The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-04-20

and the poor! How Miss Rooseve.Ts cor
rect and elegant street dress, Miss Roose-
velt's exquisite pattern" hat, Miss Roose-
velt's dainty boots and delicately tinted
gloves put to shame her own habiliments
Oh, to feel like that once more-to feel,
miss -Virglniam
"Yes, Mr.. Arleigh."
II wish" he breathes softly, II wish to
walk home with you-win you-nay, shall
take no denial"
Walk home with her? She lifts her hap
py eyes to meet Jack Arleigh's, but in their
quick uplifting they encounter first the
stare of two black orbs that look stonily out
from under the mostmarvelOus of chnpcduI.
In this stare she reads that which turns her
eyes upon Jack Arleigh as if to question his
sincerity, and which forces her to say soft
ly but coldly:
II beg you will excuse me, Mr.. Arleigh;
brother Sam is my escort to-day"
= y \ X =
"Well, sir, what can do for you?"
''You can take this chair, please, the first
thing, Mr. Arleigh 1 have a confession to
make to you'll can no longer keep SILENT"
''All right, Sam" laughing easily, as he
leaned back against the tall desk behind
him. 81 am listening"
II hardly know how to begin, sir; but, Mr..
Arleigh-"
Remember, boy, it hasn't been many
months since l was young mysef-young,
yes, and foolish into the bargain. So you
have my sympathy"
Your sympathy, sir, even though l have
| committed crime?"
Crime? Hoity-toity! What tragedy is
this! My dear boy, you will yet live to learn
that men and women are fit for nothing but
the cheapest sort of comedy Well, go on,
llam-proceed!"
YOU ,piN call it crime and no comedy, sir,
Twhen you learn that IL took from yondeI
money-drawer "a twenty dollar billy
"Shall L? And for what?"
''To pay debt of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
was right-dt honor! 1 gambled with the
| cycle fellows and-lost!" Then follows the
whole of the pitiful story.
| $50 you took the money-humph!'
! Il said you would call it a crime, sir"
Have called it that? My boy, it was
| simply an error-a mistake on your part.
We will call it that, if yor please A wish to
set wrong matter right-that was all; a
desire to find satisfaction where it would
seem that commodity was not to be found.
You saw-at your-mistake, SAM"
with Virginias help-yes. Oh, MIR. Ar
| ltlSu III NoISO Uuuu
When ny sister found out what you are
pleased to call my error she took all her
little savings and"
| WHAT"
| Game down here alone at two O'Clock in
the morning and placed her own twenty
| dollars in the mOney-drawer. Twenty pitt
full precious dollars she had saved and
scraped together for over a year so that
she might buy new frock for herself
poor-poor-" and the lad breaks down and
sobs like girl
''Why, Sam, this is-awful! If you had
only come to me"
She went at once, after midnight, sir,
fearing you would find out my horrible"
| mistake. Poor Virginia."
"And so she couldn't buy the new clothes
she wanted for Easter" goes on the boy,
wildly, land l never noticed that her ell
bows were almost rags did you notice it
SIR"
She is an angel" cries Jack Arleigh.
| IF she were" vouchsafes the boy, grow
ing comforted and less unhappy at the turn
his employer has taken all through this dis
reputable affair, lit would be so much the
better for her; think how easily she could
fold her wings over those sad little ell
bows"
| odIl: lie uoOE HIS Opeueu anu ClOseU
somebody they both knew to be the angel
of whom they have been speaking has en-
| tered. She advances at Sans response and
stands outside thS counter, opposite the big
desk Gould you let me have dollar,
Sam?"
II think" interposes Jack Arleigh, 'that
you could spare her twenty; don't you,
| Sam? Miss Waters, you have come in time
| to hear some good news-that is l am hop
ing twill seem good to you Your brother,
Sam, is to be taken into partnership with
lie at once-Arleigh & Waters Waters Il
| Arlcigh--how does that sound? Euphonious
| hope?"
Sans dark eyes grow so large and lus-
trous with the wonder and amaze that ha:
beset him that Jack Arleigh laughs aloud,
and sends hin. off to finish his invoicing in
the most remote corner of the room.
| "Virginia,"
''Oh is it true?" .'
1T is as true as that you, my sweet saint
need not the glory of the Easter lilies
to enhance the beauty of your SOUL Vir-
ginia, 1 know the story of the boys mis-
take-his first error; for he has confessed to
me. Confessed, zoo, your martyr-lke share
| in the sad little farce" Overcoming the
| barrier between them by a sudden dextrous
mOJlOn, ne SCanus DeSlue ner. ana was II
because of the lack of fine feathers that
was not to walk beside you yesterday? Was
it, Virginia? All! do not answer, my dar-
ling--there is no need. SAM"
We'll, sir?"
"Your Erother-in- laws wife THAT is tc
bel thinks she would prefer to buy heI
Easter bonnet in Paris. Will you consent
to let us run away together? You won't
mind keeping store alone for few months
ell, Sam? That is, you know, with an az
sistant clerk"
''And how about the money drawer, sir:
But. there-I consent-and-bless you, my
children!"
And when kingly June stalks through
the sunny avenues of Paris he meets no fair
er vision than Virginia Arleigh, whose
beautiful face is framed in blossoms that
should have bloomed ON Easter Day.
... EVA BEST