The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-02-25

for quarter of mile.
"And | presume you wonder why T
should have accepted with such alacrltv ),
replied Miss Runway, question for queston
To tell the truth, it had not struck Sber-
wood in exactly that way, and he found
himself a little embarrassed at her direct
question in regard to his sentiments on The
subject.
~ was very anxious to speak to you
about something" he replied, hesitatingly.
and very much at loss for the words
which he had thought so ready. 81 wanted
to talk to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the reason |
asked you," he added, lamely.
80 don't mention it." replied Katie
airily, feeling the game in her own hands.
and likewise feeling considerable curiosity
as to the final result. 81 supposed, Of
course, that there was something impor-
tant back of this unusual honor" with
rather too much emphasis on the word
honor to be altogether pleasant.
Spencer was about to make some hot re-
ply, but concluded that discretion was the
better part of valor and held his tongue
The more especially as he reflected that he
alone had brought it upon himself.
"That conversation, you know, that we
had before dinner. You know" he went
on.
"Yes!" replied Katie, in that tone Of
polite inquiry which is so exasperating.
81 didn't see how you could, you knw,
in the face of the circumstances. de
found himself floundering round and grid
ually sinking, till all this, which he had
battered himself would be 80 easy, thrat-
ened to overwhelm him in disgrace. Butt
was avery different matter with that r.
staring straight at him with those big, clsst
gray eyes of hers, and he wondered to him.
self that he had ever imagined he had the
requisite courage to attempt it.
Il must say" he broke out, with the
courage of desperation, 'that you ar. either
an excellent actress or else l am ducedly
mistaken.
Probably both, Mr.. Sherwood" re-
sponded Katie, serenely.
But you forget that you havenot hon
ored me yet with very lucid exposition of
my fault"
Its just this. looked at youths even
ing as you were talking, and wonlered that
any woman could be such hypGrite."
"4ou are nothing if not charpingly can
did, MIR. Sherwood" RESPONDED Kittie,
flushing and biting her lips win vexation,
adding, impatently, 81 do with to good
ness, Mr.. Sherwood you would say out
what you mean.n
He hesitated, then made phnge:
Let me tell you little stor,, Miss Rim
way. One day l was riding the cars
quite distance. Sitting in font of me
was what considered avery plesant-faced
young woman. l could see her profile very
WE'LL for she kept her face turned towards
the window, but l did not think she noticed
me, especially; in fact, did MT think she
noticed me at all. But after swhile she
took out her pencil" (here he g&ed search
ingly at Kittie's face, on which was ex-
pressed only curiosity, combined with
wonder, as to his motive in telling her all
this) land some paper, and suddenly there
fell into my lap no e"
"Well" questioned Kittie, as he paused
impressively, as one who has made hit.
Upon the slip Of paper was written:
az would like to become better acquainted
"And yet, tonight, you would condemn,
utterly and entirely, girl who would get
up street Irritation"
A look of dawning intelligence, a suffu-
sion of color and then, spite of the discom-
Tort OF the situation, ringing laugh.
80, Mr.. Sherwood it is too funnyl Do
let me sit down on this stump and recover.
admit, l do admit, that circumstantal
is very strongly against me. But
wait minute. Have you that Slip of paper
about you" Sherwood produced it. "NoN
see here" and she quickly wrote the same
SEN ence upon the back Of an envelope
docs my writing look any thing like that's?
Sherwood was forced to admit that there
was not the faintest resemblance.
''Then how do you account for it!'
Sherwood was forced again to admit that
he couldn't account for it, and, further than
that, he began to be aware that he was in
a decidedly awkward and uncomfortable
position.
81 can only imagine that you are the
wrong girl, but the resemblance is mar
at will be still more marvellous when I
tell you that l am the same girl, but, that
to my knowledge, never saw you before
that, day l met you in Madge's dining
room"
Then you never saw that piece of paper
before?"
80, yes, did"
Then it was you who threw it to me-"
90, no, didn't"
W HtRO NAN ) w Wv uS dShCU, nGlD-
Iessly.
Then the whole story came out.
But" added she, Il do not at all know
how it came into your lap, for l threw it
out of the window"
1.-THE wind must have carried it out of
your window into mine. But, seeing you
with your pencil, and suddenly finding my
self in possession Of a note flung from
in front of me, it was natural
for me to think you threw it, wasn't it2"
be said, deiectedly and pleadingly.
But Katie resen ed this inference.
However, they must have fixed it up
some way between them, for Katie wears a
large diamond which Jack has begged her
to cover up with glove finger, for fear it
will strike him blind wi h it's rays.
And Spencer Sherwood has only Just gone
away (and all that happened two months
and half ago., and Katie has written to
her employer that she will not teach any
more. So it seems pretty patent that there
is wedding imminent-that is, If there is
any thing in "Circumstantial Evidence. "
Hrs EBL1ln q HeigjH In YTpEes RI1J,