The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-04-14

never do to let him hold such a power,
over your poor little head, and il
would be worse after you were mar
ried than before it. You are sure
that he will not give them up"
"He said he would never give them
to me-"
"Perhaps he has burned Them"
mo, no, he could never bear to &c
that. Why he idolizes them, Kitty
Just before he went away he told me
that they were laid in rose leaves in
the drawer of his Indian cabinet"
Every good. Grandfather sent thai
cabinet to the parsonage. dare say
it is exactly like the one in his room
If so, it is likely grandfather's key
will open the minister's"
"Oh, Kate, you burst not do such
a thing ~
81 dare, under the circumstances
OF two evils one should choose tins
least. Anything, almost, is better
than giving a rejected lover such a
power over you. 1t would be differ
ent if it were me. 1 would defy him.
and take the telling in my own hands.
~ could not do that. Archie might
tease me to death first"
II known, you dear, foolish little
woman. But you shall have your let
tiers, Maggie, so go to bed and sleep
soundly on my PROMISE"
"When ?"
"Perhaps tomorrow. Archie dimes
with the bishop tomorrow. | shall
find an opportunity, / think.
The next morning proved to be one
of those drenching days quite charac-
teristic of an English November.
Still about 3 O'Clock, Miss Leslie in
sisted on riding to the village. Her
grandfather made some opposition,
but soon gave in to Hates set ways
and her decided declaration, that she
would be ill without her galop.'
Arriving at the village, she stopped
at the. parsonage door, and nodded
pleasantly to the housekeeper, who
opened it. She said she was very wet,
and would like to see her cousin, and
dry her habit.
The parson was gone to the bish-
ops, but if Miss Leslie would come
in, there was fire in his parlor, and
she could warm her feet, and have
warm cup of tea and Miss Leslie,
after little more pressing, consented
to do so.
She permitted Martha to remove
her hat and bring her some tea, and
then sent her down to give the groom
glass of mulled ale. Il shall rest
half an hour, Martha, and if Cousin
Archie is not back by that time, l
must go, or else L shall not reach
home before dark. ,"
AS soon as the door was shut she
glanced around the room. 1t was a
cozy place full of bachelor comforts,
and pleasantly Uttered with books
and papers. The Indian cabinet stood
in little recess between the two Win
dows. She quietly selected her grand
fathers key and tried the lock. 1t
opened at once, and with an ease that
showed its constant use, aud the first
thing that greeted her was the faint
scent of rose leaves.
But the letters were not in the
drawers, and she was on the point of
closing the cabinet in despair, when
she remembered her grandfather had
a secret door that slipped away, and
hid closet between the drawers. 1t
was likely Archie had the same. She
sought the spring, and it responded
to her touch, and there lay the let
tiers, all tied together in one little
bundle. There were not more than
half a dozen, and Kate, with smile
of relief and satisfaction, put them
in her pocket. and locked the cabinet.
She had scarcely done so when she
heard some one open the front door
18th pass key and come straight up
ne stairs In moment sh9 had de.
yided that it was not Archie's foot
step, and that ii must be one of his
intimate friends. In moment, also
she had decided that if she did not
know him, he should not know her
Whoever it was. he did not at once
come to the parlor; he went into an
adjoining room, removed his wet coat
and boots, and came lounging in with
slippers on his feet and a cigar in his
mouth.
Kate had just finished arranging
her hat and gloves, and was goins
quietly out of one door when he en-
tered by the other. For moment
they stood and looked blankly at eact
other ; the next, Kate advanced few
steps, and said: 81 am waiting t
see the clergyman. Do you know
how soon he will return, sir ?"