The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-01-17

by j.. Lowering.
The foundations of the Burden for.
tunes had come out of Gould and
Curry away back in the early SOS,
and on this foundation "Old Ike"
Burden had raised substantial mon
,ument that in passing through the
hands Of his son, Johnny, had, II not
increased in size, been very tastefully
Urnamented. After the death of his
wife, Johnny, now the Hon. Jonathan
Burden, had devoted himself solely
to the education of his daughter, AIDE
laide. After her escape from the
hands Of her preceptors, at the age
OF twenty, father and daughter had
spent five years in travel, visiting
few of the known points of interest
and great many of the unknown
Then the Hon. j Burden had peace
fully departed this life, leaving all
his worldly possessings to his daught-
er.
Perhaps some of this was passing
through Miss Burdens eyer-busy
brain as she sat idly chipping the
rock beside her with the odd-looking
little hammer she held. Perhaps
and what is more probable she was
thinking of one or the other Of her
new hobbies geology and children.
OF, the two, children-and the ragged
er and the dirtier apparently the bet
ter-held the first place in Miss AIDE
1aide Burdens heart.
Say, you hain't prospecting, be
yer"
Miss Burden prided herself ON her
nerves. So it was when this abrupt
question was fired into her solitude.
she merely raised her eyes slowly
till they met those of the speaker.
Then she started, and for a moment
gazed in surprise. Over the rock
she had been listlessly chipping ap-f
peared the head of an angela shock
Of waving golden ringlets framing a
face of perfect oval, with skin of
the traditional "roses and milk" vio-
let blue eyes shaded by long raven
black lashes, and Cupid bow lips Of
moist carmine parted to show beyond
a CLEAN of pearls.
You hain't be yer" inquired the
angel, impatient for reply.
well, no--that is, not exactly"
replied Miss burden, slowly, cycling
the angelic face wonderingly.
The angel, minus the wings, now
came around the rock and took up its
stand in front of, her. resolving itself
into very dirty little boy of twelve
or thirteen.
Il didn't know" explained the boy
II see We had er lot of specimens, and
We was hackin' at Their outcrop like
We was"
Miss Burdens answer was to take
one of the grimy little hands in hers
and draw the boy down on the rock
beside her, where with one arm
around him she nestled him close
against her. The boy viewed this
performance with wondering eyes,
but offered no resistance to the ca
ress.
Once snugly ensconced, Miss Bur-
den said: Now tell me your name
mine is Adelaide Burden"
mime Pericles Finerty, Wheredju
Liver"
Where do live? Most anywhere"
At this the boy turned solemn,
questioning look upon her, and then
remarked. gravely: Now you're kid
din"
mo, Pm not, really. protested
Miss Burden.
well, then, whatjer mean by
that?v
Miss Burden smiled.
1T is this way" she explained. "I
have little money and no relatives
and like to travel, so that really /
have no home"
The boys blue eyes opened wider
still and they fairly sparkled as he
said:
by jove! amt that great?" Then,
seeing the suSprised look on her face,
say, that amt swear. is it?"
"Oh, no, that's not swearing. But
what makes you ask?"
"Oh, dad says no gent'man swears
in the presence Of lady, and that
swearin' is a useless sort Of vice."