Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-02-05

nsn's heart but as beautiful woman
she can use him as il best suits her
purpose. Hannah's lodger paid his
money in advance new, and she felt as
mother feels when her son grows in
to manhood and passes ous Of her care.
There was no need nov to substitute
rev skirts fer old ones, and the
elderly party was comforting favor
on her by remaining in his humble
lodgings. Her self sacrifices for her
beloved teacher we're useless now.
She comforted herself with the thought
that he never treated Madeline as al
intellectual companion, but she knew
that he was more a man end less OF
scholar when Madeiine's blue eyes and
blight head were lighting up the cor
ner Of his dark study.
One morning when Hannah was
ironing, with the table piled high in
we'll bleached linen, the elderly par
ty" came into the kitchen with Made.
line. He walked straight up to where
Hannah stood, with her hot face bent
ever the steaming shirt, and drew
Ma feline forward.
Hannah, your cousin has promised
70 marry me. She is young and beau.
tiful, and am only plain scholar,
but | will do my best to make her a
good husband"
AS if it had been thrust through her
body with the point of bay onet each
word went to Hanuah's heart. 1t
ceased beating. Madeline, of course,
knew why her cousin had SO suddenly
tainted, and the poor little bit of
triumph made her heart beat quicker,
but when she looked up at her lover
his face was pale with fear. She saw
a look OF agony in his eyes a he turned
them to her for help, which told her
that she did not possess the heart of
the scholar go completely as she
thought, and the vixen in her was
reused.
COB, you need not be so alarmed;
she has tainted through sheer ieal.
ousy."
For one moment he stood trans6xed;
all that he had been blind to for years
was made PLAIN to him now, and in
that moment he recognized the heart.
lessness of the woman he had proposed
to only ten minutes ago.
"Are you woman to tell womans
secret and make light Of it9''
Madeline was frightened at the look
OF sccrn and contempt IN his eyes,
which had always looked at her so
gently. She stood at bay, and watched
his trembling hands sprinkle Hanuah's
face with the cold water she had used
for sprinkling the linen. 1t was kept
in small white bowl on the ironing
table.
1--WE not said anything that the
whole village does not know, Arabells
inc 'uded, that Hannah Fletcher has
been waiting to marry her lodger for
the last ten years.
"Ihen I'll marry her now. I love
her, : tell you" He chafed the pale
cheeks, and rubbed the thin hands.
''I'ye always loved her. Oh, what a
selfish fool / have been"
tYou loved me but ten minutes ago.
For simple scholar you are wonder.
fully quick at love-"
''Ten minutes ago | did not know
that it was Hannah l loved as a man
ought to love the woman ne marries.
Your beauty deceived me into believ-
ing that I loved you. | had not given
a thought to love until you came.
ask your forgiveness.
Tears, which were always ready,
came into her blue eyes at the harsh
words he had spoken, but che knew
that they were true. She had no love
for the grave and elderly scholar; he
was to be her refuge from work, and
she loved ease. She stood for a mo-
ment or two and watched returning
quiver over Hannah's
pale face, and then she turned to so.
"Alter all. Hannah is growing old,
and she has been good to me; will
not rob her OF her elderly lover"
A lover was waiting for Madeline
half mile out Of the village. 1t was
q provision dealer, and Madeline
would have preferred being the wife Of
a scholar. The Queen.