The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-03-10

made her shudder. She went back to
the sitting-room, and, in a dreary,
mechanical kind of way, little fire there
and in the little kitchen; then brought
baby downstairs, washed and dressed
him as usual, and put him on the fool
to play while she prepared his bread
and milk.
But baby was not destined to get his
breakfast just yet, for at that moment
light step was heard in the entry, and
tall young man walked into the room.
The bread and milk were dropped any
where, and Mrs. Cuthbert flung herself
into his arms, sobbing, begging his par
don and crying all in breath.
"Pll never do it again. Won't you
forgive me, George?"
Forgive what? l haven't anything
to forgive" said the astonished George.
go yes, you have. know it was
dreadfully wicked of me; but I'll never
do it again"
What on earth is the matter?"
" Won't you forgive me?" was all Mrs.
Cuthbert's answer.
manded the distracted young man, all
kinds of awful visions flying through his
brain. what have you done?"
Why, / didn't let you in when you
came home last night. l only meant to
keep you waiting little while"
" When came home last night? Why,
l haven't been within fifteen miles of the
house since seven o'clock yesterday
morning. I've just come down on the
4:30 train"
" Didn't you come home last nighte''
gasped Mrs. Cuthbert.
Come home? No, of course Ididn't;
I've been working at the office half the
night. Didn't you receive my telegram,
saying that should be detained in the
city all night?"
" No; l haven't received any. What
does it all mean?"
And then she told him all about tin
rather an incoherent style, to be sure; but
she made him understand, and he was
greatly puzzled as to who it could have
been.
Mrs. Cuthbert, now that her mind was
relieved, began to remember that she had
eaten nothing since dinner the day be-
fore, and was soon flying about broiling
ham and poaching eggs, stopping to have
a hearty laugh over the charred remains
Of her husbands supper, which she took
from the oven. Then they sat down to
the tea liable, baby and all, and ate their
breakfast
That afternoon the village youth who
did their " chores" was unusually late in
coming, but when he did arrive it was
with such budget of news that his tar
diness was forgiven.
He had been an eye witness to the
capture of two burglars at Squire Jones'
they had been discovered in the very act
of carrying off the silver.
" Laws, how they ftp said the boy
"They smashed Bill Williams head in
with the plate basket, an came most
near hittin' me, an when we had 'em
caught tight, how they did talk! They
cussed an swOre, an one on 'em-a fell
Ter with a powerful ugly face-said as
how they wouldn't hev been nabbed if
they hedn't been foolin' round another
house all the evenin'; an he ses, There's
one of the pluckiest women there, ses
he; why when l hollered into the win
der at her she didn't mind it no more
than nsthin', ses he, an hanged if she
didn't foller me out to the barn, an 90
pokin' round after me in the darkr"
Mrs. Cuthbert chung to her husband,
and shuddered at this part of the nara
tive.
" An he SEES" the boy went on-'' he
ses, l s'pose | should hev knocked her
on the head if she he'd been a man, but
the pluck of SIGH little thing jst COM
pletely tiabbergasted me'-that's jist his
words; an he ses that she come out after
HIM again, when he an his pal was hidin
under some bushes, an they was afraid
to tech her, cause they seen suthin shinin
in her hand, an didn't know but it might
be siX-shooter."
My scissors, l suppose" family muir
INJURED Mrs. Cuthbert; her husband only
heard her.
Wa'all, they're safe enough now-an'
| guess I'll fetch the coal" said the boy,
with the stolidity of a true son of the
soil, Selling the coal-scuttle, but drop
ping it again to rummage in the inner
pocket of his jacket. "Here's a letter
for you, sir man said l might as
we'll bring it long, as his boy couldn't
get up this way fore to-morrer mornin',
an you might be in hurry"
My telegram" said Mr. Cuthbert,
it to his wife. "What conven-
fence these modern scientific discover
les are"-Harper's Bazaar.