Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-05-16

lian said with some satisfaction, "Well,
she finally succeeded in meeting him,
and they were married last night.
Every one was talking about 1t in
church this morning"
well. what of III" SAID Ernestine.
"She can marry him, can't sher
"Ernestine" said her father stern
ly. "You know 1t isn't SUITABLE, He
was big man, little too stout, with
handsome florid face. His brown
eyes were warm and kind. but his big
nose was acquisitive, his mouth stern
and hard, man of brilliant mind, but
limited by prejudices.
at is her money he wants." said
papa, land nothing else. The girls
fool, and was not brought up prop.
erly. or she would never have done
such thing"
Loring put in his oar. He was al,
ways there on Sundays, thought Ernes,
tine, who was tired of having him
around.
ANY man who urges a girl to keen
ICA iONS dlldil d cCNlSL IGT IOlkS
is a backyard, and a girl may as
well realize it first as last. No real
man would do such thing. He would
be honorable" He looked at her when
he said it, with such meaning that
Ernestine felt faint dismay.
But how ridiculous" she exclaimed.
"You all know, every one of you, that
if she had told her folks of her in.
fatuation. they would have carried hex
off to Europe. or had him forced out
of town. They would have separated
them instantly"
"But that's why she ought to tell
her people," said papa. mo girl can
trust her own judgment, when she
gets out of her own class. Her people
know best, and she should confide in
them"
All this while mamma had been
watching Ernestine. Mamma was so
pretty, with her violet eyes, and
smooth fair hair, and her slender Wig.
orous body. But mamma was sharp,
Neither of my girls would do such
a thing" she said now in her soft
quick voice, but with a meaning that
Ernestine and Lillian both sensed. II
am sure that neither of my little girls
would do such thing to me-have a
secret love affair. Would either of
your"
Don't be nutty, mamma" advised
Lillian, and Ernestine was silent.
Later, alone, Lillian turned to
Ernestine eagerly.
you'd better come across. / think
the folks are on to you"
"You haven't told them?"
'Of course not" said Lillian impa-
tiently. "It's your own business. But,
Ernestine, you aren't really going to
fall in love with him, are you? Papa
would be furious"
Ernestine shook the bright tears
from her eyes and smiled at Lillian.
After a moment, Lillian went on I'M
certainly.
"Loring saw you yesterday morning.
He asked me who the young man was,
and told him, but asked him not to
mention it. Still he may tell. He's
awfully fond of you, Ernestine. He's
always telling me that you are just
like a little sister to him. He might
feel it his duty to tell papa about
you and Will"
"But there's nothing about Will that
anybody could object to-" protested
Ernestine. I'm not engaged to him,
but if l should become engaged,
don't see who could care. He's fine
and good and gentle. He's brave, too,
a real man."
Lillian shook her head.
Its your funeral" she said, with
the heartless laissez-faire of her gen
Grafton, which feared, above all
things, that it might become its broth.
er's keeper. "But you know just how
papa would react to Will Todd. He's
the son of papa's old carpenter. He's
poor, and he hasn't been to school,
and he's not very strong-there's
nothing but objections to such an idea,
Ernestine. Anyhow. l can't see why
you could let yourself even think Of
such a thing as getting engaged
Imagine taking chance like that!"
Will said nothing about marriage.
He was full of talk, overlooking with
his own vitality, enraptured with
Ernestine's beauty and dearness. One
day, however, when they had gone for
their usual walk north along the lake
shore, he seemed oddly silent and
thoughtful, and at times he looked at
her, as though wondering whether to
speak his mind or not. When he left
her, he kissed her again and again,
and said oddly, Remember me-" as
though it were farewell.
'Tll see you tomorrow" she whis-
pered to him, and turned her fur
| collar up against the wind.