The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-09-07

nothing been done for you? What has
your father been about?''
Papa has only his salary, and he
helps the poor great deal said
Winny, with dignity.
The poor! And his child looking in
this fashion! Idiotr' muttered the
doctor. :" Well your mother-where
was she?'
''She is dead
A sudden heat overspread Sarah $
face; she was not sorry that this woman
was dead, yet assuredly she did not
wish to take her place. ''How many are
there of you?' she said, gently.
"Four-the two boys and baby and
me-"
"a baby and boys" thought Sarah.
"And their father as fit to govern them
as a moon-calf. Well it's none of nv
business. That is your fathers step
coming up the stairs" she said, aloud,
putting the child hurriedly down. A
Venetian mirror hung near them. The
little doctor glanced in it quickly; there
was in it wiry, muddy-skinned, high
nosed woman in purple silk. She saw
suddenly beside her a vision of shy,
rose-tinted girl, watching a young
divinity student as he arranged mign-
onette in pot, and she laughed to
herself with keen sense of absurdity.
The door opened, and the Reverend
Matthew stood on the threshold, plump,
neat. precise, from the tip of his low
shoes to the folds of his lawn cravat.
II s.
aplle-cheeked face, full of mild good
hunhr and feeble Obstinary. Coming
up tht stairs, he had met the retiring
deiegats to the meeting, and Mrs.
Epps, Who told him who was with
Wlnny. He heard the name of the
great reforner with a little conscious
chuckle.
doctor Salah Coyt? Tut! tut! Now,
would you believe it. Mrs. Epps. that
that lady was an old flame of mine?
Fact! A callow tancy-calf,love, you
know; had not cut my wisdom-teeth.
Sarah Fetridge, she was then. But |
have watched her course since with in
terest, in consequence. With reproba-
ton, of course, but still with interest.
| never have anything to do with that
kind of people, but | should like to see
her, confess. Doctor Coyt, Ell? Tut!
tut! Poor creaturer'
Then he opened the doo., and looked
at her with an amused, curious smile.
All, Matthew, how do you do?n
Doctor Sarah nodded curly. "Haven't
seen you for twenty years, | believe.
We've both grown old, eh?" holding
out her hand. 1t shook; she could not
quiet it. His was cool and soft and
limp. How well she remembered the
touch of it!
con the contrary" he said, civilly,
Il don't know when | have seen
woman as well preserved"
She WINGED. She had seen hideous
caricatures of herself in illustrated
papers, and laughed; why should she
care when this man of all men called
her "well preserved?n But she did
care. The hot tears of modification
came in spite of herself to her eyes.
What did itmean? Why did she quake
as ii with ague since he came into the
room? She had no regard, no respect,
for the man; he was weak, ridiculous
Mr.. Niles, who had a shrewd knack
of observing trifes, saw her agitation,
and began to quake in his turn. She
remembered the past. She would be-
gin to hint at loves young dream.
What if she should propose to him?
There was nothing which these unsexed
women would not do.
Mrs Epps came in at the moment,
and he turned to her with a sense of
escape. Maria began to chatter, glanc-
ing curiously at them both. She fancied
that the Doctors sudden interest in
Winny was explained by her old love
wrong. Nature adapts women to be
either wives or mothers; the best of one
class are not often the best of the other
Doctor Sarah, with her thin lips and
broad forehead, had very few of the
qualities which 90 to make happy
marriage; but she was born mother.
Besides, she had reached the age
when the motherly instinct is strong
est in any woman. She might have
married Matthew now, not from love,
but a protective pity-to take care of
him. 1t was the age when Maintenon
married Louis, and Margaret Fuller
the Italian lad.
She sat silent while Mrs. Epps and
the clergyman talked of the weather,
and then rose abruptly and tied on her
hat; then she came up to him. A mild
alarm gathered in his face; he stood on
guard
about this child of yours, Matthew?
I'm a physician, you know"
$50 | have understood" REFRESHING
a smile. She eyed him a moment
in silence. Whether | deserve the
name or not" she said, calmly, "mat-
tiers nothing. 1 know enough to assure
you that your child's disease is durable
if taken in time. but that, if neglected
much longer, she will be helpless in
valid for life. have given up prac-
tice. But should like to examine her
again. have taken fancy to the lit
tie thing. viii you bring her to my
house on Tuesday,"
Mr.. Niles hesitated; he blushed,
stammered. Mrs.-Doctor-Coyt, |
must consider the matter. am mother
and father both to the children, and,
to be candid" gathering courage, ~
doubt whether my wife would have
risked Winny's case in the hands of so
so irregular practitioner"
The doctor smiled-a smile which
lasted a trifle too long 81 I'M