The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-06-12

SOAiJ W AcI UIObn6T-iu-ldW
h hl.n tne question, "How do you like
nouse-hunting?"
Immensely" was the hearty re-
tpPonse. :" think never enjoyed any
'h,ng SO much in my life"
=, MIS-. Maclane looked searchingly at
IN the man. 1t sounded like sarcasm, but
S oIere was genuine pleasure in the face
she scrutinized.
IL must have been a satisfactory
nTuse' she said, complacently. "Now
tell me all about it"
1t is a pleasant-looking house;
orown-stone front, high stoop, and three
glibly.
Mrs. Maclane looked gratifed.
what are the condition of the paper
ana paintp" she asked.
The Wallpaper was dark, and the
woodwork dark, and in good ORDER"
replied Henry Maclane, positively.
well, the rest of the houseP'' pur-
sued Mrs. Maclane.
Henry Maclane passed from positive
70 negative condition as he answered,
IN puzzled way, =" l hardly know. l
couldn't exactly tell. l think the hall
was an index of the rest"
Mrs. Maclane smiled. "Closets p"
She suggested.
The hall had closets" said Henry
Maclane, in much the way a school-boy
begins recitation of which he knows
only the first paragraph. 81 guess they
are all right.''
Mrs. Maclane laughed heartily as she
remarked, 81 never take closets on
trust. Sewer gasP'
"No," responded Henry Maclane !;
There was sweet odor of violets as l
entered the parlor."
"Good!" exclaimed Mrs. Maclane.
eft sounds like Araby the blest.''
I" 1t was" responded Henry Maclane,
in an under-tone.
"Well, about the rest of the houseP"
continued Mrs. Maclane. "Did the
violet odor pervade the whole of the
mansionP'
81 don't know" answered Henry
Maclane. "She didn't come"
"She? who?" asked Mrs Maclane, in
a puzzled way.
"The sister," was the brief reply.
"Who's sister," demanded Mrs. Mac
lane, in perplexity. Brother Hal, do
you know you are talking incoherently /?
| can't seem to follow you. Are we
talking about house or a woman?"
Both,' answered Henry Maclane,
with a smile.
"What was the woman ike?" asked
Mrs. Maolane.
"Light wavy hair, not bit fluffy nor
plastered stitlly, but just falling over her
forehead in pretty ripping waves and
coiled in knot at the back, clear eyes
that demand the truth and tell the truth,
a good nose, an expressive mouth, deli
cate hands, and shapely fgure-that's
the woman" answered Henry Maclane,
enthusiastically.
Mrs. Maclane laughed at the minute
description, and inquired, "What did
she wearP"
The reply was prompt: GA black
dress-for, you see, her mother died last
year-some pretty clinging lace at her
throat, more of the same at her wrists,
and bunch of violets in her belt"
"You can give better inventory of
the woman and her garments than you
can of the house," said Mrs. Maclane.
oiled the brother-in-law, cheerfully.
"When?" asked Mrs. Maclane.
"I promised to look at the house by
gas-light," answered Henry Maclane.
"To-night's gas-hght?" asked the
woman, wonderingly.
"Of course" was the decided reply.
/" Demonstration is the thief of time.
1t is my duty to cry stop thief!'"
"In the mean time, | think I'll man.
age to look at the house myself" said
Mrs. Maclane. "What is the name OF
the lady am to ask for?"
"Mrs. Ellis" was the reply.
81 never knew any one by the name, "
commented Mrs. Maclane.
"Nor L." said her brother-in-law.
Mrs. Maclane looked puzzled. She
had been thinking Hal must have met
some old friends.
At the supper table that night she
turned to her brother-in-law with the
query, s.Hal, what possessed you to tell
Mrs. Ellis we wanted the house just as
YOU found itP You know we have more
furniture than we can stow away COM
fortably."
"She didn't understand me-" replied
Henry Maclane. "Women are dread
fully dull of comprehension"
"And men are incoherent and equivo-
CAL" retorted Mrs. Maclane. "For in
stance, you told me you had never heard
of Mrs. Ellis. She told me you were an
old friend"
"She wasn't an Ellis when 1 knew
her," replied Henry Maclane. "She
was Sue Monroe"
al did not see the sister," added Mrs.
Maclane. "She had gone for walk.
| will decide about the house to night. "A"
The next morning at the breakfast
table came note to Joshua Maclane
from the house agent, saying that Mrs.
Ellis had withdrawn the house from the
market.
show provoking! exclaimed Mrs.
Maclane. ave had decided to take it.
Just think, Brother Hail." she said, as
her brother-in-law entered the break
fast-room, "that lovely house with
which you and fell in love is withdrawn
from the markell"
"AhP" he said, in an interested way.
"Any reason givenP"
"Not word," answered Mrs.
Maclane. al think folks ought to know
their own minds better than to put a
house in the market one day and with