Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-07-12

form.
II was a new thing to the child. this
watchful care. but she grew and ex-
panded under it like some beautiful
flower
No one detected her in an untruth.
She avoved her faults boldly Sho
laughed, she sang, she cried, "a othes
children; yet about her was singular
charm. a half-eadness. strangely un-
like the carelessness of childhood.
Thus two years solled away, and
again Rush Travers determined to go
abroad. Pansy must be educated. too:
but he knew now what he meant to
do with her future. The child wss
dear to him as his own. and his own
she should be. H. would give her
such an education as his own daugh-
ter should havs had had he possessed
one. He would make her a brilliant
woman. She should be worthy Of some
man when he would choosa for her
husband She would never know lone
illness more, and in the fuilness Of her
life's promise he would forget the
emptiness Of his own.
Uncle Rush" she called him. The
past was already to her like dream.
She parted from him in bitter tears
when he left her at her new home, the
school at which shs was TO be edu-
Gated.
Little did Nine. Arnaud dream that
she was receiving among her select
and fashionable pupils street flower
girl. Was this girl net the niecs and
ward Of the aristcc-at She had
never welcomed a pupil with greater
pride, nor did the years. as they came
end went. lead her for one moment TO
suspect the truth
Among all this far hevy OF girls
none so fair as she who owed the
smooth outer current of her life to
Rush Trsvers passing caprice The
deep blue eyes had borrowed even more
OF the ransy's purp's tint; the bright
rose Bush Of health vas on her checks;
the rich carmine natures brush alone
can paint was upon her lips. In the
sunny waves Of the chestnut hair
played CLEANS Of rinpling gold Her
hands and feet we're small and dainty
Her figure had developed into exquisite
grace
III eight years Of study bad marked
themselves upon the love'y face in
,s brlsht express ion and sparkling in
telligence Ru,h TIA = rL~lt well
be proud Of her - w6on he Esi giv=n
his proud old name In all this time
he had seen her hut oace-but once
he had returned to his native land
In the twilight ha stood awaiting
her in Mme Arnauds private room;
but. when tie door opened he started
at the radiant vision which entered.
She threw herself upon his breast,
with a glad sob, then started back
Uncle hush" she said questioning
ly, you ars not glad to see me?'
He had recovered himself by thsn.
and welcomed her warmly: but some
thing had arisen between them her
womanly perception was first to recog
pize. Already this meeting. to which
she had looked forward with such glad
ness. was msrred.
From all sides. that night. Mr.
Travers was met with congratulations
on the beauty and brilliance of his
ward. who had received the first hon
ors of her class Was the old cyni-
cism growing on him, that he turned
from it all as though wearv9
For tle first Tins. glsncing casually
in a mirror, he discovered that the
thick. brown hair was streaked with
gray. and the sight hurt him. Why?
He neither asked the question nor
answered II.
There was no doubt now of Pansy's
future, he told himself. as. having
thrown open his hospitable doors, the
world fiocked there to welcome this
new aspiraut to its honors: but. al
most 10 his surprise. he found that
he could not remain quietly in the
background. a spectator, Women still
smiled upon him, still murmured sweat
nothings in his ear, or uttsred gentle
reproaehes at his ohduracy,
Was he never to be lured from his
solitude? Some one soon would steal
from him the bright new star which
now lighted him home. Would he be
content to leave it in darkness? Thus
they whispered in his ear
Why should he resent il. rather than
welcome it? Had he not planned for
her a brilliant marriage? Already it
was assured to her il she would ac-
cept It. Why. then, did he rejoice as
one and another retired, heavy-heart-
ed. from the lists?
He grew to hate the world anew
Now and then would come a quiet
evening. when. sitting alone in his IL
brary. she would steal softly in, as she
had done so often in the old, childish
days. and sitting on stool at his feet,
lay her soft. velvet cheek upon his
hand
Would she come to him thus. one
day, and tell him that at last she had
given away her heart? And would he
be strong enough to give her his bless
ing?
All, he had learned mis- own secret
now.
One evening they went together to
a brilliant gathering A murmur of
admiration ran through the room as
she entered 1t, but something in it all
wearied her tonight
She refused the many eager claim
ants for the dance, and STOOD watch
ing the CAV scene, surrounded by a
little court, when. looking up. she saw
Rush Travers' ewes fixed on her face.
With a sudden impulse she moved
swiftly to his side
Il am tired, Uncle Rush" she said.
The garden is thrown open viii
you take me there with you for lit
tie while?"
He drew the little gloyed hand in
his arm and together they passed
through the French window into the
lantern-Iighted space beyond. Neither