The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-03-12

tuc ueTy eye vi tuc Olu nay, SHt
stopped short at the first syllable
and after a pause, continued con
fusedly, "but I merely remarked
he is fine looking gentleman
What is his profession?"
L-O I'd! can't tell you, child
to lounge about, most likely" said
Mrs. Darby. Bat to my thinking,
he'll have to soil his white hands
when the lawsuit is ended, and the
property which that gang of rogues
have been living on so long will fall
into the hands of its proper
owners"
Christianna made no reply, but
piled her needle briskly, in silence,
intent upon what she was sewing.
After this speech, the hag, too, sat
musing some time in silence, and
gazing alternately on the girl and
on the old volume she had resumed
At length she commenced the con-
versation again.
"Well, Christianna, [ suppose
you have made up your mind fully
by this time about the propriety of
that affair you asked time to con-
sider?N
The maiden kept her eyes still
riveted on her work, remaining
silent. but her breast heaved vio-
lently, and the crimson flood rushed
over her cheek and brow.
"L-o-r-d! your foolish notions
about Timon's appearing as a
brother to you are all nonsense"
the hag continued.
"But having all my life, till re-
Gently, considered him as such, |
can't support the idea Of said
the maiden, stopping short in the
midst of her speech.
"Of what?" asked the hag, after
pausing for the maiden to finish her
sentence. "L-o-r-d! what foolish,
romantic notions you possess, and
they all arise from reading those
drivelling works of fiction which
procured in order to wean Timon
from following his internal hounds,
and turn his thoughts on something
else. You must aspire to something
else. You must aspire to some
thing very great, when you refuse
a farm and a husband"
"But, indeed, [ can never love
'tTnlnl1 nnnnnh fn tn hn
so like my own brother" the girl
replied, with pain and confusion
almost overpowering her senses.
"L-o-rd! what foolish notions
yon have imbibed! Haven't you
been told a thousand times he is
not your brother?"
The hag still persisted more
harshly, and growing angry at what
she considered overweening deli
cacy or downright intractableness.
well, 1 do long to know something
about who really am. Have you no
idea, madam, of whom my parents or
friends are, or were?" Christianna said,
endeavoring to escape from the painful
topic by desperate effort to turn the
conversation into another channel, but
in vain.
Lord what a vain curiosity you
have" returned the old woman. What
would it avail if were able to impart the
desired information Think your friends
would want you, when they left you at
another's door, to be taken care of by
strangers? But what should occupy your
thoughts at present is not the past but
the future. The property that Green.
berry, the villain, has been endeavoring
to keep i'll his possession, will soon be
wrung from his knayish hands, and pass
into those of its rightful owners; and then
it has been our intention always of con,
ferring it on you aud Timon, when you
might call me mother with propriety.
When that happy day shall arrive--and il
remains with yourself to bring it as speed
lily as possible-yon shall learn all about
vour birth, and who your friends were"
"Oh, Heaven will you still insist on
such sacrifice >" said the maiden, al
last bursting into tears. 81 am sure
Timon does not want me, and 1 cannot
force myselfto view him in any other
light than that of brother. AS I have
) lived, still permit me 10 remain-without
kindred or friends-and as my infancy i:
veiled i'll mystery, so let me edie-unknowr
; and unlamented The accumulation o.
wealth cannot reconcile situation feai
to contemplate, nor conceal the depend
ance Ia sense of which must ever depres.
my spirit of being raised to honor by the
charity of others, without meriting it."
This half beseeching request and hal
, stubborn declaration of the girl, threw
the chafed hag into still more violent
paroxysm of rage, and she stormed per-
feet tornado of passion, upbraiding the
weeping maiden for her ingratitude and
folly.
Christianna, feeling her heart almost
elking with grief sought her only con-
soler, Nina, who was enjoying the luxury
: of the summer breeze, and regaling her
self with her pipe, beneath shady tree
in the garden.
Cor mighty, honey-what's de mat.
ter ?" asked the old woman, soothingly
Has missus been scoldin' at ye agin
poor child c1, hoh 10 ,,a,oa about I