The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-02-14


Two or three heads looked out of the
opposite windows. One invalid at Al
raised a window and begged piteously
that her rest might not be thus ruth
lessly ruined.
Lady locked outr' sang the police
man.
"Well! is that any reason why you
should try to wake the deadP" said the
irate clergyman opposite.
The policeman walked on, leaving
Mrs. Davenport in despair.
Haven't you any friends in this
neighborhoodP" he asked as he pre-
pared to move on.
&c l should think not" said she, fee
bly,. She drew her fur cloak about her,
and sat down on the door mat. She
had not regarded that useful article in
the light of a divan before; now she
was glad of even that medium between
herself and the cold doorstep. To weep
would not mend matters; to ring and
pound and rattle the blinds was useless.
Everybody in thirty-nine was hopelessly
asleep. She had been forgotten. She,
the core of the whole thing, the main
husband and her children, and her serv-
ants had, each, trusting to somebody
else, gone to bed and forgotten her.
She looked up at the moon and stars,
at Jupiter and several other illustrious
denlzens of the sky, and found them
cold and unsympathetic. She began
to think of her sins, and feared that she
had not been sufficiently kind to home
less outcasts. Even the cats, who were
the only people abroad in her quiet
street, came in for her sympathy.
"They have a hard time, poor things"
said she; " always locked OUT
1t was cat, however, who gave her
an idea.
Evidently a predatory Arab of cat,
who thought he owned her front steps,
for after stealthily creeping up and
finding her in possession, he leaped on
to a neighboring balcony.
She looked after him.
CDR. Montgomery's and a speaking
tuber' said she. "Why did I not re-
member that beforep"
Mrs. Davenport drew up her long,
yellow satin train, laid her fan and
handkerchief on the doorstep, and as
fast as high heels and satin slippers
would allow, went down her own steps
and up those of her neighbor, who lived
at 81.
"He is a doctor, accustomed to be
awakened at all hours" said she.
She rang, heard sleepy voice come
down: "What do you wantp'
"Help! Helpr said she.
"What helpp whoP what numberP"
said the doctor.
"39; great trouble! immediater'
said Mrs. Davenport.
The doctor seemed to be hours in
coming down. She was nearly in de-
spair again, but at length he opened
the door in his heavy overcoat and hat.
go! doctor! doctor! let me inr' said
the lady, now quite hysterical. "Your
house is warm; do let me inn
The doctor was of course astonished
to see his fashionable neighbor, but
hospitable and helpful.
"Willyou 60 up and knock at thep par
tition wall in your front room, doctor,
and try to make Mr.. DavenportP'' said
Mrs. D., now in tears.
Eyes, madam, if you say so. But
had you not better spend the night here,
quietly?"
"What, next door to 1872 o, no! 1
couldn't, must 60 home. Please, doc
tor, if it will not disturb Mrs. Mont
gomery, do 60 up and make dreadful
noise at the head of Mr.. Davenport's
bed; it leans up against your parlor, for
q q
The doctor obeyed and knocked loud
ly on the wall.
Mr.. Davenport heard distant thun-
der in his dreams, turned over, with his
deaf ear up, and slept again.
After half hours fruitless knocking
Mrs. Davenport consented to allow the
sleepy doctor to retire to his well-earned
repose, whilst she declared that she
would rest as well as she could in an
easy chair down in his consulting room.
Nos. 81, SO and Al were at peace at
last, and Mrs. Davenport, wrapped in
her cloak, and in warm room, in the
house of neighbor and friend, grew
composed, and finally laughed at her
adventure. 1t would be a good joke
next morning, but as for Orlando, her
colored waiter, there was a look out for
him, of the BLACKLIST!
Then poor Mr.. Davenport, how
alarmed he would be! but she would
watch and see the servants begin to
open the house, and steal in before he
walked up.
So saying, she fell sound asleep in
her chair. At length, Mr.. Davenport,
like all heavy sleepers, woke up sud-
denly and entirely. He did not know
why, but it seemed to him that he had
had disturbed night AS he lay, try
ing to collect his faculties, he heard the
clock strike four.
"How quiet Coralie isr' said Mr..
Davenport; tired after her ball, sup
poser'
Mr.. Davenport listened to hear,
through the opened door and curtained
recess, the quiet breathing of his wife
in the next room.
She was strangely still, and Mr.. Da-
venport arose softly and crept in to see
what could be the matter.
Heavensr' said he, "nobody in
that bed! Coralie not home at four
o'clock!''
Mr.. Davenport paused moment.
Could the horses have run awayP Could
the coachman have been drunkp That