The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-02-06
"You flatter,p murmured. iroric.n,.

1ecI. Out SI6DD6u SIIdlGlJ into fha
bles
Chow happy should be to call Won on -
said l. sarcastically. "But for that Won
must first marry my uncle. POSSIBLY yyou
may have noticed that Mr.. CRIMSON i a
very proud man."
''As Lucifer," she rejoined, owho. I'm
sure, was English himself.m
He disowned my mother for marrying
D'Aubigny. No Frenchman, ACCORDING To
his creed, would be an English gentlemsn,s
equal"
Its the rule" she said coolly. uYour
father was the exception, ] SUPPOSE
"And do you suppose" l exclaimed. en-
ragged, that he ever would have solicited
your hand had he known the social stand
ing of your father, the policeman; your
grandfather, the confectioner; your stem
father, the hairdresser of Indianapolis! %
Her stare was tragic now. Her cheek
paled. She trembled
YOU'RE joking" she faltered, hoarsely.
sprang up exultant.
"Nay, denial is useless. This letter.n
placing these historical facts beyond dis
pute, arrived yesterday in time to frus-
trate the imposition"
With "What" of wild dismay she
snatched the letter, read, shuddered, sank
together, family calculating, "Lostw
'Wretched girl ~ l shouted. (Which are
vultures, prayi We, his kindred, or YOU,
entrapping him into a marriage under
false preterses!"
"Stop, Mr. David" she implored.
AS well might she have cried: "Whoan
to a runaway fire engine"
Little whippersnapper of nephew
dead mems shoes Parasitesln
Mercy" she entreated.
$50 perish all fortune huntersw
She seized both my hands, saying s7Se
silent and listen" so authoritativsly that
oh ,Yprl, .t,a in
deed.
my mother is the cause Of this She is a
beautiful character but she's got what they
call an oriental Imagination. She objects
to giving plain things their right names.
I'm used to hear her call aipostillion
cavalier, dish-covers cupolas, a temporary
jug hagon, a street fight duel, but this
was carrying things too farl Mother,
what frightful mischief have you done!
Too latel'
"Can you possiblymean.' I asked, be-
wildered, "that MISREPRESENTATION her
daughter by surn.ise-that you believe
yourself of gentle Hrth!"
'Of course l did" she replied, simply.
"How should know better! True, once
since my engagements she dropped hint in
her exultation that excited my suspicious.
But Inever dreamt of anything approaching
this, or should have insisted on knowing
the worst. Then, perhaps, il I'd fallen at
his feet with afrank confession; but now
he'll never foIgive-neyer, in the violence
of just resentment, believe me innocent of
this fraud, for | can not prove it. 0, my
lost friend Great goodness, that's his
knock ~
She started up.
"Come to denounce mother and child.
How shall face him. How brave his re-
proaches!n
She hid her face.
l stood over my aunt that was to have
been, feeling almost tall and quite heroic.
Now for revenge, now for Goals OF fire.
1t was glorious moment,
Celia IL said, Kit may not be too late.
Listen. Touched by the sunshine your inilu-
ence has brought into my uncle's life, l
withheld that letter-gave him one about
ensilage instead. He suspects nothing.
The frank confession is still yours to
make"
"Worthy nephew of your uncle" she
cried, intending compliment. ''I'll thank
you afterward He mustn't find you here.
This way-quick.n
l barely disappeared through one door as
my uncle entered through the other, con-
cerned TO find his betrothed in tears.
MY dear Celia,n he began, so tenderly
that must peep through the lley-hole to
certify it was uncle speaking, this
wretched accident has affected your
THE train was upset, but it takes more
to upset me,n she sobbed. II wish I'd been
cut to pieces; do. 1t would have spared
me what | mind worse, and you would
have regretted me. Say you would Rich
ard"
Cecilia, dearest love-" here 1 nearly be-
5rayed myself by starting and yelling,
what have done to provoke this strange
"Our marriage" she said, with desperate
dignity, "can not take place"
Said my uncle, with frowns in his voice:
This testing, Celia, is ill-timed; | don't
IA terrible family secret, carefully kept
from me hitherto Circumstances over
which had no control materially affect
ing our condition"
"Pecuniary circumstancesp' he suggested.
you mean your fortune was oveTstated.
Your mothers liberal expenditure has led
her into debt?"
cts worse than debts" she declared,
paused, then announced, sOlemnly: "Blots
on our escutcheon generations can not
efface."
"a family stIeleton,n he began uneasily,
trying to laugh. ''That's bad"
Nv orst than the worst you can imagine
mot crime:" he muttered, startled.
Worse than a crime" she affirmed
Hereupon he rose impatiently, saying:
Dearest Celia, think you have got con-
cussion of the brain"
mot l." she returned, mournfully, "it's
my mothers where the screw is loose.
Don't blame her before me, Richard. She
is romantic-she has misled you about our
origin by using high sounding language.
The awful truth Inever knew myself. Our
union is impossible. am no fit match for
Richard Grimston.p
THE daughter of an eminent public func-
tionary, and of a collateral descendent of
the Norfolk Howardsis no unfit match, even
for Richard Grimston"
HE was a simple policeman" she sobbed,
in England; storekeeper in America.
Mothers family's only connection with
their illustrious namesake was that they
supplied their Breakfast table with fresh
rolls. Take back your betrothal ring, Rich
ard, the worst has yet to come. The late
MI Pierpont was no artist-but a-a-per-
fumer, etc"
There was tremendous pause, broken
by Celia's sobs. Touched, was using my
pocket handkerchief behind the door. My
uncle's voice, when he spoke again, sounded
omiuiously familiar
"You win excuse me if leave you now.
This Intelligence has stunned me COM
pletely. If true"
''It's all true" she declared. "Ask
mamma"
your word sufflces," he said hastily, and
left the house.
Instantly dartod from my hiding place
to the assistance of my promised aunt,
PROSTATE on the sofa.
"Celia-aunt, be comforted," implored.
''Never," she returned. "I'll break my
heart-it'll serve mother out.n
How alleviate her distressi Presently
came brisk ring at the door, and in
tripped Mrs. Pierpont, home from shopping.
One glance at this pretty, careless, frlsky,