Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1906-04-06

4 said.
II did not mean that" she replied. 81
Imeant at--that-well, the usual ru
/ NOR is out concerning you"
II "Indeedw ! exclaimed. But which
+ gof the usual rumors do you refer tor"
"There is only one-isn't there-that
Dis commonly linked with the name of
an eligible bachelor. But is 1t truef"
Believe me-" assured her, "it is
not true"
Il am SO gladf' she breathed softly.
Poor girl At least-that is" She
would have covered mp her indlscre.
ton, but. perceiving that it was now
TOO late, she paused abruptly and
lapsed into silence.
"Why are you glad?' asked. had
not intended to proceed on exactly
these lines, but | found it difficult
to be sufficiently brutal now that the
necessity confronted me.
oh" she drawled, with a woeful
affectation of Indifference, Il think,
as the song says You are owre young
10 marry yet you know"
Il wonder what your wife will be
like she went on presently 81
do hope she will be a nice, helpful sort
Of girl, and not mere society butter.
fiy-like me-"
"If she were like you" began,
and stopped.
"she won't be-" said Miss Kerrison
quickly.
Il mean,r she explained, "that the
object of our first fancy is so sell
dom the person to make us truly hap
py. If we but knew It,"
remembered then that some one
had told me this was Miss Kerrison's
third season.
First love is the only love" said
firmly. 1t was no time for mawkish
scruples. had tempOrized with my
conscience too long already She must
now be made TO realize the sad truth
in all its ghastliness.
"That is not So" she said. Believe
nc. Mr.. Craven. when l tell you that
you are as yet far too young to know
what is best for your welfare"
Anyway" said l, "When my fate
does come along
And there l made an abrupt end. foI
she had suddenly begun TO laugh
There could be no doubt abont 1t
She was laughing-not Historically, Ell
ther, but with unmistakable enjoy
ment. as at an irresistible jest.
"Mr. Craven she said at last. more
seriously, 81 think I'll be frank with
you. My honest dealing may conceiv.
ably cost me your good opinion, but
only for time. You'll like me all the
better afterward And am sure you
have enough common sense, really, not
to think me unwomanly or immodest in
saying what am about to say to you
now"
Miss Kerrison," I cried in sore dis
tress, ''forbear, reflect. consider Don't
speak yet You may save us both
lluch pain If you keep silent"
"Nonsense" she exclaimed sharply.
This was an affront. Go on. then,
if YOU will" | said sternly
"T've an idea" she said, that we are
at cross-purposes, and that it is all
the fault of those dear. foolish Frls.
bys. Mrs. Frisby has said
something to you ahout-wel. about
me hasn't she? Please be straightfor-
ward, Mr.. Craven"
"No, she hasn't" l answered.
"Mr. Erisby then?'
Yes"
"What did he say?'
turned on her in desperation. How
can repeat what lie said?' cried.
Miss Kerrison. let me implore you to
say no more Let me entreat-"
No" she replied. 81 will tell you
what they said. They tod you'll
welI-had a penchant for YOU"
"They were wrongr' l exclaimed,
still eager to spare her.
"Of course they were" slie rejoined.
AS wrong as they were when they
/ told me-well--that you were-in love
with my unworthy self. But
And she began to laugh again. This
woman, I tell you. had no sense of
humor, or of deceucy. either, should
think. But they meant we'll I sup
pose. And there's no harm done
except to our vanity, perhaps. Any
way. the path they would have had us
tread hardly leads TO the Wicked Place,
does it,"
And she smiled at me inscrutably.
and think she would have added
some pleasant. salving words. But
just then man pokeI his head round
the bead curtain and She darted up
and went forward to greet him. l
heard her call him Frank" and l
guessed then it was for him she had
been waiting so meekls, all alone. And
at last | uHderstood-I knew-that =
had merely provided some comic re-
lief from the tedium of her vigil
Edward Pugh. III the Sketch.