Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-04-09

full wild flower.
1T is very fine, my dear. Whore die
you get it?"
About three miles from here"
Have you been three miles this morn.
ing? l thought"
Mary bit her lip at her mistake.
i did not say l had gotten it this
morning, grandpa" was her rather lame
explanation.
No; l thought you had not had your
ride. Toby told me last night that he
had forgotten your saddle. The poor
old fellow was really distressed
about it.
He need not have felt so bad, re-
Joined Mary, looking up to find Jacks
eyes upon her. Something in their
glace was revelation to her. The hot
blood mounted to her brow, and an over
mastering sense Of shame swept over
her. In the first bitter rush of this feel
ing, she left the table precipitately.
Grandpa, I'm not hungry, and not
well. Please excuse me.
These declarations, delivered in de-
cidedly jerky tones, caused Mr.. Millard
to glance up in some surprise.
Not wellP" he repeated, fixing his
y
make me anxious"
SO like you, grandpa, to he anxious
for nothing. Upon reflection, feel
wonderfully well, and have a very great
appetite. With which assertion the
contradictory Mary returned to her
place and reYeled in the highest spirits
during the rest of the meal. Only .oc-
casionally, when by some chance she
encountered Jacks glances, she colored
warmly, and dropped her eyes in painful
embarrassment. Her grandfather
watched her gravely,
Il fear Mary Is somewhat feverish,"
he observed, with much anxiety, to
Jeanette, after breakfast; the child is
always so well that her slightest indis-
position alarms me-"
"Indisposition, repeated the practical
Jeanette, l call it temper, sir. Don't
you worry about Miss Mary; I haven't
known her all these years for nothing"
The gentleman appeared unconvinced,
but he said TO more upon the subject.
Meanwhile, the object of this mingled
blame and solicitude was crouched in
the depths of her grandfather's chair.
Hearing Jacks step she snatched un
the book closest at hand, and, without
seeing q word before her, pretended to
read.
rs it interesting?" he asked, crossing
the room with the air of one not quite
certain of his reception.
Mary made no answer, and Jack ap-
preaching more closely, read the title
over her shoulders. so you read Homer
in the original?" he said, very quietly.
Closing her book with snap, she
turned upon him; / want to ask you q
question, she said in voice of sup
pressed anger. Not Greek. but plain
English, ard l wish a plain answer.
What did You mean by the look you
gave me ut breakfast? No evasion
please. Yol know | took ride this
morning?" An inclination of his head
gave an almost imperceptible assent to
her question. She understood it, how
ever
You know she repeated biting her
tips fiercely. How did you know? Did
you-see me?" She brought out her
words with dlfficul;ty, ana again Jack
assented.
"Where?" came more sharply than be-
fore. Starting or-on the way?"
"On the way, since you will know the
truth.
Her eyes fell, and once more the hot
color burned in her cheeks.
Thank you, Mr. Beverly, she cried,
starting up with a passionate gesture,
al have another remark 10 make. 1t is
plain English, too. hate you
Don't go, he pleaded, as she tried TO
pass him. "Yoa forced me to tell you.
You really did. I'm awfully sorry.
i
Sorry fo.' WHAT"
why, for being there, and-and see
ing you" he returned, taken at slight
Sorry foi. being there and seeing me-"
she repeated in Voice suspiclously
near tears, and with her face persistent
ly lowered. What kindly way to put
It. To spare my feelings, l suppose.
Don't try. | have none to spare. | like
unladylike actiorJ. take to them quito
naturally. I'm not ready to have lessons
in deportme mt from you yet, and 1 wish
to gracious you would 60 where l can't
be meeting you at every turn"
Il will, bYall means, he responded as
she concluded her half-choked utter
ences. Il don't believe you mean a
word of what you have said, though, not
q word. L Know
At this point Jack found himself ad-
dressing empty air. Mary had departed
and for the rest Of the morning remained
invisible.
AT dinner time she insisted on remain
ing in her room, claiming a heada-he as
an excuse, but when hcr grandlat
worried, came to inquire
for himself, she told him she had never
felt better, insisting, Notwithstanding,
on having dlnner in her room.
Jeanette thought this a most repre-
hensihle exhibition of self-will, and ex-
pressed her views quite strongly to the
delinquent.
And your grandps worried nearly out
of his wits, she concluded, and want
ing to send for doctor.
Why VII grandpa be so foolish
said Mary n a slightly vexed tone. Il
hope you won't let him do it, Jean
nette.
"Of course l won't. You need a shak-
ing-up much more than you do doctor,
my dear. And I'm thinking you'd bet
ter come to supper.
At supper Mary duly appeared, ar
rayed in dress Jack had taken pains to
say he dislikcd. Neither she nor Jack
was especially talkative, and h r grand
father, who was quite unobservant, was
forced to keep up the somewhat tagging
AS the eN enipg was cool they vert
to the parlor. where Mary.
II an unusual lit Of industry, got Uu1
oDle croeheting and began worklng on
t, as though her very life depended Upon
yhat she accomplished
My dear, said Mr.. Millard. breaking
he rather heavy silence, Jack is think-
ng OF leaving US. You must help me 10
'ersuade him to prol ng his visit.
Dent you think we should consider
'ir. Beverly. grandpal Think how long
le has been bJred by us already ana
'paTe him further inniction."
Jack bit his lips, and tuning from the
window, whcre his fingers had been
'laying an idle tattoo, Le addressed
himself to Mr.. Millard.
Il havo already imposed too long on
rour kind hospitality. Ny visit has been