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

|
pudiated, adding that when the work Of
mounting the new heavy guns in the fort
| was concluded he would make every effort
| to get leave and clear up this distressing
mistake: and he added something rather
severe about his traducer-he could hardly
help it.
No answer came to this, and he waited
! with feverish impatience until his services
could be dispensed with at the fort. The
time at last came. He acted at once, tsle-
| graphed to bennington, and followed his
! telegram by the earliest and fastest train
he could get, and at length he stood upon
the doorstep of the house which held at
once his love and his foe. This door opened
and he entered, and as he did so sweet,
familiar face peeped for a second of time
! from out of the drawing-room door and
then vanished, while he himself was shown
| into the library.
Captain Brabazon, M" said the foot-
man, and he found himself facing Mrs.
Bracebridge and her sister-in-law The
| former was evidently quite as uncomfort-
able as himself; indeed, far more so, but
| she advanced to meet him, and, with a
deprecating glance at Miss Medlar she Of
| fered him her hand as she said, almost in
audibly: How do you do, Captain Bra-
| bazon!" and motioned him to seat.
| Miss Medlar made no effort to receive
him, nor did she utter a worI, but merely
| gave a loud and defiant sniff, expressive Of
\ deep dissatisfaction at her sisters conduct.
She was seated at the furthermost end of
the table, and had a blottng book and sew
eral papers arranged before her backed up
| by an imposing inkstand and sheaf Of quill
| pens, as if with the intention of taking
| Brabazon's deposition on oath. Silence, a
very awkward silence, reigned for few
| moments, broken only by another sniff
| from Miss Medar indicating her dstsrmin-
alton to make short work of it whom she
did begin. Mrs. Bracebridge was on tie
point of tears, and Brabazon could SEQ her
hands trembling as she sat. 1t was evident
that the enemy meant him to commences
4 the action, and he accepted the situation.
| II have come at the very earliest oppor-
tunity," be said, addressing himslf to
Mrs. Bracebridge, ''to clear myself q these
most unfounded charges which haze been
| laid against me-
Mrs. Bracebridge opened her lips, but
only an inarticulatc sound, mors Ike sob
! than any thing else, escaped them. Miss
Medlar rustled her papers anyrily, and
| CALCULATED, Impossible ~
Il have not the slightest doujt Of being
able to do so as soon as | know on what
evidence tho charges rest" h continued,
| still addressing Mrs. Bracebrbge
"When young officer in tie army" in
terposed Miss Medlar, in wore Of singular
discordancy, makes presents1f all descrip-
| tions, in a style at once co5tF and profuse,
to young female in the Invest grade of
life" miss Medlar spoke as i poor Lucinda
were rag picker) "thero ON be no ques-
ton of innocence on oitherIide."
Pardon me-" said hs, ,ternly, "Miss
Medlar has forgotten thatI have already
given that story my most emphatic denial"
"a denial which will avail you nothing"
retorted Miss Medlar.
"Allow me to know at one on what your
assertions rest" said he, il a tone of I'M
mistakeable command.
Il have documents, " replied Miss Medlar,
somewhat shaken by bs authoritative
manner, but with realE imposing EN-
phasis on the word ''doctm snts," (which
prove incontestably thst such presents
have passed, as | said, in orofusion."
I'm my turn, must reply impossible, y
said he.
Perhaps" said Miss Nedlar slowly, and
with whitening emphasis, 'if / were to
mention jewelry-say, for instance, earn
rings chains and lockets-as forming part
of Captain Brabazon's charity to the girl
Cutler, his memory will improve; my in
formation isvery full. / would advise him
not to tempt it too far
81 am as much in the dark as ever,n ex
claimed Brabazon to Mrs. Bracebridge 81
can only assure you that, so far as l know
the unfortunate child possesses neither
locket nor any other jewelry. And pray
recollect" he added eagerly, 'that this
poor young creature, whose character is al
stake as much as my own, has positively
been laid up with a shattered limb for the
Miss Mediar started and a look or graf;
fed malice passed over her acid features.
Listen to that, Mary" she said. Now
will you believe what tell youl Captain
Brabazon has used the very words which
quoted to YOU Mrs Bracebridge only
Sobbed audibly.
Again, l demand your proofs" said
Brabazon, after pause.
Il will even yield the question of the
trinkets." continued Miss Medlar, taking nc
notice of the remark las Captain Bra
bacon may have the hardihood to argue
that there is nothing absolutely convincing
in gifts of that nature, but what will he
dare to say when | tell him that have the
same incontrovertible evidence to prove
presents of a far more compromising kind
such as no man could possibly provide ex
cept for one with whom he was contem
plating marriage and the establishment OF
home. Bedding, for instance, and furni
ture and | blush to mention it, under
clothing of various descriptions"
If Miss Medlar did blush, she contrived tc
conceal all outward appearance of that
feminine art, her face exhibiting no more
roseate tint than may be seen on the sur
face of bag of lard.
"Ridiculousn circulated Brabazon
out touch of amusement in his tone
Miss Medlar. some one has been hoaxing
you. Underclothing and furniture! Wha
nonsensel Produce your evidence, and lei
us put an end to this absurdity"
Captain Brabazou is a consummate &C
tor" replied Miss Medlar, in tone which
plainly suggested the substitution of thu
word ''liarn for the last term; 'but," anC
here she rose from her chair and stood up
right with a look of bitter contempt in hel
eyes, and scream of triumph in her voice
''let him look at that, and then have the au
dacity to tell me that he is Innocent" AnC
she flung a paper across the table to wher'
| he sat.
Brabazon caught it, glanced at it eagerly
| for a moment or two as one bewildered
while Miss Medlar fired volley after volleN
of shifts at him across the table and theI
| he went into such a real and hearty fit o
| laughter that even poor Mrs. Bracebridg
took heart and smiled family through he
tears.
my dear Mrs. Bracebridge," said he
hardly able to speak for laughter "this i
! the most amusing mistake. But how oil
earth did you get thisa" he added, suddenl.
turning to Miss Medlar. That lady wa
considerably staggered, both by the laugh
ter and the question.
"It-it came into my possession SD
stammered, glarng angrily at him, an
feeling curiously small.
Il see it did, he retorted in meaning
tone. sit is mine; had not missed it,"
''He admits that it is his" said Miss Med
| lar returninp to the charge once again hI