The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-07-24

"Matty," She had never called her so
before, II don't like to see you crying
I have been obliged to leave you To-Day
I had troubles of my own that L was
forced to escape from. Tell me what
you cry for. child, and if l can L Will
help you.''
And she bent forward and laid her
hand kindly on Miss Fergusson's shoul'
der.
Rut Matty, since she was two years
old. had lived cher hand against every
every one, belleVlhs
no one, confiding in no one-not even
her own mother. She could understand
Jane Grand. cold, distrustful, jealous
as she had known her hitherto; but
This counterbound of a generous heart,
this trembling hand. these sottenlng
ewes from one who so lately had spoken
harshly of her. Miss Matty regarded as
tokens of the very deadliest species OF
women's warfare-a masked battery
against which her own strongest de'
fenses must be brought to bear. NO
Doubt the woman wanted to worm
confession from her, to be repeated
with additions (and her undeniable
tears made much of to Mohun to-mor'
row morning.
ssThere are such things as tears or
ioy. Miss Grand. / should have drleu
nv eyes if had known you were conl'
| ing. but [ never heard you till you
were in the room. 1t is very foollsh,
but 1 can't help it. l am SO happy TO-
, night"
lane drew her hand back as though
if had been stung. She knew Mattys
tears were not those of happiness, but
| she also knew what it meant thar
| Matty should say so!
"I am glad you are happy, Natty,
| in fearfully trembling voice this. III
is good for some one to be so in this
world, and you are very young, child
yoang to know as much of life rs you
have known: and whatever cause it IS
that makes you glad to-day l wish
! YOU JOY, Matty, and hope your happl-
/ ness will prove true, and will abide by
you.'
Whatever it cost her to say them'
those words did not come from James
heart, and vet she knew perfectly wen
that she was wishing this girl JOY III
Mohun's love.
Matty looked up sharply into la vlellie
! files face. and little as she felt DIS
posed to be confidential, something IN
| the expression of its quivering White
cotures touched her-aS much as
| Natty FERGUSON could be touched
| For even in the children of such peo-
pie as Warren Ferguson and his "iIe
children who have run wild amoPg
| tbn camins of half score OF Contl'
mental cities-even in natures of when
petty intrigue and sordid, selfish deceit
| have become the daily meat-the COM
mon elements of human nature remain
verv much the same, reader, as I'D
| yours or mine.
| Matty was ready to marry any gen.
tleman possessing means sufficient 10
keep her. Matty had played a bold,
unwomanly stroke to gain Mohun OF
Yattou. and rather disliking than liR'
|
of marriage not two hours ago.
But Matty Ferguson also had peen
in love: YES, in true, honest love. with
an exceedingly handsome, hnWor'hS
| personage, attache to one OF the nuhe''
| Gus Russian ambassadors VINO were
wont to visit Observation-Disclosures
"Alexis" of her letter to her sister.
/ This young Russian gentleman hao
found the romantic passion OF the Eng
| Iisb girl or child, as he regarded Eef'
an innocent refreshment for him IN the
interyale of roulette playing and tGe
hundred other. distractions OF Baden
| life. In her shabby little frock. barely
| reaching to her ankles, Matty Fergus
isor, haunted him as he took his break
| fast in the MONDAY shade OF the Con
| versations -Haus Gardens, haunted hlm'
ieaIous and miserable, when he walked
abroad after dinner with the grandes
| danes of his acquaintance, WHOSE
| splendid dresses made her, i'll her poor
mean frock. look and feel more than
ever like a beggar; haunted him on
his way to the theatre, to the casino,
haunted him everywhere. Matty, at
this epoch, was in the transition state
from childhood to womanhood, lanky.
awkward, large-eyed, freckled, and al
together fortunately for herr not near
well-Iooking enough for the count TO
dream of taking the trouble of falling
in love with her. But to man OF the
caliber of "Alexis" alteration from any
| woman, even from little, plainish
girl of sixteen, is not without flavor;
and so he actually met Miss Ferguson
once or twice by appointment in the
| ,Senehkepgarten, and wrote her two
or three little French notes-she had
them still, 1 do not doubt-and gave her
a, ring inexpensive, and that some one
! else had given him) with minute por-
| tion of his hair within 1t, upon the
morning that the Russian ambassador
and his suite quilted Baden.
CTo be continued)