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

l'pasly, my senses half lost in sleep.
ISL then came grandma's advice
StHnulng out in great large letters
2on't believe anything you hear,
Qnly the half you see." Oh. but
was too palpable to shut out so.
must not be deaf and and blind
erything. And again l rolled
sEeet morsel under my tongue.
g next night l never went to
until after midnight. / sat at
Indow and-peeped through the
blinds at the house over the
A dim light glimmered in the
srCom, but no sound broke the
ofthe cottage. Disappointed
sss led, i went to bed and slept
isEfii late the next morning. But !
had not slept away my interest in
my neighbors. Before l could dress,
| peeded, through the blinds. The
brightnes of the June morning shone
and spanked over everything. The
tiny grass Hot glittered as if begem-
med, the best of portuIaccas waved
in regal spleldor. the canary sang in
Its cage for very Joy. Bending over
bed of panses Was lady's figure
under Il gentltman's straw hat. AS
she raised her head, 1 recognized
Mrs. Robertson, the loveliest flower
in the lovely garden.
"No wonder she bewitches the
men," l said, mentally, as 1 watched
the slight girish igure on its rounds
among the flower beds.
Now, had any person accused me
ofbeinga meddlesome gossip should
have Indignantly resented the charge.
But here l was actually prying into
my neighbor's affairs, and, l am
afraid. only too glad to discover that
everything was not apparently on the
square. | resolved, however, to keep
my own counsel, and not to divulge
what | had seen TO Il living soul.
Alas for poor human nature! That
very afternoon brought Cynthia Har
land, one of my intimates, and, un-
der IL solemn promise of secrecy,
told the whole story. After that.
how we magnified every little occur
renee connected with the Rebertsons
LII carriage drove up to their door,
how we peeded, and craned our necks
to discover the inmates. Oh, it makes
me hl,,sh tn thiuk of this even now
4 due time Mr.. Robertson re-
turned. Mrs. Robertson rode with
him, walked with him and seemed as
loving as though he was all the world
to her How l pitied him. He was
so handsome and noble in disappear
ance, aud seemed so devoted to her,
that some times | felt an intense desire
TO reveal to him the truth. OF course
this | could not do; but l could and
did cut his wiie's acquaintance. /
shall always remember the look that
came into her face the day we met
at ii pic mic, and | put the tips of my
three fingers into the extended palm
and looked away from her face.
How the story ever got abroad
cannot tell. / am sure | never men
toned it to any person but Cynthia
Harland. and only then under a
promise of secrecy; but by and 10y
heard it whispered about first in
private families then al public gather.
iugs. There WAS no accusation, but
Whenever Mrs. Robertson's was men
liOnetl there would he Ominous CLAN.
ces, and covert looks. and wise
shrugs. After awhile all these be-
came manifest to the lady herself
and she soon began to absent hersel
from our social gatherings.
IF she wasn't guilty she would
not nave taken the hint so soon y
said gossips, and believe them
Meantime something else occurred
that quite affirmed my suspicious
One afternoon, as sat by the win
dow, saw Mrs. Robertson come
walking down the path with The
identical short. stout gentleman wht
had heen her escort. Ileaned back e
as to be screened by the curtains, ant
eagerly watched them. They were
chatting very gaily, and as they
reached the gate, Mrs. Robertson
slipped a ring from her finger anC
gave it 10 the gentleman. sayins
something in sweet, laughing way
that could not understand. Ill
laughed. too, put the ring in his YES
pocket, and bowing politely, left her
Not long after this, / received ca!
from a lady living in another part o
the city. During her stay, she in
quired ii Mrs. Robertson did not live
somewhere in my neighborhood.
"There is a Mrs. Robertson living
across in the cottage yonder," re
piled, indifferent'y.
I