The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-03-17

Punter was sitting.
80, yes, he's all right now. I'll tell YOU
what Werner; l have an explanation The
old boy came down from town by midday
train, and dare say missed his lunch and
what you took for mailman was only a
fellow very much in want of his dinner"
And the two young men laughingly changed
the subject.
A few DAYS after this the Colonel was
back in town, and found himself dr&ading
considerably the coming interview with the
widow. He would have to confirm her
worst fears, he was afraid; also, that there
would be scene, and he did not like the
idea of it at all He felt, moreover, that he
must appear in the light of bearer of bad
news-a melancholy character which ne did
not by any means wish to assume In Mrs.
Verner's eyes. "However," thought he, 81
shall at any rate have an opportunity after
ward Of playing the part of comfoYter and
adviser" And this reflection seemed to
cause him good deal of satisfaction, 1t will
be seen, therefore, that the Colonel had been
somewhat taken Ito use the word which he
employed in confessing it to himself, or
smitten with Mrs. Werner on the one oc-
casion on which he had seen her, and during
the few days that interviewed between his
had appointed to have their second meeting
he found himself constantly regarding that
future date with the mixed feelings which
have been described above.
The appointed day and hour found Colonel
Punter seated in his room trying to read the
paper, but in reality waiting littlenerv-
ously for Mrs. Werner. She did not keep
him long On entering the room sl1la
/ OF CoIpna1 ot1d a1H ii,n1r
ly, said in rapid anxious accents:
80, Colonel Punter, don't keep me in sus-
pense; is it trues' Then seeing his blank
look, she cried out: sit is, and he is dis
| honored." Then she sank into a chair and
burst into tears, This the Colonel had pre-
pared himself for; so in his most winning
accents he implored her to compose herself
This in few minutes she partially sue
ceeded in doing, and Immediately proceeded
to cross-eXamine him as to what he had
found out and done at AldeBhot; how there
was no doubt in the regiment as to young
Verner's being the son Of rich people at
| Singapore; how the Colonel himself had
told him so, and how he Colonel Purter)
had in fit of Indignation spoken to the
young man himself. For this she mildly
upbraided him, reminding him of her re-
quest, and the Colonel deprecated her wrath
and pleaded sudden impulse. When the
story was finished she rose, and, smiling
sadly through her tears said:
~ don't know how / can sufficiently thank
you for your kindness to me, Colonel Punter
| You have indeed been true friend, and
should like above all things, if you will
allow me, to ask your advice as to what
had better do in this sad matter; but, indeed,
| feel quite incapable Of doing so on this
occasion. Hearing that these terrible re-
ports are true has, as you have seen, upset
me very much, and | think | had better go
home now; but if you will allow me to fix a
future interview by note when feel less
unequal to the effort, you will add one more
to your many ldndnesses."
The Colonel very readily consented and
in another moment she was gone, and with
her, so it seemed to our gallant friend, all
light and beauty departed from the room.
| From that moment, too though he would
hardly have confessed it to himself, he be-
gan looking forward to the day when he
should see that note upon his table.
a fortnight had elapsed since the inter
view above detailed, but Colonel Punter
had not yet received the expected note He
had not given up hope, but still he was UNI
doubtodly depressed, and, whether it was an
effort to throw Off this detection which had
induced him to accompany h is friend Cap
tain Jones to the Variety Theater, OF
whether impelled by fate, or for whatever
reason, we will not stop to inquire but at
any rate in that theatcr, and comfortably
ensconced in two stalls, sat Colonel Puntel
and Captain Jones on this evening, some OF
the events of which are about to be related
The curtain had just fallen on the first act
and the house, till at that moment wrapped
in gloom, sprang suddenly into light. Then
as if by common consent, every man, WON
an and child in that great audience, with &
want of manners that would be permissible
nowhere else, but which is quite conventional
between the acts of play, commenced, with
or without opera glasses to scrutinize his
or her neighbor. For a few seconds the
Colonel had a discussion with his friend as
to whether there VS. time for a cigarette
between the acts. This was promptly de-
cided in the negative, and both officers
grasping their glasses, proceeded to join in
the general inspection
With a calmness born of long habit
Colonel Punter was sweeping the house, whe1
suddenly his arm dropped and his gaze be
came intently fixed on the occupants of q
box on the right of the stage; these consisted
OF two gentlemen and a lady, and the lady
was Mrs. Werner On this point he had nc
doubt whatever, though he looked at hel
with ever-increasing surprise, for she was
in very full evening dress, and was eXten
sively bejeweled She was, moreover, al
this moment talking and laughing loudly
not TO say boisterously, with her compan
ions, both of whom the Colonel mentally and
unhesitatingly pronounced to be cads. Al
this juncture Mrs. Werner, turning her head
suddenly, caught sight of Colonel Puntel
staring at her from the stalls; the moment
theireyes met he bowed, and she also bowed
slightly and smiled; then, turning to her
companions, she seemed, from their uproar
iOus laughter, to be telling them more than
usually good story. Captain Jones had OBJ
served the mutual recognition pass between
his friend and the lady in the box, and was
greatly astOnished.
"Why, Colonel" he said, "do you know
her3 You don't mean to say that you have
had TO go to the Hebrews, like younger
mens'
eyes, know her. But what on earth do
you mean by asking whether I've been going
to the Hebrewsr
"Well, think it was a very natural cues
ton, under the circumstances