Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1909-08-14

vet and black furs with long silver
hairs In them. each one Of which rep
resented a purscful of money. and ru-
bies like Mrs. Ogdcn'S.
The girl drew a long breath and
stirred uncaSily. What would her IA
thcr and mother say What would
Tom think? She bit her lip as the
possessed her. She could almost hear
him saying:
"Now. look here. Dafry- -Down-Dilly,
you are going up to town to visit your
fine cousin, and she'll have some fcl-
low picked out for you, | know. He'll
be rich and-and different. and that
will end my chance. which always was
mighty poor. wasn't ii. dear? If 1t
wasn't you'd say one word, and then
! wouldn't feel so entirely down and
out as l will he If you go without say
ing it,
She had not said the word. and so
she was quite free as far as Tom was
concerned to marry Hills Hubbard IL
she chose. With Il start she came
back to reality and the sound of his
voice.
"You can understand that everybody
is watching Miss Stcubcn with great
deal of interest. But there is no doubt
In my mind that the Englshman will
win out"
What makes you think so?" Mildred
asked.
"RecauSc That's Il woman's reason,
/ know; but as | say, 1t involves a
good deal. The American. you see, has
only his business prospects and for the
present an average living. The Eng
lishman has fine old home, ancestry
of the best. acres and tenants and a
coronct about to descend upon his arls-
toCratiC head.
Mildred sighed and looked again at
the girl In blue. She was very pretty
as she stood with her back to great
mass of dairodiIs particularly, but now
something about them set her heart to
beating quickly with memories OF
home \ month later there would be
n great showing of them in the little
garden she and her mother tended.
The dear, dear things. Nell lHld or
dcrcd them simply because they look
ed we'll against the wall paper of her
drawing room, but to Mildreds girlish
fancy they were vital, appealing. They
meant home. the country, Springtimc-
yes, and Tom, walking toward her, his
face full OF JOY at sight Of her
Oh, they had no business to be here
in this hot, crowded room. jostlcd by
furs and vclvcts, simple, open air bios
SONS that they were! No one appar-
entity was aware of them save herself
and the girl in blue, who had drawn
one from the jar and was pulling it to
pieces.
\ woman came across the room, set
her cup down upon the table, smiled
at Mildred and leaned toward Hills
Hubbard.
Il have something to tell you which
l just now heard on the best author
ity," she said. You have lost your
wager, my dear boy. Love wins. Miss
Bertha Stcuben marrics the American
after all"
"Is that possiblc:" he exclaimed. Il
would not have believed it of her"
Nor |. Thank you. no more tea, my
dear Miss Ncrrel. | am just leaving"
She made her adicus and passed on
gayly. Mildred's eyes, with n new ex-
preston in them, were again on the
girl In blue.
lie turned sharply.
"You would do 1t yourself"
Yes" Mildred said
He studied her moment.
"Yes, | believe you would" he said,
but in your case there are no parallel
circumstances. May l come tomorrow
when you are alone dear. and explain
to you what | mean?"
Mildred turned white but she faced
him brayel
"No," she gaSped. mo. 1t would be
of no use. You see, | have just made
up my mind to go home tomorrow. It's
the best place for me, | think, and
they want me, father and my mother
and She stopped abruptly, with n
vivid blush.
"Ah, sccr' Hills Hubbard said. He
looked very straight before him for an
instant
In Mildrcd's ears were ringing the
absurd old nursery rhyme with which
Tom had tcased her before she set
forth to visit her cousin Nell:
ny-Down-Dilly has gone up to town
In her yellow petticoat and her green
gown.
But Daffy-Down-Dilly was going
home from town to be happy with her
own.