The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-04-08


Il presume it is. My friends
husband is connected with the mer-
camille house Of Cole & Cole"
Il think it is the same," return
ed, "but l do not visit them.n
You should get acquainted, then"
she replied, warmly, "for assure
you you are missing a great deal.
She is so good"
Unfortunately, / am not of your
opinion" l answered, coldly. II
made Mrs. Robertson's acquaintance,
but had good reasons for discontinue
ing the intercourse a..
Indeed l'' exclaimed my caller,
and saw look come into her face
that did not at all flatter my convic-
tions. AS a friend of Mrs. Robert
son insist upon hearing those reas-
ons. have known her long time,
and know her only as true, noble
woman"
Thus importuned, I related all l
had seen and what the reader already
knows.
you will admit" l said, "that
"ladies VINO receive and entertain
getlenmen during the absence of
their husbands, and who give tokens
to the same are not very pure"
II will admit nothing in this case"
said she, Indignantly. HAS this
story gone abroad ?"
'It seems to be generally known"
l replied.
MY poor friend! OF course, Miss
Peters," she continued, IL must ac.
cept the facts as you relate them, still
Ian positive there is nothing wrong
with Mrs. Robertson. The gentle
man m"y be IA relative or friend. l
shall silt this matter Immediately by
gong to Mrs. Robertson" and suit.
ing the action to the word, she boIted
out of my door hefore l had time to
demonstrate or excuse myself in any
way.
In a moment 1 saw them returning
together. I Iwould have given worlds
just then, had | never heard of Mrs.
Robertson. But there was no escape
for me now. opened the front door
and invited them in.
~ have told Mrs. Robertson your
story" said this mutual friend, "and
she has come over to explain"
.ParJon me-. Miss Peters, said
Mrs. Robertson, ''for this intrusion.
felt it was my duty to my friends
and to myself to silt this matter to
the bottom"
l bowed coldly, but my heart beat
audibly and my face glowed crimson.
"Will you be so kind as to tell me
what first reused your suspicious
against me ?'' she asked, in a sweet
voice.
IL am satisfied there has been a
mistake," stammered, ''and 1 owe
ycu all apology"
II must insist upon knowing all
the reasons my neighbor has for her
suspicion against me-" she replied.
Oh, how bitter the morsel had be
come now! If l only had never put
it into my mouth! ! summoned up
courage enough to tell her what l had
seen and heard at the gate one night
many weeks ago. How helpless
morally l was! / could not say it
was accidental on my part that had
seen and heard, / dared not say /
listened and peeped! l felt as if an
awful gulf had opened at my feet,
and into it l must leap.
Mrs. Robertson heard my story
through in silence. Then in clear
voice, with her blue eyes fixed sadly
on my face, she said: "You have
sadly misconstrued my conduct. The
gentleman was Mr.. Gould, my Sis
ter'S intended husband. You will
recOilect that at that time Mr.. Gould
was director of the musical associa.
; ton then being held i'm this place.
) He, at my husbands request, was
} my escort for three evenings to the
} concerts. We were late returning on
account of Mr.. Gould's position as
, director. My saying by Wednesday
next do not recall. OF one thing
1 am certain, we were not making
any appointment. The ring story i:
, easily explained. Mr.. Gould was on
his way to New York at that time
and intended to purchase the wed.
ding ring. Unfortunately, he had
not my sisters finger measure, and
mine being the exact size of hers, /
loaned him a ring"
had not once lCok up, culprit that
/ was, since she began to talk. A.
she ceased, an awkward silence fell
upon us. / must say something
, What should ii be? Every good inn
pulse within strengthened me to say