The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-12
his return, and yet he avoided the young

niS oturu, ana yet he avoided the young
Erskines. On the east side, wide
streets, noisy and dirty. were succeeded
by narrow streets, also noisy and dirty
be saved child from being run over
BY butchers cart. and got entangled
IN a network of passing cars. Clearly
ms cholce OF a promenade was bad
one. He paused for the next car to ex-
trlcate him from the Babel of traffic,
when he noticed the sign of a pawn
broker.
he peered into the place, which was
dark, mouldy and with sinister quiet
about it in serious contrast with the
hustle of the adjacent thoroughfare.
The pawnbroker's shop lurked around
the corner, patient monster, sure of
its prey-the haggard mechanic out of
work and the careless youth spending
his wages in the tawdry billiard saloon
OF the avenue. No object of value met
the eye; faded carpets, lounges, rick
ETY. chairs, dilapidated clock, were
visible on one side-the wrecks OF
needy families; for the rest, not as
much as gamblers watch. 1t was
memorable morning at this particular
pawnbroker's however. The French
emlgrant's wife came. her eyes blinded
with weeping, the last shreds of house
hold bedding in bundle ready
to pawn. At the door she
was stopped by a stout gentle
nan, who babe her return home, guard
ing the precious blankets, and thrust
buble the expected sum into her hand
An Arab of the town, in shirt sleeves,
E5last coat rolled under his arm, the
neet. of bread being so bitter in his Gel
lar habitation, ripe for any crime, in re-
volt against society, was stupefed by a
kind word from the same stranger, and
question or two, which resulted in
his slouching back to the cellar with his
coat on his back and his arm full of pro-
visions. A girl approached, hurried and
nervous in manner, and drew from be-
meath her shawl silver lamp. The
lamp was small, of unique design, and
richly embossed.
"Allow me to look at that lamp"
said voice.
A stout gentleman snatched it up,
and scrutinized the bottom, where some
initials were inscribed.
"Ah! | never saw another like it,"
he exclaimed. g. sent it to my brother
Henry years ago"
The girl turned, and pushed aside
her veil with a fierce gesture. Mr.. Hunt
er recognized the Martha of the church
gallery.
1.-The lamp is mine and 1 may sell it
if choose" she said, hoarsely.
"Trust me as friend, and come
away where we can have little con-
versation,'' he said, quietly, and re-
stored the lamp.
counter. He opined that Mr.. Hunter
was a private detective in search OF
stolen goods, and rather an awkward
novice in his profession. The two per.
sons thus strangely brought together by
chance paused in little square where
fiourished few discouraged trees
| adorned with sparrow boxes, and
hemmed in by tall discolored houses
with ragged garments floating from the
windows.
"Now explain to me all about the
silver lamp"
Martha Davenport looked at him with
| clear, penetrating eyes.
Mark gave it to me on my las
birthday," she said. :" He had promised
never to part with it, only he had moth
ing else to give"
"Markn' repeated Mr.. Hunter, in
credulously.
MARX Hunter. You know him
We have been engaged for three years. >
Eyes, 1 should know him." mutteret
the other. "Can he be my brother
Henry's son?"
Martha advanced step nearer, anC
inquired, imperiously, 'Do you believe
in him?''
"Why should l believe in him?"
"Cruel! cruelp' she cried. "Yol
speak as his rich relations would speak
l would go and beg of them, but HI
will not let me. They could only show
me the door. Mark is an inventor,
great inventor; perhaps in advance o
his time. Do you hearP We have
reached the end. Why should we no
be allowed to live? Yes, we are on,
household; we came from the West tt
find work in the great city. l hay,
been employed at the ribbon counter O
Hopes fancy store until last week
The forewoman was my enemy since
found mistake in her accounts yea
ago. You know the proverb, when thu
master wishes to drown dog, he pro
nounces the animal mad, in excuse
Well, package of lace was found il
the pocket of my waterproof cloak.
did not put it there. i was dismissed
and without a character. Mark has no
finished his model. Yesterday mothe
wished to 60 to church and saw OF
the wall, Thy word shall be LAM
unto my feet l laughed; l feared
was going mad, but l remembered tn,
silver lamp at home. decided to sci
it in order that Mark might finish hi
model in peace. did not dare to lool
beyond" .l
Martha spoke rapidly; her color cam,
aud went; she extended the lamp with
a proud gesture and ray of sunshin,
fell on it. Mr.. Hunter had seated him
self on the stone bench, and traced line
on the gravel with his cane as he list
ened.
"Why was the lamp preserved" h
finally inquired.
Martha smiled and sighed. She wa
not afraid of him. marks uncle sen