The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-04-17

meeting, IN spite OF empnatlc cries OF
''Stand back ~ He saw some of his own
gunners among the on-lookers, and from
them he learned that poor young girl
zone of them play -actorSn-had slipped on
the wet pavement and had injured herself
severely. BrabaZon's heart was easily
touched; his habit of command prompted
him to take the lead: and accordingly, he
it was who got the poor girl carried to q
neighboring chemists; he it was who sent
for doctor; and, finding that she was suf-
fering from compound and commlnuted
fracture of the thigh, he had her conveyed
to her poor lodgings near the Backwater,
and, always thorough in whatever he I'M
dertook, he arranged with her landlady--a
rough but worthy woman-for her nursing
and support during what could not be but
q very serious and protracted Illness He
could not help being interested in the poor
girl for she was Singularlv pretty, with q
pale refined face, which seemed to tell of
higher origin than that which her sur
rOundings would suggest: and, according
to her own account of herself she was quits
without friends in the place, and her only
relations were distant in every sense of the
word So BrabaZon took her under his
wing, made up his mind to q considerable
outlay on her behalf, told the doctor to
order what he liked and send the bill in to
him, and made sensible and generous ar
rangement with the landlady. You sec, he
was young and he was in love, and who is
not inclined to generosity under such cir
cumstances!
Naturally. Miss Medlar was bound to hear
of what Brabazon had done-and hear of it
she did, and, of course, she put the worst
construction possible on his conduct
Shocked, as she was, at the awful thought
of a young officer taking charitable in
terest in poor girl who was to all intents
and purposes friendless but for him, | am
afraid that her heart gave private boun d
of intense satisfaction, for here she had
weapon which she could use against that
contemptuous proligate, and with effect
So letter after letter was written to Lean
ington, describing in no measured language
the extraordinary conduct of Captain
BrabaZon, at which the whole town was
represented as standing aghast, and making
insinuations of the very worst character,
suggesting falsehoods, and then accepting
her own suggestions rs facts, until Mrs.
Bracebridge wrote to BrabaZon herself to
ask him what was the origin Of all these
stories. Then he, unwillingly and in few
words, for he was Singularly averse to
blowing his own trumpet, gave the history
of his meeting with the girl, Lucinda Cut
ler- and of his interposition in her behalf;
and we may be sure that Gwendolen at
least exalted him higher than ever in her
heart, and looked upon him as indeed
very king among men, But her mother
was not i'll love with Brabazon, though she
liked him very much, and, being a some
what weak woman, she allowed Miss Med
lars lnsnuations to take certain amount
of root in her heart, and did not utterly
weed them out. That worthy woman had
promised in her last letter that she would
collect further evidence" and she fully
intended to keep her promise
Meantime spring was coming on, and
BrabaZons preparations for the expected
visit of his fiancec was already progressing.
lie was dressing one afternoon, prepare
tory TO canterin the country, when young
nj Fnt T.F Iln -k1A,
Portland, burst into the room.
II say, Brabazon,n he said, $50 glad to
have caught you in! You promised the
other day TO give me the name of the man
who looks after your boat for you in fact,
believe you did give it me, but l never
can remember names; just write it down
for me, and his address, like good fellow.
want him to fit out my little craft, and |
think you said you could recommend him.
"As far as know, he is good man to go
to, said Brabazon. He is very civil, and
his prices are not high. You can look for
yourself. You will find full particulars as
to his name and address on that bill lying
there don't know if you are an expert
i'll matters NAUTICAL
Not |, " laughed the young fellow II
don't know bowsprit from bolster; but
III take your word for it. Here, give me a
sheet of paper, and III copy off his address,
or I'm sure to forget it,"
Tear off the heading of the bill, old fell
low, said BrabaZon. Sorry L can't ask
you to stay, but I'm going out riding and
daren't keep my horse standing in this
east wind
Don't mention it, said the other 'I'm
in hurry myself-many thanks-ta ia ~
and of he went.
Returning an hour or SO later, Brabazon
was surprised to see the well-known figure
of Miss Medlar disappearing down the lit
tie lane which leads as short cut and from
the barracks Gan she have been to see
me!' he thought, and he seemed to remem-
Der that this was one of her seasons for levy
ing her blackmail' Sure enough, on arriv
ing at his rooms, he learned from his serv-
ant that Miss Medlar had called that she
had been evidently annoyed ut his absence,
that she had proposed to write him note,
but that, unable to find u sheet of paper,
she had left without doing so, apparently i'll
a great rage. 80 much the BETTER" said
Brabazon to himself. Il should not wonder
but what that old mischief-maker is at the
bottom of these yarns that they've got hold
of at bennington" But, at the same time,
be little imagined how terrific mine Miss
Medlar was preparing to explode beneath
him.
Only few days elapsed, when he found
on his table letter in Mrs. Bracebridge's
handwriting. She did not usually write,
but, no doubt she had something to say as
to his getting them lodgings, in view of
their promised visit. He opened it, glanced
down the first sheet, got very red turned
over to the next, and with an exclamation
that was not a blessing flung the letter on
the floor. 'Coafound meddling old harri-
dam" he exclaimed, and then he picked up
the letter and read it once more. Mrs.
Bracebridge wrote to say that Miss Medlar
had informedher that she was in possession
of perfectly irrefutabe evidence proving
that Captain Brabazon was utterly false to
Gwendolen; that he had become entangled
with the miserable young woman whom he
pretended to he charitably assisting, but
who was simply a designing adventures,
and that his infatuaton was so great as to
prompt him to a secret marriage with
her, even if such a union had not already
taken place. These were serious charges;
she was unwilling to believe them; could
Captain Brabazon disprove them! or
course, when his first anger was over, he sat
down and wrote an indignant denial
couched in eager and somewhat contempt
uous terms, and then, having written his
letter, he hurried off to demand full and
explicit statement from Miss Medlar. but,
alas for him that crafty lady had fled, and
had not even left her address. He could
only wait and hope In due course Mrs.
Bracebridge's reply arrived but its Ian
guage was stiff and unsympathetic.
mo one,n she said, ''would rejoice more
| than herself if Captain Brabazon could
make good his assertions; but she must re-
| It'd inn hot NOT nrnOf