The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-06-12
.po,,,o,,,ho, him, What. Hal, our


most devoted attendant and deares1
friendP Upon my word, l hadn't any
dearer friend in those days" exclalmeu
the sister, in voluble way he remem-
bered well. SHOW glad l am to see
you'll The servant told me gentleman
was waiting to be shown the house. l
little dreamed of finding an old FRIEND III !.
the house-hunter. Are you a Judge ol
housesP" she asked, in a practical way.
81 fear not; but Mrs. Maclane was
unable to come, as one of the children
was ILL.," replied Henry Maclane. -,
elbow many children are there!
asked Mrs. Ellis.
"Five," answered Henry Maclane.
Mrs. Ellis proceeded Immediately 10
the business in hand. s'I will show
you the upper stories if you like TO
look"
AS they left the parlors, child en-
tered from the rear, exclaimlng'
Mammal"
"Come to me, Hail." said the fair
lady, laying OBTAINING hand on the
Henry Maclane followed his leader,
looking back at the tableaux of the
sweet womanly face against which the
child's curly head rested. 1t was a
pretty picture; but it gave him pain,
for the child name suggested again that
possibility of sweet remembrance and
vain regret.
Mrs. Ellis commenced the good points
of the house with the volubility of a
house agent, and Henry Maclane APP
peared to follow, but his thoughts were
with the fair woman in the parlor be-
low.
cit is strange we never met until to-
day." he said, somewhat irreverently,
as Mrs. Ellis's last remark was about
communicating rooms.
You see we went to Europe when
you went for soldier" replied Mrs.
Ellis. 81 was there until the war was
over. Reby remained some years
longer. When we came back to Balti-
more, your family had moved to New
York, and we lost sight of you all. 1t
was very dismal coming back to stran-
gers and many changes. l soon found
comfort in my engagement to Mr.. Ellis,
and Reby went back to Europe. She
wants to 60 again, but we are trying to
keep her here"
els her husband there?" asked Henry
Maclane.
"Husband?-Reby's husbandP" echo
ed Mrs. Ellis. "She has never married
Did you notice your namesake, my little
boyP"
Henry Maclane made movement to
descend the stairs.
"Hadn't you better see the rear
room?" asked Mrs. Ellis.
!" No matter. l will send Mrs. Mac
lane." he replied, carelessly.
Truth to tell, he was inclined to 90
down the stairs with a bound. His
sister-in-law's conclusions had not been
wide of the mark. No woman had ever
been to him what this woman with the
sunny hair and fair face had been, but
he was a shy man, and had simply lost
his chance. He went to battle with only
a request for one golden lock from the
fair head, and she was too proud a
woman to give more than was aNked.
Then they drifted far apart, as lives
often do that have touched each other
with strong points of contact. Once
Henry Maclane sent a letter of recon-
noissance to his old friend Perhaps
it may be like the dove sent out from
the ark he thought, and may bring
me some olive-branch of remembrance;
but it was like the dove that never re-
turned. He always thought of her now
as blessing some home with her loving
presence, and lost to him forever. To
find her unclaimed and untrammelled
he had hardly dared to hope.
He was soon in the parlor, and by
Reby's side.
"Tell Mrs. Maclane we would like
her decision as soon as possible" said
Mrs. Ellis, somewhat sharply. To her.
self she was saying, "The man might
have married Reby once, but he shall
not fiirt with her now"
"I am glad to find Reby I'M
changed" said Henry Maclane in re-
Spouse.
Mrs. Ellis replied, brusquely: "She
is wonderfully changed to me. The
years have brought great strength and
goodness to Reby. She is not a
woman to tolerate nonsense of any
kind"
She justified her brusque speech with
the mental comment: GA man with a
wife and five children has no business
to stand there with undisguised admira-
ton on his face, and congratulate him.
self on finding Reby unchanged. It's a
trying ordeal to her, and I would short
en- it if l could"
Her remark brought the color to
Reby's face, and Henry Maclane looked
annoyed. 81 don't understand" he
began.
Mrs. Ellis interrupted him. "You
will bring Mrs. Maclane when you come
again?"
Possibly her husband will be free tc
come with her, was the quiet response
Husband! Are you not Mrs. Mac
lanes husband?" asked Mrs. Ellis, won
deringly.
"Mep Oh moi My brother Joshu.
is Mrs. Maclane's husband" replied
Henry Maclane, with smile.
"And father of the five childrenP''
continued Mrs. Ellis.
Father of the five children echoed
Henry Maclane. !.
''And haven't you any wifeP" asked
Mrs. Ellis, curiously.
"The Bible says, "A good wife is
from the Lord" replied Henry Mac
lane, gravely. "He has never given
me such a blessinO.'