The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-03-24
TOWSON, MD, SATURDAY, MARCH

a schoolgirls marvellous celerity.
Rhoda watched her with disapprov-
ing eyes.
II hope you will soon have leisure
for acquiring respectable table MAN.
ners,' she said, tartly. "At1east be
more careful when you lunch with
papa"
Sibyl opened her lips for hasty
retort, then thought better oft. Her
quick ear had caught thrill of wound
ed pride in Rhoda's speech.
"Why don't you come, too," she
said impulsively. "We-" then
sudden thought checked the rest of
the sentence.
mo, thank you," Rhoda said,
I'1ofti1y, II have too much to do"
Rhoda sat quietly until the closing
hall door assured her that her sister
was gone. No one remembcrs-nol
one cares" she thought, miserably.
''I don't even believe they miss man.
ma as do. And now they plan pleas
ant things while I am forgotten. Oh,
it is so hard hard |" And though
in her heart she knew her bitter
thoughts to be unjust, the morbid
mood held her in its grasp and she
cried bitterly. A spirit of restless
energy took possession of her and the
day was devoted to the accomplish
ment of distastefu1 and trying duties
that had been hitherto postponed.
Lunch was hastily disposed of, though
Norah, the cook, had provided Rho
da's favorite salad.
'Shure, it's worrakin too hard ye
are, Miss Rhody," she said, peering
into the dining room, as Rhoda push
ed back her chair, impatiently. can
it's not more'n would contint bird
that yez do be eatin' !"
cit is all I need," the girl said,
shortly, still hugging her martyr
mood, and Norah retired with dis
appointed face-her little attempt at
celebration unnoticed and unappre-
ciated.
But when dusk fell Rhoda was
thoroughly weary. Pushing open the
door of her mother room, she crossed
to the bow window and, dropping
Imply upon cushion, pillowed her
head on the sill. The fair day, which
had been full of darkness to her, had
slipped away, leaving the west a-glim-
mer with purest, palest green, por
tent Of frost. Gradually the tender
associations of the place brought
healing te-hef sore spirit and as tears
wet her eyes, Rhoda's mood changed.
Dear mother" she whispered, as if |
she felt the loving spirit near, "I feel
so miserable, but give me time. !"
A sweet stiffness had fallen over the |
suburban town, broken only by the
occasional rattle of a passing wagon,
or the distant whistle of the trains
plying between the city and its off
give warning of the return of her
father and sister. Sitting up, she
raised the window a crack that she
might not be caught unawares. 81
was so cross this morning that must
make their homecoming CHEEKY"
size WIlSPSISu PSullSutly.
Just then came the sound of run
ming feet and the clamor of boyish
voices. Something in their tone of
excited horror brought Rhoda to her
feet. Throwing the window wide
open she leaned out into the crisp air,
but could get no clue as to the cause
of the hubbub. A door in the oppo-
site house opened and a man ran
down the steps.
"Hello p he called imperatively,
after the passing rabble, Whats
up?"
"The $40 out has gone through
the bridge at the Hopedale crossing"
came the impatient answer.
Anybody killed?"
Don't know yet; just going
down )" and the dusky figure waited
for no further interrogation. Rhoda
clutched at the wall for support. She
tried to cry out, but no words would
come. AS Mr.. Kenyon sprang up
the stairs, he caught strange sound
from the dark house opposite. With
quick intuition regarding its cause,
he turned back, scanning the win
dows.
Ibid anybody call?" he asked.
"Is it you, Miss Rhoda?'' The cleo
trio light shone on her white face as
the girl looked down with wild, be-
seeching eyes ooh, what shall I
dor"
II am going right down to Hope
dale" her neighbor said, quickly; |
and something in the strong, kindly |
voice steadied her. "There is moth |
ing for you to do as yet. 1t would be
useless for you to go with me. Keep
brave heart for whatever may come,
and try to believe that this trouble
may not be for you to bear"
For me to bear-for me to bear,"
Rhoda muttered, struggling for calm !
ness, that she might think coherent
ly. The night wind grew keener as
the darkness settled down, and its
chill was potent aid to her effort
Her first impulse was to summon
Norah but at the head of the stairs
she stopped. She could not yet bear
her shrill outcries and impulsive SYM
pathy. And what could she do? |
What did people do in such terrible
emergencies3 At her helplessness
and inability to meet this appalling
crisis, Rhoda groaned aloud. Hurry
ino hack 70 the window she strained |
her ears for further tidings. The
street below now echoed to hurrying
feet, as dark figures pressed on to-
ward the scene of the disaster.
What had Mr.. Kenyon said : "This
trouble may not be for you to bear"
Rhoda started. She had laughed ,
aloud-a bitter laugh, not good to
hear. Falling on her knees, she
nrecced her fOrahead fo her c1acOed |