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

] e~'0 "
30 thoroughly enjoyable that 1 cut it
short with regret, and II any one has
been bored, Miss Mary has been the suf-
ferer, | fear.
His glance sought the brown eyes,
bending over the worsted, but Mary's
work was evidently all-absorbing.
"We will lot discuss your departure
any further Tonight spvhded Mr..
Millard, slightly pain at his grand
daughters manner. Tomorrow, hope.
will find you willing TO give us at least
few days more of your company. | be-
lieve neither Mary nor myself Is quite
willing to let you go yet. Mary, why
will you spoil your eyes over that
work. Put 1t aside, my dear, aud give
us some music. Jack has never heard
you sing"
And he never will, grandpa. You
know perfectly well that don't pretend
10 sing, and that | never, under any cir
eumstances, sing for any one but you.
Nonsense, my dear; you have an ex-
cellent natural voice. Jack will agree
with me, am sure, if you will give him
an opportunity to judge. l fear he may
think you have no accomplishments.
He knows better" she answered,
with slightly darkehing eyes. He knows
[ can swim, and row, and rido"--she
half paused after naming this last ac-
,omplishment, and, giving Jack de-
,idedly defiant glance, added, calmly
two ways
The next second she caught her
grandfather's eyes fixed upon her in
3erplexed surprise, and with remorse-
tul air and a painful blush, she said,
rather penitently:
when you look at me In that way
feel like savage. / am savage, any
way, and plenty Of others would be, too,
If they dared. | hate people who won't
do things simply because tho world con-
iemns them. They are nothing but
hypocrites. They'd break a command
ment of God sooner than commit
breach of etiquette. They are bound
by such wall of trusts and mistruet.
that they lose every grain of individual
ity, and become such nsufferable prigs
that | should find it tiresome to look at
them"
Mary concluded this somewhat forei-
BILE expression of her views with flashing
eyes and gesture of the hand that gave
her words an impassioned emphasis
Then settling back in her chair she once
more bent over her work. Jack did not
attempt to conceal the admiration her
attitude aroused In him, but her grand
father watched her more gravely.
Don't mind this, jack" he said at
last; Il understand my little girl thor
oughly."
$50 do l." responded Jack much to
Mary's chagrin.
When Mr. Willard left them half
hour later Jack brought his chair and
placed it close by Mary's.
Let me have that, he said, taking
the work from her hand and putting it on
the mantel. Now please tell we wheth-
er | am to stay.
Stay, of course, returned Mary, feel
ing that he had taken soLe of her spirit
with her work. Il have some idea of po-
liteness."
The last part of your sentence rather
spoils the first. Do You find polteness
so hard to practice? You have almost
turned your back upon me. That is
really not good manners. Is it?'
I'm not capable of judging. l know
nothing of good manners. / pride my
self an having particularly bad ones.
You need not concern yours II in either
event.
He elevated his brows very slightly.
Needn't II" he asked. May l tell
you just why and how far l should like
10 concern myself in your regard?"
He asked this last question pointedly,
and with a new earnestness upon his
lace. Her eyes dropped. Something in
lis glance warned her, and rather pre-
,ipitately she left her chair and walked
20 the window. Yet oven in the dim
light he saw the vivid color that dyed
1er face, and made mental note of the
Tact.
In the moment that followed he had
time to think. He was not man given
10 Impulse. Never before had he been
conscious of a feeling stronger than
simple admiration for any woman. But
Tor this unconventional, self-willed little
country girl he felt something deeper.
Just what he scarcely paused to analyze.
He was content to wait until time should
nake him surer.
These reflections passed through his
mind with the rapidity of light, and the
next minute he had joined Mary at the
window.
Let us have light. he said brislsly.
This twilight is melancholy. Do you
think can manage those lamps without
blowing up the house?'
Il think you had better not try"
answered Mary turning from her con-
temptation of the landscape outside.
I will light them, if you will close the
blinds"
When Mary ran in to kiss her grand
father goodnight, she placed her arms
about his neck with unusual affection,
whispering as she did so:
Il panied you Tonight, grandpa; I
know did. | am sorry for it. So very
sorry. l don't know why should have
been in such an ill-humor, but [ was,
and do find it so hard to feel one way
and act another l intend to do better
after this. Indeed do. Now, kiss me
and say you forgive me.