The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-06-27

had he done so when the door flew omen
and very dark young man and a ver,r
fair young woman rushed in and almost
| fell upon him.
| so, sir" cried the young man and tho
| young woman in breath; and then tbaSy
paused and looked at each other in evidant
| trepidation, while Mr.. Bartlum repardaS
| them in mild surprise.
At length the girl said, in disapnoipt-
| ed tone: ave thought YOU were oidor
than you are. Didn't we, Walter?"
much older" assented Walter, deci-
sively.
81 regret to say" said James, gravelv
| "that | am not older than | am Rut let
| that pass. What is the matter, nv chill
dren?"
"Well, sir You tell him, Walter.n
"Well, sir, we wish to tell you the truth
OF this affair"
"Stay!" interposed James. as this n
secret? Because, if it is. you had better
keep it. l am stranger to you both'
eve know it," cried Walter eagerly :
''but that makes no difference. insist
| upon your hearingit."
so, very Well" said Mr.. Bartlum, re-
| signedly; "since you insist, fire awayn'
| Walter took his companions hand in
| his, and began in very manly tone:
'Sir, we have known each other since we
were six years old"
"Six years DID," said Mr.. Bartlum, with
a judicial air. Every good!"
THAT is, l was six, and Isabel was
| three. We have never been separated for
more than year, and have grown to love
each other-I may say ardently. Within
| the last month or two Uncle Brown has
noticed our intimacy and questioned Isabel
| about it. She confessed all. He then flew
into a violent rage-he is very violent at
! times"
| I .,
"-and actually swore at her, and for
babe me the house. To-day 1 wrote him n
note, making a formal offer for Isabel's
| hand. and | was to come to- morrow for an
answer, but Isabel heard you were coming
Indeed"
"-and we determined to make an appeal
to you. In the first place let me ask you if
l have acted wrongly in any way"
| mo" said Mr.. Bartlun1, looking at Isabel
with considerable admiration; you have
acted quite right. You couldn't help it."
"Then, sir" exclaimed Waller, 'we ap-
| peal to you. Make an effort to soften
| Uncle Brown. It's only a crctchety whim
of his, and you have such irhuence over
him. you are his adviser
"Hold hard" cried James 81 suspected
| all along you were in the wrong box, but
you would come in. Permitme, before this
goes any further. Who do you think l
| ann"
Ferguson, of Ferguson e. Board, law
yers," cried Walter and Isabel, in breath
you're mistaken; my name is James
| Bartlum, your cousin from-well, say Cal
| ifornia. just arrived this morning.
80, Walter" cried Isabel, with gasp,
"what have we done?"
eve are ruined" said Walter, tragic
| ally.
"Wait bit," said Mr. Bartlum, sooth-
| ingly. "Don't break down all at once.
am getting interested in this affair. l am
always on the side of youth and love, old
as | am. Now that | know all, perhaps
| can help you more than Ferguson. Don't
| say anything to Ferguson: don't appeal to
| him. A man with that kind of name is apt
to be finty hearted. Trust to your cousin
James.
SO, Cousin Jamesm cried Isabel, con-
WINGED at once, "bless you! You have
made us feel so happy
"Bless you, sir" echoed Walter, also
very mnch affected.
"All right" rejoined Cousin James, dry
| ly. "A brilliant, and, let us hope, feasible
| plan has occurred to me- which for the
present | shall keep in the inner recesses of
my bosom. viii you trust implicitly to
me!"
"Implicitly," cried Walter.
Every well. Then-you travel out of the
house."
Nv hat"
"Go! and when you come back to-mor-
row for an answer to your note, and Uncle
Brown says NO, which he undoubtedly
will, submit quietly.'''
ulVe up lSaoel' never
For time, young man-for time! Be
| diplomatic and trust to me-"
Eyes, do, Walter" pleaded Isabel. 81
am sure you can trust him."
Now, them" said cousin James, when
the ardent lover had torn himself away,
you are very young, and you are a fe-
male, but you look sensible. Can you keep
a secretI'
yes"
"l'll try you. Please sit down"
When Mr.. Theophilus Brown returned
from his search for the recreant Ferguson,
he opened his blue eyes very wide on see
ing his daughter and the ex-tramp enjoy
ing very lively tete-a-tete.
cousin Isabel and |, +" said James, with
sinlle' are excellent friends already, l
CONFESS uIi hoO remember her When she
came IN Everybody has changed In five
years eNcept Uncle Iheoph."
Humph," growled Mr.. Brown, not alto