The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-04-03

proval. She had minor talents, of
course-an education rounded off in a
finished school, a pleasing smattering
of music, taste for art that was only
second to her taste for nature. But
all these were quite dwarfed in her
daddy's opinion by those manler at
tributes that he so assiduously cult
vatcd. She was bis companion on
long hunting and fishing trips and an
ideal companion at that.
1t is needless to say that quiet Elm
wood looked upon this accomplished
young woman with very doubtful
expression. She was little too ad-
vanced-that was the term they used
for EImwood's old-fashioned ideas of
maidenly modesty. The mothers of
Elmwood held her up as an example
of the baneful coming woman, and the
girls of Elmwc cd thought her dread
fully bold-and secretly envied her.
| AS for the men-well, there were but
few of them in Elmwood whose opinion
was worth recording, and of these a
mere handful dared to express an hon
est opinion in the face of the universal
feminine condemnation. Of these in
dependent souls it must he admitted
that Mr.. John Cartwright stood first
and foremost.
If Miss Susan Galton Brown knew
of the unfavorable light in which her
short skirt and her Teddy hat had
placed her-and there is no doubt she
did-the matter failed to worry her in
the least. She had come down to Elm
wood to stay month with her maiden
aunt-her dead mothers only sister
who lived in the big white mansion on
Main street, just beyond the Baptist
meeting house. 1t was this fond aunt
who had invited Jack CortwIight to
call, and although this was particular
youth, with high ideals of womanhood,
he called again, and again, and again.
What was strange about it, too, was
that Jack hailed from the east, and
from Puritan surroundings at that.
Yet with all this discreet bringing up
he certainly was fascinated with the
wild western hoyden.
They all said that Jack CortwrisLt
was rising young man. B )ston CAPT
talists had sent him--fresh from col
lege-to the western town to look after
their interests in certain undcveloped
coal mining property that lay few
miles north of Elmwood. And Jack
had taken off his coat, metaphorically,
and gone to work to developit. There
was plenty of capital behind him, and
he had built railway branch to the
mine, and started bank in Elmwood
of which he was temporary cashier,
and stirred the little town into making
certain improvements that had long
been discussed. In short, Jack Cort.
wri ght was recognized even by those
who didn't approve of his revolutionary
tactics to be tue liveliest factor of pro.
gress the sleeply little hamlet had ever
known.
Miss Susan Galton Brown had poor
luck that bright October afternoon.
She didn't rouse a solitary rabbit.
But, after all, it was the tramp she
was after rather than the game. Still
she must have a shot at something
So she pinned a brilliant leaf to tree
trunk and at 20 paces-split it at the
first trial.
The sun was still high above the
hills when she started to return to her
aunt's. As sue went GoIn the old
State road a sudden gathering caused
ueI W Cuiu uel utdN. 1uItc lucu
IN Mounted on powerful horses came
trotting down the slope. Susan step
ped aside to let them pass and one of
the horses, catching sight of her, sud
denly sprang aside and almost unscated
his rider. Susan looked up anxious!y
and saw to her aston;shment that the
mans heavy bearl was twisted very
much to one side. But he quickly re-
gained his seat with an oath, and,
striking the horse, cIattered after his
companion. Snsan wondered why the
man was disguised. and tl.nly tancied
that the three rough looking strangers
were up to some mischief But she
was thinking Of Jack the next moment.
and the strange incident was shelvesl.
A few moments of brisk walking
brought her to the brow Of the hill
where the road turned sharply an ran
at an obl;qre along the side of the
steep descent. Susan seated herself
on log and looked down into the vii
lage, which lay, as it were, at her very
feet. She traced the one lonI street
OF the hamlet, which was but contin-