The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-05-27

Iauliy. MT. farnnam was lnueOteO-
or imagined he was-to Mr.. Barndt,
and position for the younger Barndt
was made somehow on the clerical
staff at the mills. And quite as nat
ural young Barndt made for himself
place in the Farnham home. Twas
the only fit place in the town, he ex-
planned to himself.
Mabel had always been accustomed
to admiration, but now she woke up to
the fact that there was keen rivalry for
her hand. Young Barndt fretted a
week or so for the pretty actress, and
then decided that, averaging up points
Mabel had trife the best of it, to say
nothing of her financial prospects, as
the only child of the mill owner. jim
my Crawford had loved her ever since
the first day he had opened the big
mill gate for Mabel, dainty vision in
white and cherry sash. Jimmy had
been a bobbin boy that day. Now he
was superintendent, and better sup
erintendent did not boss a mill in all
New England, said Mr.. Farnham,
which went to show that the owner Of
the mill judged the young superinten-
dent by his ability to get work out OF
employees and not by the state of his
affections. The latter would certainly
have given the self made man much
concern. He meant, when he had ac-
cumulated money enough, to marry
Mabel into family with blood.
Mabel had never taken Jimmy's
devotion seriously until young Barndt
appeared on the scene. Then some
thing in the misery which she read in
the face of her long devoted and much
tried admirer appealed to her more
womanly nature, and, though North
GLASGOW never dreamed of it, Mabel
was really thinking deeply Of the fu-
ture.
Matters came to head on Hallow-
cen night. With young Barndt at
her side, Mabel had driven through
the crisp autumn air to the Hallow-
cen frolic at Mrytle Graham's home.
Barndts roses were fastened under her
cloak, and on the table at home the
box of bonbons he had ordered sent to
her each Saturday lay unopened. He
had tucked her into the carriage, but
now he sulked openly.
"These country social affairs are
such bore, don't you know. l sup
pose we shall bob tor apples and ruin
our clothes, and come home deucedly
tired. I'd much rather have the even
ing at home, with you at the piano
and the lamplight falling on your
hair"
Mabel smiled in the dark. Would
he always be satisfied with that do
nestle picture? she wondered.
* X *
Nov each girl must walk down to
the spring, quite alone, and look into
it for the face of her husband to be"
announced the hostess in the tones Of
an oracle. She held up a white fas-
cinator, for the night was cool, and
Mahel's hand was the first to reach
for it.
II hope you are not going to en-
danger your health by such non
sense"
VI bel turned to look into young
Barndt's scowling face. He had been
greatly bored, as he had predicted, and
this was the last straw in his load of
misery.
II thought you had too much sense
to be superstitious."
"Perhaps," answered Mabel, with
an odd laugh. And then she was
gone. While the merry party await
ed her return Mabel walked slowly
through the moonlit garden to the
spring. She was thinking of them
both-Jimmy Crawford who, though
the life of the party, had seemed some
how TO be watching her all the even
ing, and Barndt, with his polished
manners and his sulky eye. Then she
bent over the spring and smiled. She
had felt it all along-that his face
would look over her shoulder and
their reflections would be side by
side.
X x
ut was dreadfully silly, Jimmy"
she said softly as they walked slowly
back to the house. "And yon must
not think that it is just because l
trusted my decision to foolish super
stition. But its because the little
things make up our lives-at least
+l,ox, moko wnman hannv Some