Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-12-06
The Cameo Brooch.
BY RETT wINwooD.

Stlrfeu LIS uSualIy uAsooNeP'ioAS
heart.
"Have l traversed the wide WORTH
over, and gone unscathed all these
years." he asked himself, "only to
fall in love, at first sight with rus
tic divinity out in the wilds of Michi-
GAM
At the. sound of his footsteps the
girl looked up. with startled air, the
lovely peach-bloom color deepening
and Frightening in her velvety checks.
What Daisy Wentworth saw was
a tall, dark young man, of eight-and-
twenty, with a somewhat listless ex-
preston upon his face. He wore tour
lists dress of gray tweed, and carried
small pack slung across his broad
shoulders.
May l trouble you for drink OF
water?" he asked, in q low, muslcal
voice, that made the girl start, its re-
fined accents were so different from
the rough speech to which she was
accustomed.
Before Daisy could comply with the
request. the kitchen-door swung sud
denly open, and hard, stronghold
tured face, with beetling black brows
and fiery eyes, peered out, the face Oh
Mrs. Wentworth. Daisy's stepmother.
Don't come in here." she cried. in
a shrill acrid voice, glowering angrily
at the astonished young man. You
have nothing l want in that nasty
pack. l never trade with tramps.'
"Oh, motherv cried Daisy, in dis
may. II am sure the man is no ped
der
Hes something worse, then, ana
had better go about his business.
Mrs. Wentworth was about to slam
the door, when, by an amusing coin
cidence, peddler's cart drove into
the yard.
She was one of those women who
made "distnctions." Though unable to
abide one who carried his pack on his
own back, she had weakness for
peddlers who had arrived at the dis
tinction of driving a cart.
The angry look instantly vanished
from her face, leaving it bland and
smiling She decided that Max De-
laney must be the avant courier.
I'm sure l beg your pardon!' she
said. humbly. 81 took you for one O.
the sort that goes about with smuggled
goods made right here at home. and
cheap laces they try to palm off as
genuine thread. l am disgusted with
the whole tribe. And Daisy there has
oil nj of
trifiing and idling. Just like her dead
mother, they say. It's dreadful trial
to have another womans child to
bring up. | would never have mar
ried Silas Wentworth had l known he
would up and die at the end of five
years. and leave me to take care of
his first wife's daughter. l have
children enough Of my own to look
after"
Daisy was accustomed to these IT,
rades. but they always brought tears
to her eyes. She might have reported
that her stepmother had seized upon
the bit of property that was left, and
used it all for the benefit of her own
children, but she refrained
wait a minute" Mrs. Wentworth
resumed, garrulously. I've got lots
Of rags slowed away In the garret,
that I've been keeping until the right
person comes along. If you don't
mind being hndered, I'll go and
gather 'em up
A roguish twinkle showed itself in
Max Delaney's eyes. as the woman
disappeared in the direction of the
upper regions.
MY pack only contains the kit of
strolllng artist" he said. smilingly.
But here comes the real Simon
Pure" as freckled-faced man, with
scraggy. sandy moustache. ascend
ed the steps. bringing an armful Of
tinware and some old-fashioned steel
yards. Il shall abdcate in his favor"
Daisy's cheeks We're burning hotly
but she caught up her print sunbon-
net. and bringing Il tumbler from the
pantry-shelf, led the way to the we'll
In the shadow OF some lilac-bushes at
the rear of the house.
Max drank the cool water she prof
ferred. as though It had been am
brosia. On returning the empty glass.
his gaze happened to fall upon the
pin that fastened Daisy's collar. IL
WAS n cameo of considerable value
a portrait finely and artlstically cut;
but il did not look out of place. though
her dress was of common glngham.
Il beg your pardon" he Said. eager
ly. But may | ask where you got
that hroachf
'It was my mothers" Daisy replied:
that In why like 10 wear it,
"oh-an heirloom. Can you tell me
anything of Its history"
"yery little. My mother priced II
highly. The likeness Is that Of some
relatiyc-a great-aunt | believe"
what was your mothers maiden
namef
"I.thei Mclean"