The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-17

IS sure to take the bit into her own
keeping, and rule over everybody.
have half mind to bring her back
with me, and keep her until she falls in
love with some one. That would be
the best tonic for her restlessness"
When this long railway journey was
ended, he found himself standing on
the platform of the dreary little side
station, being Rugged and embraced in
the most affectionate and open manner
by his sister, a tall handsome girl. who
utterly disregarded the presence of q
country woman, who, setting down the
largest of her many parcels and bun
dies, stood looking on, with undis-
guised curiosity at this manifestation of
affection amongst the quality"
You darling old boy! I'm so aw-
fully glad to see you," said Clare. at
is too nice of you to run down and see
us in this way. Come along. Mamma
will be in a fever until we get back
again; for am driving Frisky and
Bolter to-day. Well be at home in no
time. Mamma wished to send the car
riage; but 1 would not hear of it. Is
your luggage all rightp o, have you
a sixpence for the boy who has been
holding their heads? Frightened little
animal he looks, doesn't he? o yes;
we are all well. How are you all,
George and the children? You should
have brought them with you. Why
didn't youP However, it is too deli
cious to have you all to ourselves"
An unceasing flow of light-hearted,
affectonate talk convinced Mr.. Sander
son that he had been doing his sister a
great wrong in looking upon her as the
cause of his hurried journey; and as he
regarded her sitting beside him so
bright and happy, driving her mad lit
tie ponies with reckless speed up hill
and down dale. over stones and round
corners, making the bleak moor ring
with her pealing laughter whenever
they encountered severer "bump"
than usual, he almost felt as if he must
apologize to her for having allowed
such thought to enter his mind.
"Walter! | do believe you are not
listening to me. You are thinking of
Georgia and the children. don't be-
lieve you heard what said. Twas say
ing we must have long rides every day
while you are here. Shan't we?"
81 fear, Glare, there cannot be many
days of it. l must be in London again
early or Wednesday morning."
son Wednesday,! | never heard of
such an idea! What in the world
brought you down, if you cannot stay
longer than that?'
What in the world brought him
dnxxynp that inc la hn
was asking himself. There was moth
ing wrong with Clare-that was per-
fectly evident; not hidden corner or
thought, even in her chameleon nature
all was open as the day. If it was only
about expired leases and back rents,
ETC., it would have been as well if his
mother had written frankly, and al
lowed him to judge if such journey
and loss of time were necessary. But
he was careful to keep these thoughts
to himself, judicial training having sue
cessfully overcome the natural frank
ness of his character. He was saved
the necessity of making any reply to
her last speech by the sudden pulling
up of the ponies at the hall door.
Take caren' laughed Glare as she
saw him almost overbalanced by the
extreme sharpness of the jerk. "Ah!
there's mother. Have / not brought
him home in good time, motherp just
twenty-five minutes from the station,
and the ponies going like lambs. No,
Walter; am not coming in at present;
| always drive them round to the stables
myself" and off she drove, leaving her
hrot haY. folJaI in tha r,,c ~ hi ~ 0thoY
81 am SO glad to see you. dear Walter.
l was so thankful to get your letter
this morning. 1t will be all right, now
you are come" And she led the way
across the hall into the small room GER
orally used by her and Clare when they
were alone.
Has Glare said anything to you?
Dear boy! am so anxious, that l can
think of nothing else. Did Clare tell
you anythingp
"Clarer' replied he. Sc Then it is
Clare, after all! Is it some new whim?"
90, Walter, worse than any of her
other whims. She says she is going to
marry-to marry horrid man, a vul-
gar, low kind of persona
"Whew! This is new within with q
vengeance! | thought she had forsworn
matrimony."
40, don't make fun, Walter; it is too
serious. and | am so anxious. The
more say to her about it the firmer she
seems to be. L do not know what we
are to do #, a. ..s ...t
:" Who is the man? Tell me all about
it, and do not look so tragic, you dear
old mater. At all events it is step in
the right direction. A married life is
more in her line than a Sisterhood
would have been. But who is the manp"
''He is a cousin of Mrs. Monkton, and
missionary in some mining village.
Clare met him there last year, when
those revival meetings were going on.
l find out now that it was he who put
that nonsense into her head about join
ing Sisterhood, and devoting her life
to nursing, etc. He was down here
lately, and l noticed that great many
letters passed between them after he
left, but never for moment thought
of anything further. And then, few
nights ago, she told me she had quite
given up all idea of infrmary work, for
a much more useful and extended life
had been offered to her. And then it
turned out that when Mr.. Motfat was
down here he had got her to enter into
q Encouragement with him."
" 0, only half engagement! We can
easily settle a half-enOaOeInent I'm