The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-17
marriage is the happiest state on earth;

40, VAAS hARPAOou obhCC On Oell Ou
BUT
70, no butts Walterr'
You must hear me out Before 1
can speak to my mother with any eff
tect must see Mr.. Moffat. How can 1
urge the advantages of your marriage
with a man | have never even seen?
Everything in a case like this depends
on the individual himself. In world
ly point of view, it is wretched mar
rage Tor you; but there may be quail
ties and gifts in the man himself which
out balance all that, and make him
more than your equal Do you under
stand?"
Clare murmured EYES," and her
brother went on:
Now. l think it would never do to
write and ask him to come here for my
inspection. l have been studying my
bradshaw this morning, and l discover
l can leave this by the eight o'clock
train tomorrow and be at his place,
Reckon, about midday. spend an hour
or two with him, and be back here by
the evening train in time for dinner.
what do you say to that? Then l can
talk with some reason to my mother;
or, perhaps, if am greatly impressed.
may even bring him back with me.
Or stay! Suppose you come with me!
Why not? | think that a splendid idea!
You would introduce me and smooth
away any little awkwardness there
might be in my going all alone, and
having to introduce myself. 1t would
be a delightful surprise to him. What
do you say? Will you go?
1S'tHow good you are, Walter! Ol
course I'll go. 1t will be simply de-
lightful. But how about mammap'
80, leave my mother to me; Pllmake
it all right with herr
Clare gave her brothers arm CRATE.
full and atfectionate squeeze. "And
Walter, we must send off a telegram
from the station tomorrow. and then
he will be waiting at the station there
forus."
"No; we will not telegraph, dear. In
the first place | don't want everyone
here to know where we are going; and
then Mr.. Moffat would be making al
sorts OF elaborate preparations for us
and neither you nor would like to give
him any trouble by our visit-would
wep"
''No; of course not But he would
Like to give us lunch, you know. How.
ever, as you say, the people here would
talk; ana we can make up our minds
just to take whatever his housekeepel
can give us on short notice."
And so the visit was thus arranged
and carried out. The morning train
took them off; and in due time, after
some changes and delays, landed them
at Reckon; singularly we'll named
place, Walter thought, but refrained
from saying; for he did not wish to
prejudice his sister in any degree. The
fine bright morning had been gradually
becoming more and more overcast
and had now fairly settled into one Of
those still wet days which are to some
temperaments peculiarly depressing
Except the station master and a boy
not soul was to be seen; any loungers
that might otherwise have been there
being kept away by the double event o.
a steady rain and of its being the din
ner hour. A great many trucks filled
with coal and coke, and others waiting
to be filled; long lane, which in reali
ty seemed to have mo turning" {
wet, black, coaly road, stretching gu
dull and cherries between very high
struggling bare thorn hedges, and low
ering mist hanging over large irregu
lar village, completed scene which
filled both the spectators with silen
dismay.
ASK if this is Reckon, Walter; per
haps we have made mistake"
Walter obeyed, and came back say
ing: " That village there at the end O
that lane is Reekton. 1t is unfortunate
that it has turned out such wet day
Shall send the boy down to the inn
and see if we can get a cab or convey.
ance of some sort?"
- Yes, do, Walter, while Iremain un
der the shed here"
In a minute or two her brother came
back with the intelligence that there
was no cab or conveyance to be had.
There had been a wedding in the vii.
lage few nights before, and the only
chaise it possessed had been nearly
broken to pieces in the course of the
| festivities. There was nothing for il
but to walk, and the station-master d.
rected them how to find Mr.. Moffat' s
house, which was right in the middle OF
the village, two doors beyond the Kings
Arms.
"What wretched day." exclaimed
the girl, with SILVER as she spoke.
'' Yes; we do not see Reckon for the
first time under favorable circumstan-
ces. Who could have foreseen a day
like this after so bright a morning! Are
you coldP' D..
Eyes; no-a little, think"
+" Shall 60 into the inn as we pass,
and tell them to have a chop or some
thing ready for us, in case Mr.. Motfat
may be from homer"
"That W ould be the finishing stroke
to our bad luck! Very likely we shall
find he is away" -H
However, it seemed as if fate meant
to be kind after all; for on knocking at
the door of the house pointed out to
them, a stout, severe looking person in.
formed them that Mr.. Moffat was at
home. I'm no sure if he is down
yet; but just step in here" said she,
opening, as she spoke, a door on the
left side of the little square passage;
'.he's mostly late on the Mondays
and ushered them into room where
breakfast was laid for one person.
On side table was lying a strange
81 l. IT,