Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-04-30

been staying in South weston, bhe
went on in exI lanation oi her question,
"and dare say you have met her,
have, he answered" with pCcul-
lar glcam in his eye. She is Mr.. Mil
lard s-my Mr.. Millard, lac added, with
q laugh" stepdaughter. Therefore,
have had unusual opportunities to Guilt
vate her acquaintance. We are, am
happy TO say, very excellent friends.
And more, added Mary, in a low
voice IL beg your pardon. thought
So.
With which ambiguous remark Mary
gave him a questioning glance, and,
rea ling her answer In his face, left her
chair with the abrupt words:
Grandpa is coming. Plcasc excuse
me.
Going, Nary" asked Mr.. Millard,
meeting her at the door.
Please don't speak to me, y she cried,
laring by him.
The old gentleman looked surprised.
Turning to Beverly he said, in some
anxiety:
Pray excuse me a moment, sir. Ny
| granddaughter does not seem well.
In her own room he found Mary on
| her knees, and her face buried in the
| oed.
Lifting her with gentle hand, he drew
| her toward him Since when have
lost the right to your confidence, he
asked, stroSing her hair with a caressing
touch. You have something to tell me,
| iea,est.'
Mary buried her face on his breast
with the passionate cry:
1t is no use TO hide 1t, grandpa. ]
cannot hide it from myself. ] have ru-
ned my own happiness. Three days
ago, I'll continued, with half sob, L
was as happy as it is possible for anyone
to be, an1 now
Well?" he interrupted, with gentle
intonation, as seating himself in chair,
he drew her to his knee. Tell me all
that has happened since, Mary.
Then in q low and self-reproachful
voice, Mary repeated all that had passed
between Jack and herself from the mo-
ment he had asked her to be his wife to
the time he left Robin Rest.
Tt was a hard thing to believe OF him
very hard thing" was Mr. Millard'
answer, when Mary finished her recital
Yet / must confess, you had greal
reason. II you had told me this before
we might have discover d the true STATE
of affairs without all this heartache.
believe | should have had better faith il
him."
That is hard on mo, grandpa. Yol
cannot think Of my feelings when yoi
say it. l could not look at it eoolly, o
stop to consider a possible mistake.
felt myself wronged and outraged.
thought he had made a sport of my affec
tons. For had confessed my love 10
him. had allowed him TO kiss me, and
grandpa, it was humiliating, so bitterl,
humiliating, to remember that.
Mary covered her face with her hand
I rs she uttered these words.
I understand that, Mary" said he
j., grandfather, kindly.
~ Il don't think You can quite unde
stand. grandpa. No man could. An
s;s'iy = len I I know hQlY hard it was for z,
( rebelled against it. But what cou&
Think"
. You could have told me, Mary
She sighed.
Il don't think wanted even you I
know how weak and foolish | had beer
and l was afraid you might think / care
more than I did. OF course, while l be
lieved what did, hated him.
"Of course, my dear, wGs the quie
answer
Now l hate myself for having bee
unjust Still, had rather a thousan
LINES suffer through my own injustic
than through his dishonor. Don't scOl
me any more, grandpa. I've been pun
ished enough
Ny dearest, he cried, pressing he
to his heart L only wish to help you.
1T is too late for that.
NO, was the decisive answer. "Yo
must not allow pride TO interfere wit
the reparation you owe Jack, and th
duty you owe yourself This misundei
standing has not changed your feeling
for himg"
Her face dropped.
He cannot have forgotten what 1 sal
to him, she replied in a low voice. II
may even have grown TO hate me.
can't ask him 10 come back to m,
Grandpa; l can't ask him to do that, L
die first
Mr.. Millard regarded the unmanag'
able Mary with slightly pcrplexed al
"You will tell him you misgudged hin
Mary? That is simply justice yo
know.
How am l to do it?' she asked
anxiously. IF should write it shoul
make a fool of myself, 1 know, an
tt"
Let me write it, my dear; you ca
trust me
lam not so surc, still you may writ
Don't say too much. Tell him I mi
Judged him in a very grave particula
and that l am sorry, and-Oh, grandp
you know how to express it. But pleai
don t make it seem that l am so anxiou
l should die of shame.
Il will take care of your dignity"
returned, with a smile.
ITO BE CONTINUED.