The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-26

hs age of Mr.. Agnew's offer TO
y would accept the position OF
'F<Keler to the house double my
ent salary and a liberal commits
lr-l declined then, because YOU
NE money would never compen-
you for the present separation.
Gay the offer is renewed. After
conversation this morning, /
Z your.osd objection will hardly
rs any weight So l have accepted.
''iH leave in An hour. | will write
'k YOU every month, inclOsing remit
ltses. Ieave the accompanying
'fk note FOR the dress you desire.
naye sent for Aunt Cordelia, as
st'al, to stay with you.
ERNEST MATHER.
<<ot loving word, not regret for
Iths long separation.
MyFa realized then how consider
I's.c and Owing her husband had heen
~ les the wearing vexations OF her
M Al ana cafprfces.
4 Great tears rolled down her cheeks
as she bitterly reproacherl herself.
II have made him believe | don't
care for anything but money!" she
thought. "He leaves me this to con-
sole me fot his absence. Oh, Ernest.
come hcmeagain, and I'll wear calico
and a sun bonnet to church before
l'll tease vow for finery again !"
1t was not an easy task to go to
dinner and meet Aunt Cordelia, but
il must be done.
1t was no new thing for that
worthy spinster to see Myra in tears
when Ernest was away on business {;
so she only EXPRESSED IA desire to see
"any man alive she'd cry for" and
said no more about the little wife's
red eyes.
The days pass very YEARLY.
Aunt Cordelia preached only SER
mons to Myra about extravaganza
and weakness, till the poor little wo /,
man wished she was as homely and
ill-clad as the tormentor herself.
"You never see me with such a
dress in the house as that" the
Spinster would say, with compla-
cent glance at her dyed skirts.
II buy my clothes to wear" Myra
retorted. ''If l had as much money
as you, Aunt Cordella, I'd be asham-
ed to go about the house in such
dresses"
And the spinstel would shake her
head and groan, audibly pitying
poor dear Ernest"
you never see me-" was her open
lag address.
And Myra grew to hate the words,
in the long months of her enforced
companionship.
For Ernest did not return.
Spring, summer. autumn passed
away, and December was opening,
yet still he did not come.
Every month formal letter reach
ed Myra. including a check for her
expenses Of such liberal value as
proved Ernest was making money {;
but each one informed her that her
husband was just leaving the place
from which he wrote, and made 10
mention of his destination.
Heart-sick, penitent, and oh so
lonely, the little wife spent only
what was necessary for the house
and fairly loathed the sight of the
money that was accumulating in her
hands.
Letter alter letter she wrote and
destroyed. not knowing where to
direct them.
She was growing so pale and worn,
so quiet and subdued. that Aunt
C0rdeliea's most hateful speeches
went often unanswered.
She was sitting in the drawing
room one cold December morning.
when Mr.. Agnew, Ernest's employer.
came in.
II am sorry to dis you, Mrs.
Mather," he said, "bl wish to in
quire if you have heard from Ernest
this week."
"Not since the first" she replied.
He wrote US on the fifth that he
would remain in Cumberland until
the first Of the year and was to send
some papers on the seventh. These
have not come, and we are ernbarras-
sed for want of them. telegraphed
yesterday. but have no reply. Hsw-
ever. If you have not heard he is ill,
he Is probably better.
''Ill she faltered.
"Well, l judged from his last that
he had not fully recovered from the
fever he had, although he resu.ned
business. If you hear to-day, will
you be kind enough to send us
word ?'
"Certainly." Myra managed to
gasp in choked voice, and Mr.. Ag-
new left.
OIL A fever Sick at a hotel, and