The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-17

buyin' till the last minute. Come, now,
what do you want OF me, Janep
The answer was rap ~ the door, and
in came Mr.. Bracket. Hepaid no heed
to James greeting, but turned, with a
business-like air, directly to Miss Par
minter, and said: II have to ask you
for the return of the five hundred dollars
loaned to you by Miss Miller some two
weeks ago"
"You have to ask it! And what have
you to do with her money!"
II take an interest in her, and don't
propose she shall be cheated by any APP
peal to her feelings"
"You don't sayr' responded Miss
Parminter, with her own dignified and
scathing sareasm-'yow don't say!
Well, Mr.. Eugene Bracket, that money
sUon't be returned. Miss Miller has
nothing to show for it; there wasn't even
a witness to the transaction. No,0,
then?'
Jane burst into tears, and sobbed out:
GLOW can you be 30 wickedP--how can
youP"
Mr.. Bracket made his eyes very small
and his action very large as he ex-
claimed: 81 shall have you arrested,
old woman, for swindling" He moved
to the door She was there before him.
"Softly, Mr.. Eugene. Ease up bit.
I've got a letter here that's of interest to
you. 1 spent whole day down town
a-fndin' out how to get at the news that's
into it. Come now" and she opened
letter that she had drawn from her
pocket-''come, now, look over with me,
and Wen peruse it together friendly and
pleasant. Gomez Then she read
aloud: ''There is no mine in Nevada
known as the Paramount. The soscalled
prospectus is cheat, and so is the man
called Eugene Bracket, who, presuming
on his fathers honest name, has been in
many fraudulent schemes for obtaining
money It's signed by two leading men
of Nevada. Now, young man, what's
that glib tongue of yours got to sayP'
Eugene stood silent and very white
for moment; then Jane rushed to him,
threw her arms about his neck. and cried
out: II don't believe it, don't believe
my poor Eugene"
With some impatient muttering, he
threw her from him.
Eugene, Eugene she sobbed, 81
| say uOu pelleNo III. 1Ao CulA ou
toward the door. care you going to
leave me?'
80, you little fool, yes"
'sBut you'll come back?'
NO." Numbered the dainty Eugene,
and with an oath went quickly down
stairs and out of the house.
Jane shrieked wildly. Miss Parminter
caught her as she fell, fainting, and car
ried her to bed. There the judicious
friend left her to ''cry it out" By even
ing she paid her short call and re-
marked, cheerfully:
''My dear, you see that man amt
worth your tears. He only wanted that
hard-earned money. He didn't care for
you"
II know it,' answered janet know
it,"
"Well, as you're quite safe now, we'll
and unsnapped leather pocket-book,
and counting out five bills, said, quietly:
1.-TWO, four, five hundred. There it is
just as you gave it to me-"
''Whatn'
80, yes. suspected that young thief
and just got holt of your money, and
kept it safe. There, there, don't cry;
| faint nothin'. Go to sleep-so." The
soft-hearted spinster sobbed and said to
Jane: you've got some sentiment and
nonsense about yer, but | believe your
own good hearts a-comin' back again.
SIGH foolery as yours spilled my life, but
it sha' INIT Spite yours, because I'll keep an
eye to you"
That night, when the tempest of her
grief had passed, Jane received pretty
box, directed in Josah's stiff hand
writing. She opened it, wondering, and
found little wax Cupid holding out a
loving scroll from mass of fresh-cut
flowers the prettiest, costliest valentine
she had ever seen. She comforted her
hot, tear-stained cheeks upon the bed of
roses, and couldn't help, after all, a
gentle thought for the poor discarded
plumber.
1t is easy to see the end. Miss Parm-
inter's daily advice to Josiah was, "Keep
back them stockin's till you're married,
but buy her a rosebud now and then. "
One happy day Jane announced with
blush: ''Josiah and are going to be
married, and in spite of all--all, you
know, that happened last winter, love
him true"
"She does" Josiah proudly confirmed,
and believe it.
Miss Parminter kissed them both, and
cried out: 3" Josiah got that valentine in
jist at the turnin' p int, jist when'a little
sentiment was real comfort. A walen
tine done it! A valentine done itr'-
HGrper'S BGzGr.