The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10

| were
sitting half5haded by a screen, and Ethel
was makilg conversation in her graceful
manner 18th the governor
"AnGso am really to believe that Won
hold t the declaration you made to me up
the rSer last week, Mr.. Carew?u
san you doubt me? Did l not repeat if
toSou in all earnestness in the Row only a
Aw days ago, Miss Damian?"
"You are very chivalrous young man.
the apt pupil of chivalrous father. I won.
der II you mean all you say, and still
more wonder II you distinctly remember
what you really did say at the picnic.
have always had my doubts ON that sub
ject."
miss Damian, do you wish me to repeat
it noww
Certainly not, for am sure you could
not II you tried, but to relieve you of all
further anxiety on the subject / will tell
you, not all that you said, for that wouId
be to repeat too much good humored non
sense, but the one important declaration
which evidently weighs so heavily upon
your conscience"
'Iam all attention."
"Well, you confided to me. of course in
the strictest secrecy, that you never could
marry any woman if you thought she were
capable OF consuming as much lobster salad
as any one of those three young ladies did
against whom you seemed to bear such a
grudge for refusing to flirt with YOU in the
very presence of their fiances. There. 7
thought you would feel relieved; but it is
very bad compliment to me to let it be
so apparent"
Good heavens! and this was all? Here
1ad been making myself miserable and
Objectionable to all my friends for the mast
week, and for nothing. Even nv habitual
self-control failed me now, and the express
ION OF delight on my countenance no
,ouot deservedly called forth Miss
amian's reproof
Twas a free man again, vet honor for
Ide me to jump at the position too
gerly.
"You cannot think" said. "that this
little misunderstanding can alter the rela-
lions between usp
"Relations! What relations? | don't
understand you, Mr.. Carew.'
"Surely, you could not have mistaken
TIE nature of my offer to you the other day
In the RowW
She burst into little fit of laughter.
" You foolish boy, do you take me for an
oSess! Could you not see that | was only
amusing myself? | value the freedom of
my maidenhood a great deal too much to
party it so easily. An old maid | am,
ana an old maid | mean to be to the end of
the chapter. Besides, do you think l have
no eyss? | am far too experienced i'll read
ing the signs of love- not to have observed,
where your heart is fixed, perhaps not with
out good grounds" and she looked express
slvely across the room to where Ethel was
sitting. Glove at first sight is no such I'M
common occurrence after all, is it, Mr..
Careww
raised her taper hand, and reverently
kissed it. Miss Damian, you have taught
me most gracious lesson, and should be
ungrateful not to profit by it. Believe me,
this time when l assert that my allegiance
to you is, in another form, stronger than
ever"
THAT is well, and now go and talk to
Ethel, and leave me to amuse your father:
that is more in the fitness of things"
And | was in g delirium of delight for the
rest of the afternoon. What need to say
how often | called at the house i'll Kensing-
ton after this? indeed, I could not if l at
tempted. Enough that at last, screwed
my courage to the sticking place." and
obtained the one word from Ethel that was
wanting to make my happiness complete.
Our wedding took place in the following
month, with the usual orange blossoms,
white lace, fees and frippery. That abomin-
able Ralph was my groomsman. The
laugh was all on my side now and he never
to this day has suspected the real facts of
the case, when he drove with me to Ken
slngton that morning after the picnic and
waited outside the house in hanson.
80! Charlie" exclaimed my Ethel, as we
started for Paris on our wedding trip,
what a good thing it is you married me,
FOR now | shall make an excellent chaperon
Tor Aunt Barbara! 7"
When we returned to London, the old
governor was the first to greet me.
l could not make out what had come over
him, he seemed embarrassed and anxious
to avoid meeting my eye, and turned the
conversation whenever it touched upon
home topics.
At last when we were alone he came up
to me and put his hand shyly upon my
shoulder. "Charlie, my dear boy, don't
call your father an old fool, but you see the
house was lonely after you left it and 1 had
no companion to amuse me in your alb
sence, and so, and so-in fact, Charlie,
Miss Damian is now Mrs. Carew, and your
"Bravo, governorw Exclaimed, "and a
charming step-mother, too. Accept my
best wishes"
So you see, Aunt Barbara did not require
Ethel for chaperon, after all !-Temple
Bar.