The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-03-10
PRISONER OF WAR.

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PRISONER OF WAR.
"No rent again this month This
is the third time it has happened with.
in the half year. I'll go there my
self and get the money, or I'll know
the reason why"
Matthew Deane was in particularly
bad humor this raw December morn
ing. Everything had gone wrong.
Stocks had fallen when they ought to
have risen, his clerk had tipped over
the inkstand on his special and pecu-
liar heap of paper, the fire obstinately
refused to burn in the grate-in short,
nothing went right, and Mr.. Deane
was consequently and corresponding
ly cross.
Jenkins !"
Eyes, sir"
go to the Widow Clarkson and
tell her 1 shall be there in half an
hour and expect confdently-mind,
Jenkins, confdently-to receive that
rent money, or else 1 shall myself be
obliged to resort to extreme meas
ures. You understand, Jenkins ?"
Certainly, sir.''
"Then don't stand there staring
like an idiot p snarled Mr.. Deane in
sudden burst of irratation, and Jen-
kins disappeared like shot.
Just half an hour afterward Mat
thew Deane brushed the brown hair
Just sprinkled with gray from his
square yet not unkindly brow. Put
ting on his fur lined overcoat, he
walked forth into the chilly winter
air, fully determined fgurative1y to
annihilate the defaulting Widow
Clarkson.
It was a dwarish little red brick
house, which appeared originally to
have aspired by circumstances, had
settled down into story and half,
but the windows shone like Brazilian
pebbles, and the doorsteps were worn
6ncunstances;,- now Y CIT -erEOf .'4s11.
Deane remark as he pulled the gilt
tering brass doorknob and strobe into
Mrs. Clarkson's neat parlor.
There was small fre-very small,
as if every lump of anthracite was
boarded in the stove-and at table,
with writing implements before her,
sat young lady whom Mr.. Deane at
once recognized as Mrs. Clarkson S
niece, Miss Olive Mellen. She was
not disagreeable to look upon, though
you would never have thought of
CHASING her among the beauties, with
shining black hair, blue, long lashed
eyes and very pretty mouth hiding
teeth like rice kernals, SO white were
they.
Miss Me1len rose VITA a polite nod,
which was grimly reciprocated by Mr..
Deane.
"I have called to see your aunt,
Miss Mellen.
81 know it, sir, but as l am aware
of her timid temperament sent her
away. 1 prefer to deal with you my
self"
Mr.. Deane started. The cool au-
dacity Of this damsel in gray, with
scarlet ribbons in her hair, rather as
tonished him.
"I-er-suppose the money-er-
is ready?"
mo, sir; it is not
"Then, Miss Olive--pardon mel
must speak plainly, I shall send an
officer here this afternoon to put val
uation on the furniture, and"
"You will do nothing of the kind,
sir p
Olives cheeks had redeemed, and
her eyes flashed portentously. Mr..
Deane turned toward the door, but ere
he knew what she was doing Olive
had walked quietly across the room,
locked the door and taken out the key.
Then she resumed her seat.
"What does this mean ?" ejacula-
ted the astonished prisoner of wal" 4"
"It means, sir, that you will now
beobliged to reconsider the question, F"
said Olive.
"Obliged?"
Eyes. You will hardly jump out
of the window, and there is no other
method of egress, unless you choose
to go up the chimney. Now, then,
Mr.. Deane, will you tell me if you, a
Christian man in the nineteenth cen
tury, intend to sell widows ft1rni-
ture because she is not able to pay
your rent? Listen, sir?'
Mr.. Deane had opened his mouth to
demonstrate, but Olive enforced her
words with a very emphatic little
stamp of the foot, and he was, as it
were, stricken dumb.
"You are what the world calls a
rich man, Mr.. Deane. You own
rows of houses, piles of bank stock,
railroad shares, bonds and mortgages
who knows what? My aunt has
nothing. support her by copying.
Now, if this case be carried into a
court of law, my poor ailing aunt will
be a sufferer. You would emerge un.
scathed and pro6ting. You are not
bad man, Mr.. Deane; you have q
great many noble qualities, and 1 like
you for them" She paused an in.
slant and looked intently and grave
ly at Mr.. Deane. The color rose tc
his cheek. It was not disagreeable
to be told bya pretty young girl that
she liked him, on any terms, yet she
had indulged in pretty plain speak
ing. "I have heard" she went on,
"of your doing kind actions when
you were in the humor for it. You
can do them and you shall in this in
stance. You are cross this morning,
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