Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-22

Capt. Blake's Homecoming.


"Cruel, Nellie, dear-Nellie, you
little demonl Why, wouldn't touch
a hair Of your head, barring the bit
1 want to cut off to carry with me 10
India, and you're teasing the life out
of me with your contrriness an /
making it much harder for me to go
than even you dream Off
"And what do you want to go for2
leaving your home and your regiment
that you were so proud Of and tho peo-
pie that know you and the girl"
here Miss Nellie breaks down with a
little sob, and it is all Teddie can do
to remember his promise to her father
and keep his two arms from going
round her.
"And the girl-what?" he says,
huskily; for the life of him he can't
resist that much.
''That was brought up with you and
has been a sister to you all your life, "
chokes Nellie O'Mallev.
"I'll tell you what it is, Nellie, the
poor, young soldier says, pulling him
self together and speaking much more
severely than he really feels, "you
must try to understand my position,
and then we'll say no more about it,
if you please, once and for all. My
uncle's dead (heaven rest his SOUL,
and he's left the old place 10 me, but
it's up to the chimney pots in debt,
and ualess 1 let it to this English fell
low I'll never be able to clear it all
my life Then, if 1 don't exchange
for India, can't keep my place in the
service at all, and besides, Nellie, with
the sd regiment quartered at Thomas
towil would be mighty hard for me
to see other man fishing my salmon
and shooting my birds and sitting in
my chimney corner every day of the
week, with his great ugly face look
ing over the pew at you on Sundays!
1 couldn't do it, Nellie, not even to re-
main near near the friends I've
known ever since [ was baby. So
that's all about it, and you mustn't
make it harder for me than can bear
do you see?"
1t was good thing that Aunt Ellen
called them in to supper at this mo-
ment. Nellie had one of her teasing
fits on her, trying by this means to
hide her heart-break at Teddie's de-
parture, and her peryersity tried poor
young Blake sorely. He had prom
ised her father, the rector, that he
would not, by word or act, reveal his
feelings toward her. They had been
children together, almost brother and
sister, for nearly 30 years, since Teddie
first came to Moyliscallan, and this
state of things must be main aimed,
Mr.. O'Malley decided, till Teddie's
fortunes should bear closer and more
satisfactory inspection. Perhaps a
few wears of Indian soldering, while
the old castle was let to rich Eng
lish tenant, might put the said fortunes
ON their feet; meanwhile, lingering in
the old rectory garden was danger
ous occupation, and Aunt Ellen did
wisely to ring the supper bell out of
the window
Presently the parting cane. 1t was
Sunday evening, and the rectory kept
early hours. Supper was over, and
the O'Malleys were making their fare
wella to Teddie, the almost son of the
house, for he had to get back TO Thorn
astown that night and start for Eng
land next morning.
'rhere's something I want to take
with me-" he announced, stoutly, be-
fore them all, "a lock of your hair,
Aunt Ellen, aad another of Nellie's.
You know you two are the only wom-
ankind l have or ever have hal. Give
me each bit of a curl, and I'll have
them put in locket together and
wear it ON my chain, and you won't be
sorry to think I've got it when I'm
away from you."
He looked at the rector as he spoke.
It was all open and above board, and
the old gentleman nodded and reached
down a pair of scissors from the man
telshelf, which he handed to his sis
ter. Aunt Ellen cut her little lock
carefully, as befits lady of five-and-
forty, whose hair is still abundant and
ornamental, if not so bright as it has
been. Nellie whisked her bunch of
curls over her shoulders and shipped
off a thick brown ringlet. Teddie
twisted them together in his pocket
book and said, with feeble attempt
at a joke "rhey'll go with me every
where and bring me back to Moylis
callan. Don't let me find you've been,
either Of you, flirting with Strange
ways while I'm away, or putting him
in my place"
Then he kissed the two ladies, as he
had always done on great occasions, at
New Year or ON birthdays, ever sincehe
was three years old, shook hands
with the rector twice over and hurried
off to Thomastown and thence to In
dia And, oh dearl it was dull at Moy-
liscallan without him.