The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24

hHoW SHo was HUI pu0oih6 WY
vorable construction upon what was
passing at that moment. Still, there
have been epochs in my life when l have
. remembered that 1 am man and
gentleman, and also an indeper 'ent
one in my views, however my actions
may have been curbed by circumstances.
And this was one of those moments.
"This lady and myself, =" said |, mo-
tioning toward my wife, care going to
the New York Hotel tonight, and II
you so desire, will take charge of you,
and will also see that you are comforta-
bly, housed, and tomorrow morning
will attend to your safely getting to the
Eastern train"
"Perhaps you may manage to make 1t
convenient to take her to her home
YOURSELF" icily suggested Mrs. Wither-
ton.
"Oh, no." cried the girl, innocently !;
but if you please, sir, could see you
a moment alone?"
She saw assent in my eyes, and led
the way to the rear of the car, and turn
ing away desperately from Mrs. Wither-
toms looks, l followed her.
"When we get to the city, can you
|
asked, with great trepidation.
Certainly l can, in either car or
stage. But do you prefer them to car
riage?" 1 asked.
"Oh, so much!" she said, thankfully /;
and after a moments hesitation she
added, I" have SO little money with me
that fear to incur SO much expense -
and then she turned away and quietly
resumed her old seat.
returned to my wife's side.
"Was her communication a state Sc
cret?" said she.
Certainly not. She seems afraid of
hacks, or drivers, or something, really
do not know what; only she begged me
to take her to the hotel in a street car. -
felt an invincible repugnance to letting
my wife know the true reason of the re-
quest.
We reached the city by ten O'Clock,
and telling my protegee to keep close to
us, gave my arm to Mrs. Witherton,
and looked around for car as soon as
we got out of the depot to carry us up
to our destination. l had just signaled
one, and turned to my party to get them
in, when | caught sight of my wife step
ping into comfortable carriage.
"Why, my DEAR" 1 exclaimed, "I
thought you were going with as" The
driver was waiting so that I was natu-
rally needless of my phraseology. "Was
it not dacided that we should take
carp"
:" really am not quite certain of
whom you are speaking, Mr.. Wither-
ton, when you say we, " she answered;
''but L, for one, do not care to tramp to
that vulgar conveyance over my kid
boots In snow and slush. You may do
as you please"
"might," certainly, any one
"might " who did not care to count the
cost; but sage experience had taught
me a great deal. However, l could not,
and | would not even if 1 could, have
left that lovely young creature alone at
night in strange city; so l turned
away and stopped another car, and
handed her in.
Seen now in the full light of the brill
liant gas jets, as we passed along, she
certainly was lovely, with a clearness
and freshness rs sig Q Of e9lqring and bright
even teeth. 1t is true that there was
lack of expression, and an absence of all
that would be suggestive of intelligence
or quick comprehensiveness; but [ con-
fess that only thought of this years
afterward. give an opinion, as have
always considered myself Judge of
feminine beauty, although circumstan-
ces may not have permitted me to prove
my taste.
We reached our destination at nv
old headquarters, the New York Hotel,
almost as soon as my wife did, whose
skirts saw turning the corner of the
second story staircase as we entered
(this was before elevators became ne
cessity), and then turned to my COM
panion to learn her wishes.
She was gazing wonderlngly and ap-
prehensively around her, evidently
thinking of many things could not
fathom, but she gave me no clew just
then to her anxieties.
"You need not feel any uneasiness, I
said. "This place is almost like home
to me, and l can make any arrange
ments for you that you desire. Are
you afraid of being alone tonight, for
if you are will ask my wife" But
here my courage failed.
"Not at all frightened" she said,
"but should like an inexpensive room
somewhere. 1 would not mind where
they put me-"
81 will attend to that. And now
will you have some support Perhaps
after your cold journey"
"No, no, thankyou," she answered,
hastily. 81 would like to 60 at once to
bed"
l secured her room, and calamity
went up five flights of stairs to show her
the way. At the Threshold she STOP
ped.
CT am very much obliged to you,"
she said. "You have been very kind.
Can depend upon you to arrange that
l shall be called at seven to morrow
morning, as am told the train leaves
at eight; and will you settle my bill
and repay yourself what owe your"
Her beautiful dark hair had fallen down
and hung around her, and she looked
so gentle and lovely that l determined
to do my duty by her in spite of-any
body!
"There will be time enough for that, "
I said, putting her thin little purse back
into her hand. g 1 will come up and call