Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-07-09

1t was such q pretty scene The
trees had the abundance of verdant
LEAKAGE that belongs to happy June
the grass seemed more than usually
rich and green and the wild flowers
more abundant than ever before
there was rural bridge over deep,
rushing stream that fed mill-dam
some distance beyond and roses clam
bered over the broken rails of the
bridge and twiued their wild tendrils
about an old tree near by, against
which was a rustic seat. On the rus
tic seat was another rose "A very
sweet and fresh and lovely rose in
white muslin, with Marie Antoinette
tichu across her breast and knotted at
the waist, aud a wide Leghorn hat on
her head that shaded her eyes so clev-
erly that no beholder could guess that
tears were rising there from time to
time and dropping on the white null
kerchief. And this had happened so
often that the rose might very well be
said to be washed in dew.
He: name was Kate, aud she was
very angry with herself because the
tears would fall despite all the indig-
nant things she was saying to herself
in the effort to stop their flow, till at
last she starte to her feet in a dread
full pet aud began to walk up and down,
crushing the wild flowers under her
feet. But that could not continue, for
she was a very sweet little woman aud
could not hurt even flower without
regretting it; and presently she bent
her graceful figure and pulled the wild
anemOnes and the few late violets, and,
having reached the rustic seat, she
added a rose or two and sat down.
''It's perfectly lovely morningl"
she murmured, and pinned the flowers
among the folds of the null kerchief
81 wonder where she has taken the
child, because
She stopped and looked anxiously
about till she saw, in the distance, the
maid and the little boy rambling
among the trees aud apparently alb
sorbed in gathering wild flowers and
chasing butterflies; and the music of
the child's laughter was borne to her
on the soft, perfumed summer breeze.
1t was heavenly sound--a sound to
gladden. any mothers heart; but Kate
Selden sighed and drew from her belt
q closely crumbled piece of paper,
which she had thrust there in fierce
impatience; and as she looked at it the
tears, which had not retreated very
far, again rose to her eyes.
I'M, Oh ft1t oh
thought; "a silly, silly little simple
toni And I'm glad he is late, for I
wouldn't have him know, for anything
in this world, that cared enough to
cry And, smoothing out the
crumbled paper, she began to read the
written words once more, though she
already knew them by heart:
eff you will see me on Wednesday
we can talk the matter over. l have
spoken with my lawyer, and he has
consulted with yours, and separation
can be arranged without any public
scandal-at least, hope so. / would
call at the house, but know your
mother hates me worse than ever now.
andit weuld only cause scene. So,
if You will come to the old rustic seat
close by the bridge-you know where
we used to meet in the old, happy
days-ah, Kate, if you would only let
me tell you everything, you would find
that | am not so very much to blame
but | won't speak of that. Be
cause, of course, 1 know you wish to
leave me, aud 1 will make no defense.
Yes, you shall keep the boy, though
believe the law would give him to me
if l chose to fight for my right. But
| don't care to call it my right-no, in
that 1 yield to you entirely. | believe
a child belongs to his mother first and
before all others. Therefore I give
him to you without asking what the
law might say about it, But do ask
that you will let me see him as often
as | may wish, for I love him, dear
yes, though you may not believe it,
Kate, | love him next to his mother,
who is still the dearest ON earth to me.
There, didn't mean to say that; but
it is written, and let it stay so. Il
will not offend you again; but be there
on Wednesday, any time before noon.
| won't be later than eleven, and we
can arrange all the business details
the lawyers will do the rest"
And by this time the tears were
trimming over, but she wiped them
softly away; and, instead of crushing
the paper as before, she folded it very
smoothly and slipped it inside her
corsage, where she could feel it rise
and fall beneath the hurried beating
of her heart.
"I'm glad he's late, she repeated;
"I'm very glad he's late" And then
she looked at her watch and found it
was not quite half-past ten. "Oh, he
isn't late, after ALL must have been
very early-I will go and find An
nette and the child" And as she rose
there was the cracking of twig under
hasty footstep, aud Kate Selden
stood face to face with her husband.
He was very pale, and his lips looked
pallid and drawn with the effort to
keep from trembling. She had flushed
deeply when their eyes met, but now
the color ebbed away from her girlish
face, and she said, confusedlv:
81 am so gladl-I mean, not to keep
you waiting. You see | am here first /"
"You are very good" he said; ''but
you are always good. You got my let
ter?"
"Oh, yes, or | wouldn't have known
you We're coming here" She moved
backward step and was very glad to
drop into the old rustic seat. ''It is
very generous of you. Sidney. to agree