Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-03-18

you W at school,. !"
- ~ Mr.. Peste, to do this
fQran III marry when do
ARp iisnusaaa. will
not consider Any one whom / don't
asS6n g16d to hear you say So"
81 Should not dream of saying any
thing else .
81 thought, from what your aunt
said that YOU understood -"
Indeed, indeed, Mr. Beste," i" she
said, pleadingly, you must not think
so badly of me as all that"
81 can't tell you how glad | am, "
he said, honestly, ''to hear it. |
shall, at any rate, take away pleasant
memories now"
"Tbank you
"And,' he went on, with something
of hurry in his manner, 81 shall
think of you great deal, Miss Lang
ham. Now that you have told me this,
| shall look back upon this visit to
England as one of absolute delight" !"
''And : and you will come back
again?n
He waited a moment.
81 wonder whether l might write to
you?" he asked.
81 Think she said, looking up
with a pleased expression, 'that there
is no law against that.
81 was afraid you would consider it
an impertinence ON my part :"
''You find that l do not.
''There is something else to ex-
plain, " he said, awkwardly. "I have
been here, to some extent, in disguise.
l think, perhaps, had better write
and tell You all about it"
''There are still five minutes she
said, looking at the tiny gold watch on
her wrist. "Why not tell me now?"
81 suppose" he said, with some
neryousne S. "that under no circum-
stances would you marry Mr.. Charter
house"
"Under no circumstances, replied
Miss Langham, decidedly.
''He is very rich" he remarked,
''and happen to know that he
81 desire" said the young woman,
with much spirit. Il desire not to hear
Mr. Charterhouse's name again"
"Your mind is quite made up?"
, 'sJuite.
A porter stood patiently at the door
of the compartment, holding it open
for the passenger to South Africa.
There's nothing like a young en-
gagged couple" said the acute porter
to himself, ''for making trains late,
They don't care"
But suppose were to tell y,u"
he said, taking her hand and holding
it, ''that Mr.. Charterhouse, who was
poorish man until three years ago,
when this mine was found on his prop
erty, has been in England lately? Sup
pose l were to tell you that he has
ia lien in love with you -"
"Even that doe not concern me, Mr..
Bcste"
"And supposing / were to tell you
that, to avoid being pestered by finan-
cial people and to see the little school
girl who has grown so tall and $3.50
charming, he preferred to call him
self, not Mr. Charterhouse, the owner
of the Wess End mine, but Mr.. Beste,
the manager Of"
''That, said Miss Langham, her
breath coming quickly, would make
all the difference.
The porter jerked his head toward
the comp aytment, to hint to his client
that moments were valuable. The
client had no need of this iutimation,
for he knew better than the porter how
very precious the moments were.
''Do you really mean that?" he
asked, quickly.
II never say things I don't mean,
Mr.. Beste-I mean Mr.. Charterhouse "
She laughed little nervously. 81
shall always think of you as Mr..
Beste."
"But will you always think of me?
May | come back here in three months
time and ask you formally"
''Now, then. sir" said the porter,
you'll go and lose the special, that's
what you'll do"
81 mustn't do that, my man. Good
bye, Eva must take my seat, 1 sup
pose"
He stepped into the compartment,
and tine porter, shutting the door, re-
ceiSed tip that made him whistle
with delight.
''And you won't give me an answer
now, them" he went on, anxiously.
Il wish there was time TO persuade
you, dear, to say Yes. But l sup
pose | must wait until l return, and
we must talk it over then, and | must
try to induce you 49,"
81 think" said Eva Laugham, look
ing up and drawing her gray veil care
fully up from her lips, II think that,
considering how very badly you have
behaved, the wisest thing you can do
is tots to Hiss me.
There was just time.
"And that means?" he said, delight
edly.
"It means" she said, "that 1 am
very, very happy"
Out you go, specal train to South
ampton. Go slowly for a space, mind,
because there are folks in the train
who are reluctant 10 leave; go slowly,
because there are hores and ambitions
among your passengers, and this start
of yours is the first step toward their
realization of their disappointment;g go
slowly, because bearded man, with a
look Of content, is straining his sight
to miss nothing of the picture of his
fuinre wife.
"Wel, said Eva Langham to her
self, shyly ''this has been busy
twenty minutes. Woman at Home.
The Klondikc Markings.
"Do you really think the young fell
low who wants to marry jamie is Il
bona fide Klonkiker?"
II guess ho Is. He's short an car