The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-03-20

tions. Willie was very thoughtful. Just
as they were coming to the door he said to
Adam in low, troubled voice, which he
tried hard to make Indifferent: "Look here
Adam, you haven't lost anything by this
row, and there isn't much use in exposing
her. is there?'
NO" was the reply, ''but since they're
house by themselves" With that they en-
tered the kitchen, where Aleck, all SILVER
ing with his bath, deposited the box on the
floor A cheerful freight showed Kitty,
not, as might have been expected, with
abashed countenance and the demeanor of
a culprit awaiting justice, but with height
ened color and sparkling eyes-far BONNER
than ever, as her old lover could not help
thinking.
''There's your true blood,n she said to
Adam, but pointing to his son, land this
has been a fine nights work for him. 1t
began with robbing you that's done SO
much for him; then the sweetheart that
liked him so well as to run away with him,
he left on the wrong side of the burn; and
| then to draw his knife on an honest man
You'll never seek to make me wed him
now!n
THAT you shall, you shameless hussy,''
| broke out her uncle YOU'RE not fit for
Allan, and I'm sure from what I've seen
this night he wouldn't look at thief"
''No, | couldn't do that" said Willie I;
'but there's no need for me here" and
with sad and regretful countenance he
was about to leave when he was stopped
! by burst of mischievous laughter from
the impenitent but bewitching culprit."
Its Bets box" she said.
'Bet's boXr' said Aleck; and "Bet's
| boxl'' echoed Adam and Willie.
AYE, Bets box" said Kitty.
"Sure enough, it's not my box" said the
uncle, dragging it into the light; it's the
same size, but not the color. But whatever
is making it so heavy!'
That was soon discovered. The red
headed servant-girl came forward with a
| smile on her gaping mouth that suggested
the part she had taken in the trick.
There's stone of shot, she said, 'and
there's the horseshoes from the backyard,
and there's the rusty keys that used to lie
in the stable, and here's my old petticoats
| stuffed in to keep them from jingling,
| and,'' she added, 1.-The weights and the
| fatiron!'
'By George" said Willie, che must have
meant to start pack. Would you have
| stabbed me to save that dirt"
He didn't know what it was" answered
| for him Kitty. Il just wanted to try his
| mettle, so | put this box in the room of the
| other one, and it's back in its place now,
neither touched nor opened
I'm glad O. that lass, said the old pub
| lican, and though there was not much in
the words there was something in the voice
| UndU Udue Un6ln SILK ueep. ~ WOulu nave
been a sad day for me when l found you
| turning against me. But Willie, lad, il
you want to catch this skittish filly, you'd
better be quick. Down to the ministers
you go tomorrow and get your names
asked; and as for you, you lubberly sumph
after making a fool of yourself like that
what's to come of you."
| Marry him to Bet, suggested Kitty.
! "The very ticket" returned her uncle
| 'Will you have him, Bet9"
"Aye, that will |" said the laconic maid
"You'll go down to the minister's as
WELL them" said Adam to Aleck
| So few weeks afterward there were
two weddings in Blackford, and when
the lads of the village ''ropedn Willie
! Allan he gave them a whole half SOW
erign to drink, and was therefore al
lowed to enter the croft house with a
thunderstorm of cheers; but when they
did the same thing to Aleck, he mo
rosely cut the rope with knife, and that
| is why he has been so unlucky ever since
FOR if you go to Blackford now you will
| find the croft house to be the neatest, pref
| test, incest house there, while ever since
old Adams death, which happened many
years ago, the "Red Lion" has been sc
squalid and dirty and disreputable that the
Marquis has serious thoughts of TAXI
away the license and turning it i
butchers shop.-LOngman'S Magazine