The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-12-22


He threw himself into an armchair, and
lighting a cigar, gave himself up to thought
A young man, engaged to beautiful Girl,
we can easily guess the direction his thoughts
took, as he lay back, watching the curling
smoke from his cigar.
This will never do" he exclaimed, rous-
ing himself from the reverie which had been
long and profound. Il had almost forgotten
my promise" and drawing his desk toward
him he commenced writing a letter
He had not been thus engaged many min
utes, when there was a loud ringing at his
night bell, and he was summoned to attend
! the butchers wife without q moments delay
Lucky | had not gone to bed" thought
the doctor, AS he hurriedly put on his hat
and left the house.
The next morning, when Miss Sophy
Brown entered the doctors room to arrange
it, she found he had not vet returned.
Things were just as he had left them the
night previous, and the letter he had COM
menced was lying open on his desk.
Sophy's curiosity got the better of her; q
peep she must take and she did
After reading the first few words she sank
into the nearest chair, quite overcome, and
the letter fell to the floor
4 who would have thought t?" murmur-
ed she. 81 must have made some mistake.
/ I4tl llt Ibttu III again TO make sure, LII is
perfectly shocking"
She stopped picked up the letter, and read
Us follows:
My DEAR WIFE.-Knowing you would be
anxious on my account, hasten to let you
know that | am getting on quite as we'll as
can be expected. Don't think of coming to
me on any account. Kiss little Benny for
his papa
That was all DR.. Graham had been call
ed away in the middle of it.
Sophy sat staring at the unfinished letter,
then shook her head solemnly.
The nasty deceitful man passing him
self off amongst honest folks as a single
man A child, too he ought to be ashamed
Of himself Kiss little Benny, indeed! A
lot he thinks Of little Benny, passing nearly
all his time with Laura Brooke All! my
fine lady, you will not hold your head
quite as high now. Engaged to a married
man, eh ~ and a look of triumph passed over
the girls face.
Somehow" she continued, ''there always
seemed to me something strange about that
DR.. Graham. But what must do?"
Sophy was not long making up her mind,
however, for in a few minutes she left the
house and hastened in the direction of Law
yer Brooke's.
! 1t was not until late in the afternoon that
DR.. Graham found himself disengaged tor q
| few minutes. He then called at the lawyers
Office to enquire after Laura; he had no time
| to 90 to the house to see after Laura herself
| He found Mr.. Brooke sitting in his private
room, looking very grave. He hardly re-
| piled to the doctors courteous salutation.
| Wondering what could possibly be the
matter with his future father-in-law, DR.. Gra-
! hams first thoughts were of Laura. He
IL I.,, 4 -,
| Laura, | trust"
| GLOW dare you mention my daughter
| namc9 How can YOU look me in the face
after all your villainy and deceit ?"
'Nlr Brooke, what is the meaning Of all
this-what is the reason of this treatment
If you were not I4aura's father-'
Enough, sir'' interrupted the other,
| trembling with rage, and drawing q paper
from his pocket. Garry your duplicity no
further. Look III that paper, sir. Perhaps
you will deny your own handwriting"
"No, sir. will not" replied DR. Graham,
looking over the paper, and with difficulty
repressing smile, That is my hand-writ-
| ing; but how 1t came into your possession,
can't conceive"
"You admit that writing to be yours, then?"
! replied the other, more furious than ever.
"Certainly l do. That is the commence
mcnt OF a letter that | was writing for Farm
er Thornton to his wife promised him
would he has broken his arm, and cannNt
write himsof.n
| 1t was ludicrous to watch the look of as
! tonishment gradually stealing over Lawyer
Brooke's face, rs this explanation was being
given.
"Forgivc me, Ned" said he. He could
get no further. Both men were convulsed
with loud fits of laughter.
Ned" said Mr.. Brooke, on their way to
the house, shortly afterwards mot a word
of this to Laura
Not for the world" replied Dr.. Graham
And DR.. Graham kept his word; at least
he did up to the time of his marriage with
Laura Brooke, which event happened soon