Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-09-30

a Flash of Daring.
,>>~>~~~~>~~s
MRS. +. Y. WILSON.

Mrs. Miller was pairing early apples
for sauce: Mr.. Miller. with a newspaper
/ spread ON the carpet nj his feet, was
scraping with piece of glass an axe
handle to desired smoothness: while
Bessie, the five-year old daughter of the
house. stood, with kitten in her arms,
watching her father at his work
Suddenly Mrs. Miller. with half
pared apple in one hand and holding a
knife threateningly in the other ex-
claimed. IF there is anything in the
world despise. it's dog in manger.
so il is -
Mr. Miller looked up inquiringly
why. Marthy." he said "what do you
mean -
Just what said" she answered,
sharply; "a dog in manger I'd like to
know what else you d call feller that
hangs around girl. keepin' every 9th
er young man away, and hasn't cour
age enough to speak ont and" Here
she was interrupted by the opening of
door near her which led 10 the kitch-
en-. while clear, sweet voice asked if
the apples Were ready.
Just about" said Mrs. Miller, deftly
finishing the last one, and handing the
pan containing them 10 the owner of
the voice This was Mrs. Miller's
young sister. and a pretty picture she
,uaJo ,r;tl, l,ar s1oax.as YnilaI aloy. har
elbows showing her plump. dimpled
arms. her curling brown hair pushed
back from her white forehead, and her
face rosy with the heat. Little drops
of PRECIPITATION stood around her lips,
and as she wiped them away with her
blue checked apron, she said: Il guess
I'll make pie as well as the sauce; the
men always like pie" She looked at
her interrogatively.
"Of course, if you want" said Mrs.
Miller; "but it is 81 warm To bake and
81 don't mind the heat" the girl said
laughingly. rs she closed the door and
went singing merrily back to the kitch-
4
en-.
81 can't see," said Mr. Miller, why
you are so anxious to have Lucinda
marry; she's mighty nice TO have
around
I'm not anxious. retorted his wife
who was like an older edition of her
pretty sister. ''but l do say no man has
right to go with girl and keep every
body else away unless he means to mar
ry her; and do say it's acting like "a
dog in manger' For here's Lucind a
nearly twenty three. and might have
had lots of chances if it hadn't been for
him.
Mr.. Miller evidently Thought silence
the better part. for he made no answer,
but scraped away diligently ut the axe
handle. Presently he ran his hand up
and down the surface Of the wood. say
ing, Il reckon that's about right now.
"Let me feel it. pap said the little
daughter. and she initiated his move
ment so earnestly that her father
laughed. Il dess it's right, pap" she
said: Its perfectly stick.
Come on then. Bessie. he said. ris-
ing from his chair, land we will try TO
finish the job before supper
They left the room together, while
Mrs. Miller cleared up the scrapings of
hickory and placed the chairs against
the wall as vindicatively as if the mys-
terious dog in the manager" was being
handled in the process.
You must not for an instant think
that Mrs Miller was an i'll natured
woman, for she was not. She dearly
loved the young orphan sister who had
been with her for years. and really
liked young Stebbins. the neighboring
farmers son. of whom she had spoken
So contemptuously. But her ambition
had been aroused by the very evident
desire of rising young physician in
the vicinity TO visit her sister. She had
an idea that a marriage with doctor
would increase Lucinda's prospects of a
happy future. and was vexed that Lu-
cinda did not seem to share her opin-
ions. but showed decided preference
for Joe Stebbins, the aforesaid young
farmer.
Poor Joe. What anguish he would
have felt if he had known the thoughts
Mrs. Miller harbored of him He was
a fine manly fellow, but had such an
humble opinion of himself that he new
er could do himself Justice He truly
loved Lucinda Hart, and had repeated
TO himself hundred times the very
words in which he would tell of his
love; but once in her presence. doubts
beset him and one glance of her blue
eyes rendered him dumb. Thus he was
always at disadvantage when with
her.
As for Lucinda. we cannot tell what
her feeling for him was. She was mis-
chievously kind at one time. and saucily
cruel the next She laughed at him to
his face. but quickly resented anyone
else doing so, and invariably defended
him when her sister ridiculed or found
fault with him.
4 few days after the conversation we
have recorded between Mr.. and Mrs.
Miller. Joe. in new buggy, and driv
ing his favorite horse, Prince. drove up
to Mr. Miller's gate for the purpose of
taking Lucinda to picnic in the neigh
borhood as had been arranged by them
selves the Sunday before. From her
window Lucinda saw him, and. leaning
out. she called To Bessie, who was play
ing in the yard. TO tell Mr. Stebbins she
was not quite ready. but would be i'll a
few minutes. Bessie ran joyfully ont,
for she liked Joe. as she always called
him, and, after delivering her aunt's
message. begged him to take her lust
little ride. -
.'All right" said Joe. good naturedly,
Give me your hands, and catching
her up. he seated her by his side and
drove off.
Bessie was delighted She chattcd
gally about any and everything. while
Joe, his thoughts intent ON what he
wished To say to Lucinda. was silent.
The child was disturbed: She did not
like this silence joe she said. what
makes you So still: Don't you like me-
Then before he could answer. she ex-
claimed. "Oh. Joe. do you know what a