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

J plONiHS WHAT d B6nJlSuldu sue udu d.
ways found her liege lord Jack said ''Non-
sense!" but the answering light in his face
was sweet, indeed, to the wife of five years
standing. This week of quiet was spent by
/ Katie in resting and playing with the twins,
| while Madge and Jack planned no end OF
! delightful possibilities for the coming four
months, at the end of which time it was
| decided that Katie aud the twins were to
! keep house, while Ma and Pa Wilding
went on their annual wedding-trip Of a
month, ceremony with which nothing had
! ever been allowed to interfere.
did you know Spencer Sherwood had
! come back from Californian
mo; are you sureW
| "Well, Ned Herly told me that he saw
! him yesterday in the town. Shall we have
him down for Augusta
! "Have him down3 Well, should think
| So But why not make it Julyl'
| 'Can you fit him in. thought you were
full"
II am, my son, but there are few thin gs
| lett you to learn, and one is that can al
ways make room for Spencer Sherwood"
even if you have to turn away some one
else presume"
! "Exactlyl Even if have TO turn away
some one else" replied Madame Madge,
serenely.
''Nlce thing for husband TO hear. And
pray how long has this undying, never-to-
northumberland that-sort of thing af-
lection for Spencer Sherwood been buried
in your heart"
Ever since we made mud pies together
and he rescued me from the jaws of an
avenging but long suffering calf which l
had leased into rebellion"
my dear, do you mean to assert that that
calf would have eaten you up if Spencer
Sherwood had not played the part of de-
voted knight"
ringing laugh was Madge's reply.
'Well, no. hardly. But, Jack, it would
have knocked me down"
And if | recollect the circumstance at
ALL Mrs Wilding, with all due Difference
to womanhood even in pinafores, l must
say it would have served you most I'M
common right" and the gentleman under
discussion stepped gaily into the room.
"Hello! old fellow" shouted Jack Wild
ing
ut was an awful mean thing, no doubt,
TO be eavesdropping, but indeed l didn't
listen long. lust heard enough to permit
me TO recognize the calf. That calf had a
good many fine points and was likely TO be
remembered and easily recognized"
Yes, remember two especially fine
points it had just between it's ears"
laughed Mrs. Wilding.
But, bless mel we're so interested in
you that we have forgotten to introduce
Katie. Miss Rinway-Mr. Sherwood. Now
won't we just have jolly time for the next
two or three days before any one else
comes" ratified on that talkative little
woman, not noticing very peculiar ex-
preston which swept over Sherwood's
face as she introduced him to Miss Rim
way. Jack noticed it, but the utterly I'M
conscious expression of Katie's face routed
the notion that had entered his head that
these two had met before.
81 don't think | can stay just now" an
swered Sherwood, rather confusedly.
well, I'd just like to see you 20 away!
Spencer Sherwood; you know perfectly
well there isn't one thing 10 stand in the
way OF your remaining here for the month
OF July, and if there is, it shan't stand"
spoke up the Brigadier General
That settles it, my dear boyl Just give
in at once. If you had been married to
that Young woman for five years, as have,
you would not even have dared to look op-
position in the first place"
SO Sherwood, with much inward opposi-
StOAf was AlOuNCu W ICuldlu.
II became evident to all hands, however.
that there was something wrong with him
in regard to Katie Runway, and to none was
it so apparent as to poor Katie herself
whatever have l done to the MANI"
asked she of herself. Nothing! never
saw him before and yet in these three past |
days he has managed to impress me most |
with the fact of his strong dis |
approval, but as have never pined for he |
reverse l don't know as | need care much, |
though it is somewhat uncomfortable when |
there are but four OF US. And one does not |
like to be disliked for no cause, even if one |
doesn't care any thing about it," she added, |
rather incoherently, it must be confessed. |
sit certainly is detestable," Sherwood |
was saying as she came into the parlor be-
fore dinner one evening.
80, don't know about its being detest- |
able" answered Jack. "Of course il isn't |
just the thing, you know, fellow wouldn't |
like to see his sister engaged in that kind |
Of thing you know"
'Or MS wife" interpolated Spencer
"Well l should think not" answered |
Jack, emphatically, "but don't think they |
mean any harm half the time, it is only a |
little thoughtless fun" he added, chart |
tably. "What DO you say, Katie!"
II knew Wnat you are talking about, l |
perhaps would be better able to give an
opinion" laughed Katie, little dreaming
how much hung upon her reply.
"We were discussing the subject of pub |
lie tllrtations, street firtations, ETC., and |
Jack, here, feels anxious to know your
opinion Of any woman who does such
things. confess myself curious to know,
also"
There was certain meaning tone TO his |
voice that made Katie regard him quickly |
with vague sense of discomfort, but the |
expression of his face was inscrutable.
'Iagree with Mr.. Sherwood, decidedly" |
she answered, scornfully. "Any woman
who could condescend to do such a thing is
Wore than thoughtless."
"Ah, hypocritical as well, eh?' comment
ed Sherwood, mentally.
Though do think that some very young
girls may be led on to such thing by bad
influence, and as Jack says, the desire for
what hey falsely call fun"
''By Jovel she carries it off we'll" again
commented Sherwood, mentally. "Then |
you think, Miss Runway, that after a girl is
she is old enough to know bet-
ter}u he asked aloud in calmly diSrursiva