The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-06-18

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YEARLY up the stairs, and ten minutes
later the deep, regular breathing which
assured her that he was asleep.
A little longer she waited, and ther
rising softly she put on her wrapper anc
went to an adjoining room for lamp
which was on this occasion to replace
the gas. She had just placed it where
its rays would fall most directly on the
apparently incoming figure. She was
about to pull the cord which would oper
the door and reveal the coming man,
when her husband suddenly awoke and
asked in q startled manner, "What's
that lamp burning forP" then seeing his
wife, "What are you up for? Is any,
thing wrongP' There was but an in
slant for her to frame reply which
would cover the entire change which
must now be made in her plans but she
did it: "Oh, there's nothing wrong,
Mortimer, only Pm so nervous [ find it
impossible to sleep, so | got up and have
been wandering around" With these
explanatory remarks she curled herself
up comfortably on the foot of the bed,
drew little shawl about her shoulders
and began telling him of the various in
cidents of the day. Every bit of gossip
which had come to her during her morn
ing walk and evening calls was faithfully
recounted.
She talked in her liveliest and most
engaging style. She asked his opinion
of this or that statement, just as he
thought she was about to draw to close.
She told him she had at last found that
lovely little song that Mrs. B sang
so charmingly, and then she warbled
out the final strain, ending with ca
denza so stirring that her poor husband
gave up all hope of immediate slumber,
and began mildly to expostulate:
"Now, Augusta, you're a treasure!
you're an angel. You are Heavens best
gift to man. If you will only let me go
to sleep now, assure you solemnly that
in all our journey down ife's hill to-
gether, I'll"
"Now, Mortimer, don't! You've no
idea how I've reproached myself for not
making your home more attractive to
you. I'm going to be better woman
hereafter"
"All right, my dear! but wouldn't
you as soon defer it until tomorrow
morning?"
Demonstration is the thief of time,'
Mortimer! I've often heard you say, on
coming in late, that there are duties
which will not admit of delay.'
"Now, Augusta, I'll surrender at dis
erection and beg your merciful consid-
Grafton. Be good girl now. Kiss me
good night and let me 60 to Sleep"
That dreadful woman turned her
tempting little mouth to receive the
proffered kiss, and her deluded husband,
accepting that as flag of truce"
rashly ran his mouth against pin.
"Thunder and blazes! Are you an ami
mated pin-cushion?" and with an indig-
nant bounce he turned his face to the
wall and snored resolutely.
Augusta passed a few reflective mo-
ments in silence as she had done occa-
sionally at certain stage of a game of
chess. She was evidently considering
her next move. "Mortimer, Mortimer!n
cried she, in an excited whisper (she had
determined on her plan fer a check
mate). "Mortimer, hush! There's
some one in the house,
"Yes, 1 should think there was"
and then his wife crept closer to him,
trembling in every nerve.
"There is, Mortimer Please get up,
deari"
"Now, you've really accomplished
what you wished to, suppose. Prob
ably Mysteries will be the next card"
Entire silence for a short time. There
arr occasions when nothing is more eff
fective.
"Now, won't you get up, Mortimer,
and go through the houseP and then
will let you 60 to sleep; but 1 hear such
a queer noise, and l have such strange
feeling, I'm sure there's some one
around"
81 wish you would have lucid in
terval and go to sleep before it subsidies.
I'm tired of this"
$50 am l." in a nervous, frightened
tone.
"Well, come on! If you want
promenade, I'll lead the procession, but
you've got to follow! No hanging back!
Where do you want me to go?" said the
desperate man, as, with lamp in one
hand and pistol in the other, in all the
classic simplicity of his nocturnal attire,
he confronted his trembling wife;
"come on, say!"
eco up the tower stairway" suggest
ed she, meekly, and he went.
"Now through the back chambers"
and ne went, she following somewhat
timidity, yet confidence in her husbands
proves supporting her faltering steps.
"Well, is that alp" as they turned
from the unsuccessful quest. "Does
the line of march halt herep If not,
just lead on, General. Can't give the
military salute, you know, as both hands
are full"
"Just look out on the north veranda,
dear, and then won't say another
word"
Augusta judiciously took the lamp at
this juncture, and fell back in order to
leave her husbands hands free for the
dread encounter. He opened the door.
He uttered a fervent ejaculation, he
made sudden upward and backward
movement and he fired his pistol, and
these all so nearly simultaneously that
their order of succession would have
been difficult to determine. Some one
fell heavily to the floor, but it was some
one behind him and not before him.
Had he shot his wifeP He turned to see
that injured person in a little bean