The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-08-10

less, with crimson flush on her cheeks
and forehead. Captain Swift felt that
some painful mystery was about to be
disclosed, and that the woman by his
side was gathering strength for great
effort He generously repressed every
sign of curiosity and establishment, and
waited her pleasure.
After a few moments she turned
toward him and spoke slowly and hest
.tatingly.
Il throw myself upon your mercy,
Captain Swift; do not deny publicly to-
morrow that you ever were married to
Jessica Wynne. Do not pursue those
who originated that-libel. Give me
time. assure you that 1 will do my
utmost to undo what have done.
She looked very young and fair. with
her earnest eyes and moist lashes.
.What have you doneP" he said,
simply.
..Listen to me, and forgive me if you
can. When l first came to London, at
eighteen, l found it horrid place;
only married women were admired,
petted and courted-we girls were no.
where. So made up my mind to come
back to town-married; and as | had
not a husband handy-they are so
scarce you know invented one. l
thought 1 was quite safe. l wanted
him to be an officer, because England
has such lot of troops in places people
never go to. l looked all over the
army and navy lists to make sure dG
| naa choose name belonging to any
lls5skng man; IHchristened him Mont-
gomery Swift, hap-hazard; 1 put the
paragraphs in the papers. Hs was a
very likely sort of husband - have,
you know, and it seems so natural that
he should forever be among the saw
ages-anywhere. Nobody seemed to
care about him at all; but they did for
his wife simply because she was not a
girl, and it was all working beautifully.
o, why did you turn up? Why did you
have Swift for godfather? Why did
he die?"
would it have suited you to keep
up this farce much longer?" said Cap
tain Swift, gravely, but an amused look
passed in his eyes.
''Only little WHILE" said Jessica,
promptly, II intend becoming a widow
very soon-some of the climates out
there are so unhealthy-no one would
have asked any questions. One ac-
cepts any thing in London when it is
convenient to be credulous; but if you
are that horriG man please don't ex-
pose me yet"
mot till am dead, eh?"
81 can't make him out dead now,"
she said petulantly; "but l will go
away, hide myself, never show my
face again"
THAT would be a pity; there must
be some other way to achieve widow
hood"
Don't be cruel. 1t is dreadful! and
know l have been very foolish. But
really" she added, with resumption
of her old quaint coquetry, Il can't do
more than ask your pardon"
Eyes you can; you can ask for my
advice" he said, extending his hand,
'and. on my honor as a gentleman, !
will help you to get out of this scrape. "
EsAThey talked low and earnestly for
1.-THE remainder of the journey. At
Edinburgh they shook hands warmly
and parted. But neither Jessica nor
Captain Swift went to the Towers.
Two separate kilograms informed Mrs.
Bellune that her expected guests were
unavoidably prevented from joining her
party; nor did Mrs. Montgomery Swift
again gladden. the hearts of her faith
full SWANS by her presence at the
| fashionable resorts of late summer or
early autumn.
| Three months later Jessica was
walking on the seashore only a mile
distant from a pretty village near
Bagni di Lucca, looking us fresh, crisp
and fair as before her first disastrous
London campaign, only there was a
new tenderness in the dancing brown
eyes as she lifted them trustfully to
those of a tall man on whose arm her
small hand rested.
"And so you are really, truly not
sorry that you never denied your mar
riage with Miss Wynne?" she said,
coaxinglY.
Not sorry at all, darling, as it saves
me the fuss of communicating it now,'
answered Captain Swift. I'm desper-
ately glad, though, it's all settled and
done with. "-London Truth.
Curious Archaeological Discovery.
A curious discovery has just beer