Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1906-02-23

9ieasantly SuggesuVe ctink or dishes
through the screen door to where Ger
rude Woodford stood under q large
alm.
81 think the train is 10, she an.
,wered, entering the cool, pleasant
louse in answer to her mothers call.
For the lands sskesr Mrs. Wood
ford turned 10 her handmade and gave
an order with some asperity. Keeping
summer boarders was really the one
excitement of her dull life, eagerly
ooked forward to during the long win
Ter months when her daughter pursued
her musical career in the city and she
lived alone on the rugged cape.
Small this year. aren't they?r she
said, watching her daughters pretty
bent head and referring to the fruit.
Not more So than usual" the girl
laughed.
well. don't care Mrs. woodford
declared. mfr. Garst says he never
tasted sweeter peaches. and as to Mr..
Clifford"
Who's trifing with my august ap-
pellation.n called gay voice as a
goung fellow swung himself on TO the
piazza, Miss woodford, / don't know
which shall devour first, you or the
peacheS m so ravenous."
81 was juss going to say that your
appetite is all right. anyhow" Mrs.
Woodford laughed, Did your cousin
come down with your she added
Eyes. Garst. got as far as the ham
mock and collapsed" fN
60 and call him, Gertrude. Supper
IF ready" her mother said.
The girl rose and went through the
hall. Inside the door she paused,
looked with darkening eyes at me man
who lay at full length In the hammock.
The slight clash of the screen as she
stepped outside caused him to turn. He
sprang up at once and came toward
her, showing a strong, ciean-shaven
face and Il figure singularly muscular.
n spite Of the fact that lie walked with
slight iisnp-
IN town. he said. 81 have just been
thinking that the most marvellous
changes in our lives come when we
least expect them. l wonder If you
know what this summer has been to
mea
He was looking gravely into her eyes
and the color mounted to her temples.
stephen, the fish is getting cold. .
bis cousin called. impatientiy. and Ger
trude went quickly into the house
In compliance with a previous prom
Use to Jack Clifford she went with him
after supper to see the sunset from a
hill neal by. When they were seated
on a bowlder, watching the vast sweep
Of ocean and erimsoning sky. she
turned suddenly to her companion.
why is Mr.. Garst lame27 she asked
gently.
We'll, suppose it won't do any
harm to tell YOU" Jack hesitated,
though we never speak of it when he
is present. His leg was crushed in a
railway accident, trying to save the
girl to wrom he was engaged"
did he save her?4
Yes
Then why were they not married.
"Oh, she threw him over for man
twice his age and the trihing adjunct
of s3,O00000.8
Gertrude woodford drew her breath
sharply.
She tried to stuff it down Stephens
throat that she was sacrificing herself
to save her father from financial ruin
and | think lie believed her" Jack
went on. Then she attempted pla.
tonic correspondence with him after
her marriage, but he would have none
of it. All the same, / don't believe he
has ever quite forgotten her. Anyway
he could not do so now. even if he
would
What do you mean:"
"rFor she is come. she is here as
Jean ingelow says in The Letter L. p
"Heres''
Yes; at the Ocean View. | saw hel
on the piazza tonight as 1 came NJ
from the train. Handsomer than ever
by Joye! rail woman. with bronze
hair"
'Bronzed. you mean. / saw her ar
rive this morning. Gertrude said
coldIy.
The old nan very considerately
'shutfied off this mortal COLI two year.
ago, leaving her complete mistress o.
his Millions Jack rambled on. MI
own opinion is that thin alighting mex
door to where Stephen was staying, ii
the subdued attraetlveness of secont
mourning, is the beginning of the end
You should have seen him start whel
he saw her Oh the hotel piazza to
night
Gertrude rose quickly.
How cold it is up here" she said
with shiver. Let us get back TO tn,
house,
A group from the summer hotels ant
cottages was standing near Mrs. Wood
ford's house. watching the sunset wheI
they descended. Gertrude would hav,
passed on but Jack Clifford detaine,
hev. Unwilling as she was. she had /,
submit to an Introduction to Mrs. Al
mitage, Stephen Garst's former fiancee
fhe latter turned to her at once with
scrutinizing look. The girl was to-
pretty nes TO be dangerous.
'It is beautiful here in these lat
summer weeks" she drawled.
Il think it beautiful at all times. Tn
cape is my home. Gertrude answere,
quietly.
Indeed! Then you are native.
should hardly have though IL"