Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-08-08
| COMRADES !
By.
MARTHA M'CULLOCH.WILLIAMS
Con, right lpn5 by T. G.. McClur
Cop, right. 1902, by T. c. Mcclure


fist ut it: "You idiot, Why don't you
make yourself look as ugly as you
feel?"
81 think. my dear" Aunt Margaret
open door behind. 'it is because vanity
is Il trhc stronger with YOU than ap-
prehension You think you don't want
to marry Charley Cliffe. l know you
don't want him to find you Il fright"
Isn't it horrible, being so vain, with
ones whole future in the balance"
Anicc said, trying hard to be fearful.
Aunt Margaret only laughed After a
little she said with twinkling eyes: Il
have always thought vanity was among
the heaven implanted instincts which
help to save women from themselves.
Now | am sure of it,"
"What do you mcan?" Anice cried.
Surely you don't, you can't, think I'm
shamming?" Again Miss Gordon
laughed and said: Not consciously,
my dear. The truth is l think you re-
sent the fact that you have no choice
in this made to order match"
'Well, wouldn't that gall any girl
with the spirit of Il mOuscT Anice de
mandcd. Miss Gordon looked thought
full 1T is unfortunate, as l see it,"
she said. THAT, however, does not
alter facts. Instead of cultivating Il
hostile mind. You had much better be
fair. Remember. it is not the young
mans fault. The blame, if blame
there is. lies wholly with old Mime.
Boynton She wanted her fortune to
90 to you two her step grandchildren,
the sole descendants of her two huS-
bands. Besides, | think she reasoned
that as Charley, whom she pctted,
would certainly marry somebody, it
was just as well to put him in the way
of marrying you"
$50 if | say NO he gets the whole
fortune. whereas he may 'relinquish
me and keep two-thirds of it," Anicc
said. "Aunty, | have the greatest mind
to stain my face and dye my hair red
and wear grass green gown and Il
yellow stock
"A rainbow would become You ever
so much better" some one said, com
ing through the door-some one tall
and slim. with merry eyes and firm,
muscular hands. He went straight up
to Anice and kissed her upon both
checks. saying: stars and gartcrs!
What beauty you have turned out to
be. Why didn't | come straight to
see you? Nan dear, I'm IN the confcs
sional I've gone and cOurted another
girl without ever giving you Il chancc'--
"Oh. how jolly Anlce cried with
all that nonsense out of the way | am
awfully glad to see you. l remember
you as real nice boy ever so many
years back
81 think you were Il tartar, and
know you We're ugly" Cliffe said, his
eyes twinklng That's why | made
up to the other one. What have you
done to yourself? The girl | left be-
hind me was sallow and scrawny and
green eyed, with no hair to speak of,
and fingers like talons"-
"And just up from six weeks of fc-
ver," Anice interrupted, shaking mop
of yellow brown curls at him. Il have
spent an hour a day ever since forget
ting how l looked just then. IL had
known how faithfully you remember
ed
"Well, what? Cllffe asked as she
made Il tentative pause.
ooh. nothing" Anicc returned. Il al
most said would have made myself
live up to your recOllcctions."
Clifre laughed, then ran on: Nov
that under our granddam's nightmare
of will we have duly arrived ut years
Of indiScrction let's settle money mat
tcrs out of hand. I'm going to rclin-
Quish you in the presence Of witnesses.
You may marry whom you please for
all of me. shall also give you half
the money
"Oh, | think you are Il dear" Anice
interrupted, dimpling all over her rosy
face. And you'll stay here IL month,
and We'll be the best comrades going.
You'll tell me all about your sweet
heart
THAT you get engaged to somebody
before ! 80 away"
You are tritle unreasonable"
Anice said with softly brilliant smile
Il want to be frcc-frce as air for six
whole months-before | even think of
bondage"
Comrades the two became, comrades
so close and congcnial Miss Gorion
looked after them sometimes with eyes
that were not quite clear. 'Thcy were
out too late" she said in her heart.
Outwardly she kept silence. Fate had
taken up the cards, and she had no
mind to try crossing the deal.
CIilfe spoke often of his bctrothcd,
but always vaguely-she was as high
as his heart, her eyes the color he
loved best In all the world. When the
wedding day was set Anice and Aunt
Margaret should know. He had no
sort of doubt they would come to love
Now and again he gave them messages
out of her letters. Anice was inSanoly
curious to read one of the letters
through. but Cliffe would never agree
to it.
The month was almost ended. Next
TO the last day of it Clffe rode with
Anice up Round Top to watch the sun
go down. 1t was Indian summer
weather. with all the air full of warm
haze and dead ripe autumn scents.
81 l1A ,pI