The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-03-09


tate on the borders of Long Island
sound, just beyond the limits Of the
metropolis, on his coming to America.
Large as it was, it was not large
enough for his ambitious ideas. Mr..
Borth coveted, very wrongfully. the
possessions of his neighbor, one Mar
tin. The two properties together
about fulfilled his ideas Of what gen.
tlemans country place should be. He
tried to buy, but Martin would not
SELL This Objectionable person further
more irritated his neighbor by dupli-
eating the high stone wall which Borth
had erected in front of his place, the
English lodge at the entrance and the
terraces of his lawn. Mr.. Borth was
In a dudgeon when in the autumn he
left for England. He remained there
six months. While he was gone some-
thing happened to Martin. He may
have been squeezed in the Street. or he
may have tired of his property on the
sound. At any rate, he suddenly de-
cided to place it on the market. Mr..
Borth's man Of business was slow. Be
fore he heard the property was for sale
it had found purchaser. This was
the unwelcome news that greeted Mr..
Borth ON his return to America in May.
This is why he was still angry on this
lovely June morning.
He glanced now and then at the lofty
gables of the Martin mansion towering
above the encircling tree tops. "Ah, if
had only not gone away!' he sighed.
"That stupid Smithers! 1 suppose I'll
never have another chance now"
Then he turned his back squarely on
the Martin place and resolved to think
of it no more. He knelt down on the
turf and placed tenderly in it's moist,
earthly bed a great cluster of sweet
alyssum, with WHICH he was encircling
a gorgeous Mabel Morrison. He bent
over the delicate white flowers, rak,
ing the earth around the roots and pat
ting it down softly. So engrossed was
he in his work and his thoughts that he
did not hear the sound of slow grind
ing wheels on the drive in front of the
house. Small wonder, then, that after
the wheels were silent he did not heed
light football approaching on the
gravel walk.
When he looked up at last, he was
startled to see the tallfigure of a young
woman not so feet away and coming
slowly toward him. She wore simple
white summer costume trimmed with
ribbons and a big Gainsborough hat
In her hand she carried white silk
parasol. Borth, however. observed
none of these things. He saw only the
calm, beautiful face beneath the broad
hat brim, marked only the majestic
grace with which the lady moved to-
ward him.
''She looks like princess" was his
thought as he stood up and lifted his
cap.
The young woman could not have
failed to see him, for she was looking
straight at him, or, rather, through
him; but, to Borth's surprise, she did
not notice his salutation beyond, per-
haps, the merest dropping of the eye
lids. Then she passed him by.
Borth gazed after her in astonish-
ment. She moved serenely on her way
along his garden walk, turning her
head slowly, to right or left and oc-
casionally pausing to look at some
choice specimen.
Borth was at loss what to do. He
almost fancied that this magnificent IN
terloper, with her proud gaze and
Queenly bearing, was phantasm OF
his brain, aud he stood staring after
her until she disappeared at bend in
the walk bahino a hibiscus bush. Then
he decided to follow her.