The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-05-06

<ery much like her. Are you stay
at Meadowyille ?"
Yes. l have been ill. Not very,
v&fH i'll but" and she gave little
g'Reful laugh" the doctor says /
iii''st go to the country for a while,
auq pot study so hard. So l am liv-
lnaNith papa's cousin, Miss Martha
Gtides.''
Ill, yes. Well. you must let me
come to see you sometimes"
shall De very glad to see you,"
reR'led Susan, frankly, thinking this
WE NE dearest old gentleman she
eXefseen.
Hechatted with her a little longer,
ans' hen walked with her to the gate
| OF &yqsin's cottage, but would not go
II will come to see you," he prom
ished as he left her.
But he said nothing to Dorothy of
this encounter, feeling that a sacred
chord of memory had been touched,
and shrinking from commonplace re-
marks upon it. The next day Miss
Dorothy went up to the city to make
her wedding purchases. and to visit
relative. She left most minute di-
rections with her servants of Roberts
comfort, and his heart was moved
with guilty disloyalty.
He was man of sensitive refine
ment, gentleman in the truest sense
of the word ; while his sister, although
not vulgar, was what the Meadow
Williams called stirring woman"
full of life and hustle, of oyerf1owing
energy, ard withal most incessant
talker.
Miss Dorothy had been in the city
but few days, when a letter from
Meadowville filled her heart with
elation. 1t was signed martha
Gaines" and that maiden wrote,-
"Your brother comes over nearly
every day. | suppose he's little
! lonesome while you are away, and he
usually stays to tea. I've got a board
er this summer, a daughter of a
cousin of mine in the city. She's on
ly a little girl, but she plays and
sings, and your brother likes to hear
her. He's very attentive, sends flow.
ers and fruit, and brings books al
though, between you and me. Dor
othy, l am no hand fer books, nor
never was. Still. Philips little girl
seems to like to read, and it keeps
her out of mischief; and girls are
always in mischief"
Every week there came long, ex-
ulting letter from Miss Gaines to her
dear friend, Dorothy, until the time
was drawing near for the elderly
spinster's wedding. All her wedding
garments were made, marked and
neatly packed, when she received a
letter from her brother:-
"Wait until Wednesday, and 1 VIII
be your escort to MeadoWville."
The curt epistle had been written
aftera day ofgreat moment to Robert
Ackerman. He had gone quite early
in the morning to the postoffice, and
returning, passed the cottage of Miss
Gaines. He had sometimes loitered
little with the ladies, as they trim
med the garden flowers, but on that
day he paused and caught his breath,
as an excited voice rang out upon the
air-the voice of Martha Gaines
saying
"You are an impudent little brat,
and I'll send you home. How dare
you set up to teach me how to treat
my husband %
A low, sweet voice answered.
"You need not be so angry, Cousin
Martha. l only said thought Rob-
ert Ackerman deserved a wife who
loved him.
"Fiddle-faddle-loye! You senti-
mental schoolgirls do talk such ar
rant nonsense. Robert Ackerman is
a incoming old bachelor who wants a
wife to manage him and keep his
home."
The sweet voice rang out more
clearly.
"Robert Ackerman is q noble. true
gentleman, man to honor-a man
to love! And if he marries he wants
wife who will love him, and make
his life glad and bright"
my good gracious J" gasped the
astonished old maid.
"You think more this minute,'
continued Susan, "of his house, his
money, his carriage, and his table
linen than you do of him."
"Well, suppose / do. Perhaps you
would marry him for love-"
Here the sweet voice broke in O
sob, and Susan fled from the battle
field.
1,L A H. hn