The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-06-17
RISING SUN, CECIL COUNTY MD. FRIDAY, II,

that-a-" Here her eye wandered
again to the hat. "So-that-a-" she
repeated, absently.
''So--that-a-" mimicked Tom, at
which laughed weakly and helplessly.
Nell gave him-both of US, in fact-a fu-
rious glance, and returned to her
charge.
All this time Mr.. Everett had be-
haved admirably. He must have OBJ
served our hysierical nervousness, but
presume he attributed it to the dire
confusion and disorder of our surround
ings.
When he finally arose to take his de-
parture, Nell put her 'kerchief to her
lips with u shameless pretense at cough
ing-she, who had the strongest lungs
in the fami!y-and said rapidly: For
heavens sake, Kate, pick up his hat
and wipe the chocolate off tefore ne
sees it," Then louder: I'm so sorry
we did not know you were coming, so
we could have made your visit pleas
anter."
by iingo," said Tom, making a dash
for the cubby hole. That reminds me
I'd better be getting his coat before ne
| investigates and finds it between the
potatoes and the coal oil can! My!" he
calculated, shifting exaggeratedly, as
he returned with it, cit smells of coal
oil!"
"By the way" said Mr.. Everett, turn
| irg TO me kindly, ''here's letter for
you from my brother, which l should
have given you before. l shall tell him
how greatly l enjoyed my call" And
as he bowed himself out there dawned
upon his face slow smile of such in
tense and uncomfortable amusement
that it made me feel as if an icy hand
was clutching my heart. We all stood
transfiXed until we heard the door close
behind him. Then
Ills brother!" exclaimed Nell, in n
low, terrible tone. "Wretched girl!
Who is his brother?"
81 don't know" / faltered, almost in
tears, tearing open the letter.
Ten to one," said Tom, strutting
around with his thumbs in his button
holes, ''it's proposal OF marriage.
"Or 500 check for that last story"
said Nell, laughing nervously.
They came behind me and looked over
my shoulder, all reading together. 1t
was not proposal of marriage, but it
was a check-an effectual one-to our
spirits.
MY Dear Miss Orne: We have long de-
sired to make your acquaintance, and as
one of us must go to your town on business
I shall LET NV brOt box
ure, denying myself because I am so deaf
as l have told you-that you would find
conversation with me embarrassing. My
brother is so fortunate as to enjoy perfect
hearing. 1 am sure you will like him, al
though l believe l have never mentioned
him to you. He is associate editor of the
Review. l am
"Yours very sincerely,
HUGH A. EVERETT"
For a moment that seemed n year
there was deadly silence. Then began
to sob childishly, and Nell-I regret to
be compelled to tell it-Nell went into
regular Mysteries of mirth, and laughed
and cried alternately. Nor did she en-
tirely recover for weeks, but would go
into commissions of merriment at the
mere mention of that evening. Tom
neither laughed nor cried. He just sat
down on the edge of the organ stool and
twisted his faint presentiment of a mus
tache and swung his long legs to and
fro, and reflected. When his thoughts
had had time to travel down tc the bag
of potatoes and the coal oil can, l i'm
agine he concluded that he could re-
feet more clearly if alone, for he arose
silently and stole into the store, nor
did so much as. a murmur emerge from
him during the remainder of the even
ing. 1t was the first and last time in
my life that ever saw Tom squelched.
Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post.