Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-09-23
a PLATA, MARYLAND, SEPTEMBER p, Isas.

- h"thou outst out iauShing.
why, the engagement is not an
nonnced yet, and you waut the date
of the weddingl can assure you it
will not be before next fall. Tbat is
sure" Mrs. Harmon seemed to Ead
pleasure in coming out strongly on
point when she could, even il it were
only.a negative one.
did you get Miss Harmon any
things while you were abroad?" con
tinued Miss Upton. Mrs. Harmon's
diamond brooch must have cost a
pretty penny.
"Oh, a few little things, yes.
Things | knew she had TO have.
Mrs. Harmon had recourse to her
handkerchief for a moment.
"How old is Miss Harmon?" asked
Lefty, with interest. The mother was
SO young aud girlishl She took the
matter so lightly, and it seemed SO
amusing to horl
"Dou't | look young eaough to be
spared having to tell my dnghtcr's
age?" that interesting lady laughed
back; 'but Miss Harmon is not II
yet. Don't press me too closely"
"Will it be church wodding? And
will Worth make the gown"
Miss Upton felt that Mrs. Harmon
wa1 willing enough TO have ths facts
come out, but did not wish to have
told them.
"You are perfect inquisitor, "
laughed the lady. Il avn going to
send you away" she added, rising.
'You have led me on so aud made me
talk when | told you that the engage
ment wasn't even announced yet. Re-
member that | haven't told you
thing. can't imagine how the news
papers find out everything. Will it
be in tomorrow's paper? mean are
you going to write anything about it?
l shant see another person from a
paper. It's too dangerous.
She was evidently putting an end
to the intery ew to keep herself from
telling a quantity of things more
which the willy Miss Upton would
worm out of her.
The young newspaper woman
was pretty well content. She had
learned enough in this indirect way to
embellish her information into most
interesting story.
This she did aud thrilled with pride
when she saw it in the next days In
vestigator with headline of great
prominence. The Search Light, The
Investigators bitterest rival, haln't
word about the thing.
The editor of the Woman's Page
had asked her why she did not get
photograph of Miss Harmon. Lefty
had not thought of il. Well. she
could try aud get that later, and they
could print it on Sunday. Miss Upton
was sure she could get it from Mrs.
Harmon.
In her story Lefty said that ''the
young iancee OF the proud English
title is a graceful, sweet girl verging
on her 18th birthday. During the
past year abroad she had received the
finishing touches to her education, and
the wedding will probably occur next
autumn. The family are extremely
reticent aboat the engagement.
On the day following that on which
Lefty had glowed over her own Peri
odsin all the dignity of type, she came
to the Office bright and early, thirsting
for more Mrs. Harmons. Newspaper
work was fascinatingl
Her enthusiasm was dampene | by
a little note on her desk. She read
in CONSERVATION that her resignation
was requestedi
She hurried to the editor of the
Woman's Page and showed the note.
'Oh, what does this mean?" abe al
most walled. 'I don't understand.
cit means that you made the paper
perfectly ridiculous and let woman
get even with The Investigator for
past story about her," sal that lady
with untemr cred severity 'Fhere,"
and she handed Lefty slip, ''is what
The Search-Light has this inornilg"
81 don't suppose you have read the
daily papers" she added, sarcasticalIy.
"The Mrs. Harmon that the paragraph
l gave you was about lives in Orange,
as you should have found out. That
is the picture Of the Miss Harmon
about whom you wrote your story
1t was the woodcut Of dear little
baby girl in long clothes, labelled
s"Mrs. Harmon's Only Daughter. ~
Youths Companion.