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

Indeed, sir,v said poor Mrs. Fon-
taine, "you are very kind !"
"Kind ?" he repeated, bruskly.
"Nothing of the sort. Kind? Ought
we not all to be kind to each other +?
And now good evening""
He paused minute, however, by
Agatha's table.
49," said he, "these are the
shirts ~
And with delicate pencil he drew
tiny cross in blue lead upon each
one.
"These are what you call the neck
bindings, aren't they ~ said he.
''That mark will do no harm. See,
it is so small that no one would no-
tice it but ourselves. only want to
identity these articles ifI should ever
see them again. Good evening, Miss
Agatha. Mind you don'tsit too close
at your needle.' :
Rtnd the Major TOOK MS brown face
and sturdy, tall figure out of the twi-
light room.
The shirts came to the Western
packing"bOx in due time. Major
Trixton eyed them critically.
My old mother used to say" said
he, "that well-made shirt was the
Criterion cf woman's ability to
make good wife. These shirts are
disgraces to the Portyille girls-all
except three, and each one of the
three is marked with tiny blue
cross ON the inside of the neck bind
ing"
And Major Trixton chuckled as he
packed the shirts in the big wooden
box.
He met Miss Bruce on the favorite
promenade an hour or so subsequent
ly. She smiled sweetly into his face.
II hope you were suited with the
shirt, Major" she said.
ut was beautifully made," he an
swered.
81 can assure you," she simpered,
"that 1 worked most diligently upon
it,"
His dark eyes seemed for moment
to read her very soul.
Inyoluntarily she blushed and
turned her face away.
"Can he know" see thought, "that
l sent it to Miss Fontaine to be
made?"
The yelvet-eyed Hedge twins were
not far off; they advanced to meet
him, with cherry cheeks and plumed
hats to match.
"Oh, Major Trixton," said they,
"did you get the shirts? And did
you find out that we didn't make
'em at all? Mamma would be horri.
fed if she knew that we told you.
But we couldn't get the gussets and
cores right, and we pricked our fin.
gers and lost our tempers, and"
"And so you sent them to Miss
Fontaine, eh ?" laughingly question
ed the Major.
"How did you know ?" said Ida
with wide open eyes.
"But don't tell mamma" added
Bertha.
"Oh, [ know good many things
said the Major, smiling. And L as
sure you that your secret is quite safe
with me-"
Agatha Fontaine was walking alb
sently along. with her face bent down
ward and her eyes fixed on the
ground. She scarcely saw the Major
until he paused in front of her; then
her cheek kindled into sudden fire.
major Trixton p she cried. "The
very one wanted to see p
"Can be ofany service, Miss Fon-
taine?"
'"The doctors BILL" she said color.
ing. at is so much larger than we
expected; and-and if you would
lend us little. Major Trixton,
should be so glad to repay it in sew
ing"
II will lend you the money, Miss
Fontaine," he said "but as for sew
! ing"
"Your housekeeper may find some
thing for me to do" said she wist-
fully.
He turned.
"Let me walk along by your side,''
said he. "Let me tell you, Miss Fon.
taine, how clos ely ! have studied
your character since first Rideau took
me to your sick brothers. bedside.
Let me confess to you how dearly
haye learned to love you-how truly
to respect your noble nature. 1 am
a rough, brusque old fellow, 1 know,
but believe l could make you hap
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