet a
tall, belrded man, who lifted him in
his arms.
"Come into the summer house,
Cousin John. Everybody is gone out
but mamma, and she is coming pres
eatly when she gets Aunt Hates d'ess
done. | hate Aunt Kate!''
John Talbot smiled, and, having
game the summer-house, took Eddie
ON his knee and produced a wonder
full mechanical monkey that, being
wound up, danced and capered on the
table in fine style.
On! signed Eddie, IN delight,
when he understood the treasure was
bis own. 81 wish you was my papar'
so do l." whispered John, in his
ear. "But why do you wish so, Ed
die?"
"Cause papas is so lovelyi Grand
mas is d'edful, and SOS aunties. They
scold and scold, aud make mamma
c'y aud ely / hate 'eml But papas
is kind, aud mammas-r' aud the
little fellow clasped his hands; "mam-
mas is just splendid! Mammas is
never c'oss or scoldin, only they c'y."
r was letter Eddie had not yet mas
tered.
''But why do they cry?" asked
John.
"Cause they is scolded when they
amt bad. Aunt Kate scolds if NAM
ma don't sew all the time and today
oh, Cousin John, how could mamma
fling herself at your head? Wasn't it
a book, or pitcher, or something:
tied, when [ came downstairs, to fling
myself az the table, and l banged my
head and tumbled down"
A heavy frown gathered between
John Talbot's eyes.
"Who said that?" he asked.
"About mammal"
eyes Who said it?"
"Aunt Kate, when she telled her
not to come in the parlor till she sent
for her
''But how did she do it?'
"She never did it.
Quick, emphatic, almost fierce, were
the spoken words, and Johns eyes
were full of wrath. 1.-The little dove,
he murmured, "when / can scarcely
win her to lift her eyes to mine. My
poor little darling!"
He never noticed that Eddie was
winding the mechanical toy backward
till cry of delight reused him from
long reyerie.
s'Here comes mammal"
And then he looked up to see Eta,
standing in the doorway, very pale
aud weary looking, but with tho
mother smile for Eddie upon her eyes
and lips.
"Oh, Cousin John, please wind it
up for mamma to see the monkey
dance! See, mamma? Look! And
it is mine-my own Cousin John
says so. Oh, mamma, don't you wish
Cousin John was my papa?"
Again the quick, sensitive color
rushed to Etta's cheeks. She bent
over the dancing monkey, trembling,
and hoping John would not notice her
confusion. But it was not lessened
when deep, rich voice said:
Eddie does not wish it more than
1 do, Eta Darling, is it too soon to
speak. / have waited, fearing to
wound you, but even the love you
have lost could not have been deeper,
stronger than mine. Eta, may be
Eddie's papa?''
'Oh, please, mamma, say yes!n
pleaded the child, trembling with
And Eta, lifting the shy,
sweet face, whispered the word John
Talbot longed to hear.
The morning sped away only too
quickly, and then, before the other
ladies returned, John Talbot set his
face cityward.
"Until tomorrow, he said, clasp
ing Etta's hand, ''when | come to
claim you You say you have dress
that will do to travel in. That must
be your wedding dress, for my be-
trothed shall no longer be an unpaid
seamstress for the Talbots.
''Will you tell them?" she said.
''They will be so angry"
"say nothing, then, till / comet"
And Eta obeyed. But at luncheon
the next day, in arranging the pro-
gramme for Johns visit, Kate re-
peated her orders regarding Etta's ab-
sence from the parlor and Eddie
famed up.
''My mamma don't want to come in
your old parlor," he said, cause.