The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-02-26
A DREADFUL CASE.


ofhis countenance changing from that OF
the reflective sage-I was going to say
to one that was almost misery. "Ah,
now you talk of something understand.
They are not watching us, are they?' he
broke off, looking nervously in the di-
rection of the house.
"No, no." said l, with subdued excite
ment, wondering what was to happen
next.
He deliberately unbuttoned his long
ulster coat, shivering in the cold winter
air as he did so; then he began to FUN
BILE at belt which he wore. Several
diamonds, of great value, as Judged,
in moment more sparkled before my
astonished eyes. He had apparently
drawn them from little leather pocket,
curiously concealed beneath his belt.
"Ah! those are gems, if you like,
sir" he exclaimed, with an exulting
chuckle, which brought to my mind the
impression created at our first interview,
that he was not quite right in his head.
"They are splendid,'' 1 said; "but
why do you carry them about with you
Suppose anyone, dishonesty inclined,
were to learn that an elderly man had
property of such value upon himP The
thought of it makes me tremble, sir.''
al am not in the habit of exhibiting
the treasures which it has taken my life
time to amass. l dare not. But trust
you, sir"
As a man of business l thought there
was here another evidence of mental
weakness, in the fact that he should
confide in one of whose antecedents he
knew nothing, and of whose honesty he
had no further proof than love of ma
ture might suggest.
But CHANGED at this moment to look
up at the first-foor window of our
neighbours house; and there, watching
with a strange and, as thought, scorn-
full smile, stood the tall, sallow man of
whom both my wife's and my own i'm
preston was SO distinctly unfavorable.
/ motioned to the old man to put
away his jewels, for the German servant
was approaching again; most likely
sent by her master.
My strange acquaintance did not APP
pear in the garden any more.
Well, few days after we sat in our
cheerful, cozy front parlor; we were
sitting, I say, in our cozy front parlor,
my wife, with her knitting in her hands,
on an ottoman, which was drawn close
into a recess by the fireplace; 1, in my
good old armchair by the table in the
middle of the room, and reading the
last number of our monthly magazine.
The entrance of Ann, with our custom.
airy "night-cap' of weak toddy and
thin bread and butter, interrupted nv
study of an article on "Trenchine, q
and caused me to look up at my wife.
"Eavesdropping!" l was about to
exclaim, when my speech was arrested
by observing the strange look of horror
on Polly's face. She had dropped her
knitting, and sat with hands clasped
tightly across her breast and head
pressed closely against the wall.
My dear girl, whatever is the mat.
ter with youP'' said. a
"Oh! it is DREADFUL" she whispered,
holding up her finger to check me-
Pray come and hear what they are
saying"
1 have an innate horror of eavesdrop.
ping, and as l have repeatedly said tc
my dear wife, whose feminine curiosity
tempts her to attach far too little atten
ton to this evil, Conversation mo-
intended for her ears ought to be re
garded with the same feelings as
letter not written for her perusal." Sh,
would feel deeply insulted did anyon,
suggest that she would be capable O
reading another persons letter, simpl,
because the seal happened to be broker
and she could therefore do so withou
the fear of detection. But women
alas! are never logical; and she will
not see, or perhaps can not, that he
conduct is no less culpable when sh,
greedily listens to the private converse
ton of others, just because accident O.
carelessness on her part has placed he
within earshot.
Exalted though my principles wer
about listening, / could not resist tn
impulse of the moment, but hastily ros
from my seat and placed my ear agains
the wall likewise. Ann Lightbody, too
forgetting our relative positions, drop
ped the tray of toddy on the table as
It were hot coal, and rushed to the op
posite site of the mantelpiece to initial
our example. To any one entering tn
room at that moment the scene present
ed must have been absurd beyond de
scription. But we were earnest enough