The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-03-01

you the news, Cornelia," said She
you've been too cruel this time-he,
he, he! Orville Spear ha'n't been
heard of since he was at your house.
His mother says he went over to eX-
plain and make up, and he never came
back-he, hei She thought maybe he'd
stepped over to his brothers., but he
hadn't-he, he! 1 reckon he's drowned
himself" .a...
Il don't know why the whole town
meddling old maid giggle about them!"
cried Cornelia.
Piety jumped to her feet, seized her
parasol and turned towards the door.
Good afternoon, Miss Cornelia and
Mrs. Rashleigh," she said, with a con-
temptuous courtesy. "rll remember
my manners, if other folks forget theirs.
Only there's other folks as likely to be
old maids as me, and fancy it's Mrs.
Spears affair now if anything has
happened TO her boyn'
Away flounced Miss Pratt.
you've put Piety in rage, Corne-
liza, y said Mrs. Rashleigh. That's a
pity she has long tongue"
But Cornelia was crying.
80, mother, dear" she sobbed, sit
isn't true, is it? Orville did feel dread
fully. Won't you see, mother?"
But at this moment Sally, the little
servant girl from Grandma Rashleigh's,
came flying into the room, without any
more warning than if she had been
shot from gun.
1.-The old missus says you are to come
over at once, both you ladies'" she
cried, standing before Mrs. Rashleigh,
and repeating her lesson like parrot
There's something of Importance, and
you're needed at wonst.
"Get your bonnet Cornelia," said
her mother "I'll Just put on this sun
hat. What is it, Sally; do you know"
Il know it's something dreadful.
Missus is. almost wild, and there's lots
of folks there. Something about Mr.
Spear"
The two ladies said no more. They
hurried away together, and, entering
grandma's parlor, found there assem-
bled more of the members of the Spear
family, and a friend or two besides.
Orville had, indeed, disappeared. He
had never been home since his visit t6
Cornelia, and now the alarmed rela-
tiyes were anxious to get all the infor-
nation they could regarding the inter
view between Orville and Cornelia.
Il had reason to be angry, Mrs.
Spear" said Cornelia, proudly; "good
reason, and | took off my ring and gave
it back and went out of the room. That
is all | know. l don't know when he
went or where. IL thought he
wouldn't mind so much | believed he
had stopped caring about me-"
Ale ought to now, at all events, "
said grandma.
MY boy is dead, I'm sure. 1 shall
have the pond dragged!'' said Mrs;
Spear, amidst her tears. "He left all
his money at home. Hewouldn't have
gone travelling without change of
clothes. o, you wicked girl!''
81 hope" cried the eldest Miss Spear,
"that he'll haunt youn'
81 could kill you, you hateful thing!'
cried the youngest Miss Spear.
Cornelia had kept up bravely until
now; but when her two friends turned
upon her thus, she gave little scream
and fell over on the sofa. She was in
dead swoon, and the water they
sprinkled in her face did not bring
her to.
Grandma grew frightened.
81 hope it isn't an attack of heart
disease" she said. Poor child! she
looks as if she were dead"
80, don'tsay that, cried the mother.
They gathered around Cornelia and
did all they could for her. and soon she
recovered and sat up, but all her pride
was gone.
o, dear! o, dearr' she sobbed. 81
wish l had died. | wish / had never
come to! o, Orville! Orville! what has
become of you?"
80! oh!' moaned the mother.
80! oh!' moaned the sisters.
And Cornelias head fell back again.
emma, get the lavender out of the
china-closet, said grandma to her
daughter. "Quick! It's on the corner
shelf
Mrs. Rashleigh rushed to the closet.
at won't OPEN" she cried wildly.
otis patent lock-" said grand
ma clocks as it shuts. Here's the
key"
And Mrs. Rashleigh flew back to
the door, opened it and uttered a
shrek.
There on the floor, huddled up I'M
der the shelf, lay poor Orville Spear.
He was white and limp.
Cornelia sat and stared at him in the
most awful way. She thought him dead,
but the more experienced matron saw
that he was yet living.
Sally was sent post haste for the doc
tor; and there, in Mrs. Raslrleigh' s
drawing-room. he found Cornelia and
Orville lying quite unconscious, like
Romeo and Juliet in the scene at the
tomb, and the rest of the party in a
state of bewilderment and terror past
description.
At last, however, both were conscious
and seated in arm-chairs, regarded each
other, while the observers kept silence,
and Mr.. Orville Spear uttered the first
words.
"Of all the COMPOUNDED FOOLS
"Who, dear?" asked his mother.
''Me," said Orville, regardless of
grammar. "Who shut me in?''
"What were you in the closet forPn
asked grandma, with guilty con-
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