Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-11-05

We MtAu luoN lAtblo ~ htNuuNt VI
them. managed it so, and 1 was in
the gayest of spirits, quite convulsed
with laughter, in fact, and clinging
to Toms arm as though l loved him
dearly, instead of utterly despising
him.
We had received invitations to
party for the next evening. / would
not have stayed at home for worlds,
though | had nearly cried my eyes ont
and had violent headache in conse-
quence.
On such occasions Harry had al
ways been memma's and my escort;
but, of course, he would take some
one else now, and Tom had asked us.
l had always run down to exhibit my
self to Harry before final wrapping up,
but could not do so for Tom,
and | was as sulky as sulky could be
when 1 presented myself.
What did l care for his old riches?
l never would marry him, and he
might as well find it out first as last.
So, when he remarked on the beauty
of the night, as we proceeded to the
carriage, l declared that it was the
eoldest, blackest and most wretched
night Of the season.
An answer SO full and exhaustive
admitted of no reply. aud there was
silence of several minutes.
Mr.. Vining was probably not to be
present at the party, as he was gener-
ally my escort, was the next remark.
l was sure l did not know whether
he was to be present or not. 1 was
not kept informed of all my cousins
movements.
A silence somewhat longer than be-
fore, but Mr.. Dickerson was not to be
thwarted. He had set out with the
determination to be agreeable, aud
slight obstacles should not discourage
him.
''Mr. Vining appears to be very at
tentivc to Miss Knapp lately" he
said. ''They were riding in the park
on Tuesday, noticed" ;"
Such a pang as shot through mel
/ had not the heart to be cross, so
merely said, 'fIndeedr' and coughed
and laughed and choked and swal-
lowed to keep back burst of grief.
And all the time mamma sat quite
silent and seemed to pay no attention.
OF course the first person I saw ON
entering the ballroom was Cousin
Harry, with Nora Knapp upon his arm,
but ] affected the most supreme deyo-
ton to Tom, and utterly ignored
Harry's presence 1 was perfectly
wild that night, dancing, flirting and
laughing as though l never had a
care; inasmuch, that | heard n gentle
man remark to another, 81 think Miss
Vernon is the most light-hearted crea-
ture l ever saw. What sunbeam she
must be at home.
After while Harry and I met face
to face, and he said, "Good evening, "
with a careless smile, and turned to his
partner.
So the winter months passed, and
Tom was usually my cavalier, though,
now that Harry's attentions had
ceased, other gentlemen began to make
advances. But none of them pleased
me, and Tom disgusted me so that |
could hardly treat him with necessary
eiyility. In fact, / was often exces-
sively rude to him, which had an eff
feet the reverse of that desired, for
his visits and attentions increased
every week.
Harry, in the meantime, was as at
tentive as possible to Miss Knapp, and
it was soon reported that they were
engaged, and even / was compelled to
believe it when she displayed an en-
gagement ring.
So. with some heartaehes, / deter
mined seriously and after mature de-
liberation that | should not marry at
all. / was the only child, and it was
plainly my duty to remain with my
parents, to comfort to their declining
years, and, inasmuch as such was to
be my fate, might as well begin i'm
mediately; so / took to drinking a
great deal Of tea, to taking very
great interest in household affairs and
to sympathizing with aud assisting
mamma among the poor and to being
extremely methodieal and precise.
Harry had not been to the house
since that last day, over three months
ago, and now mamma aud papa did
not mention him. had never told
them the cause of our quarrel, and
they soon ceased to question me,
though / could not help suspecting
that they knew.
At last. one day, Tom Dickerson
asked me. in stupid, blundering sort
of way, if l would be his wife; where
upon / informed him. in manner suf-
ficiently positive, that most assured
ly would not. His surprise was i'm
mense, and he seemed to think / must
have made a mistake; wanted to know
if | really meant it aud said that |
should have everything wanted. But
the more he insisted the more en-
phatic | became, aud he at length
took leave, saying that if / should
change mymind must let him know.
As soon as he was gone | told NAM
ma all about it, aud then she drew
from me the story, told with many
tears. Of Harry's declaration and how
l had spurned it and how miserable 1
had been ever since, and now he was
engaged to somebody else, and l
should never marry anybody After
sobbing a little while with my head in
her lap felt a great deal better and
that it would not be so hard to be an
old maid after all. My only regret
was, that old as | might consider my
self, no one else could possibly con
slider me so for ten years yet, and yet,
during all that time. should be OBJ
liged to 60 into society.
A few days after this mamma aud
papa went out one afternoon to make
call, and I was sitting alone in the
parlor. Suddenly some one pronounced
my name, and, looking up, 1 saw