The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-01-25

| Brown was not little startled by tho
+; extortionate nature of the lady's de-
nands. But this trait of her amiable
character, much as it Disguised him,
| served to render him the more anxious
| to complete the bargain by deeply i'm
pressing him with his adversary's un.
scrupulousness. In his anxiety to de-
| liver his son, Observation-Disclosures
| from her clutches, he permitted himself
tobe bled pretty freely, but he had the
| satisfaction, when he finally took his
departure of carrying away with him, in
addition to written undertaking in
Miss Lola Bells classic hand, a firm
| conviction that she was not likely to
encourage Jacks attentions any more.
| The next day he had the further
satisfaction of receiving a telegram from
the lady, dispatched from Boulogne,
showing that she had fulfilled her
uromise to leave England for awhile
and, being thus treasured, he made an
excuse to stroll round to his sons cham
bers, partly out Of mere curiosity and
partly out of vague uneasiness on the
| isd's account. But he found that Master
Jack had gone into the country the
same morning; and it struck Mr. Brown,
tom all he could gather, that some sort
Of mystery attached to this proceeding.
BE had left no address, and nobody
| knew where he had gone or when he
l6ould return.
was mere coincidence, no doubt,
F6,aC the old gentleman could not help
noticing that his sons abrupt departure
took place on the same day and at about
the same time as Miss Lola Bell started
on her journey. 1t seemed such
monstrous thing to suspect his own flesh
and blood of conspiring against him that
he Indignantly repealed the notion from
his mind, but he could not refrain from
sending messenger round to Mr..
Stephen Carlow's office to inquire of that
young gentlemen whether he knew any
thing OF Jacks whereabouts. The reply
that the messenger brought back was
that Mr.. Carlow had also disappeared
without any notice to his employers.
and the combination of perplexing cir,
cumstances not unnaturally caused old
Mr.. Brown to wonder uneasily whether
they had any connection with one an
other.
Whatever the explanation of it all was,
poor Mr.. Brown was forced to remain in
state of justification and increasing
perturbation for several days, during
which he heard nothing of his son or OF
Mr.. Carlow either; but one fine after
noon, on returning to his Office after
short absence, he found Master Jack
seated in his private room, looking SO
pale and nervous that he instinctively
guessed thatsome unpleasant revelation
was in store.
1--WE called, father, to say that I am
quite willing to come into your bust
ness" said Jack, after they had ex-
changed hurried greeting.
go, indeed! You have some very good
reason for the request, no doubt" said
the old gentleman, prompted by an ir-
resistible presentment, "Where have
you been?"
ION my honeymoon" answered Mas
ter Jack, as unblushingly as possible.
Really. Have the pleasure of know
ing the lady?" inquired old Mr.. Brown,
Earning ominously white and beginning
b tremble.
81 know that she promised you never
to marry me-" said Jack, raising his
voice and speaking firmly, ''but over
persuaded her. She is an orphan, and
was left alone in the world
IAN orphan! Don't talk that nonsense
to me, sir. I'm afraid that I'm better
acquainted with yonr wife's character
than you are" cried old Mr.. Brown,
commencing to grow purple in the face,
as he extracted document from his
coat pocket with a furious gesture
"Read that, sir, though l expect you
know all about it,
"What on earth is this about? Lola
glancing at the paper with bewildered
depression.
"Stay! Give me that back, Jack
cried his father, hastily snatching the
paper away from him. Don't stand
staring there. Tell me who you have
married"
"Why, thought you understood. We
were talking just now of Amy Marsh
land,' said Jack.
"Amy Marshland," cried his father,
subsiding into his chair with sort OF
spasm of unspeakable relief.
But Jack, misunderstanding the cause
of his parents emotion, proceeded with
all the eloquence at his command to eX-
cuse his conduct and to plead for for
giveness and by the time he had fin.
ished, old Mr.. Brown had risen to the
occasion.
"Well, my boy, you have given me a
shock, but we'll say no more about it.
After all, you might have done worse.
Thank God! you have married a lady,
and if you are prepared to settle down
and come into the business"
ga thousand thanks, father! cried
Jack, grasping the old mans hand with
7 delighted fervor. by the way, why
lid you refer to Lola Bell just now?''
ne added, unsuspiciously. "Have you
heard the story?"
''The story. What story?" inquired
old Mr.. Brown, guiltily crushing the
discriminating paper in his hand.
"About Stephen Carlow. You re-
member Stephen? 1t appears that he
wanted to marry Lola Bell, and in order
to raise money he prevailed upon an
old uncle of his to pay the woman a