The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-02-08

gust and Laura's despair. For the afore-
said flirting had been done chiefly at
Laura's expense; she was the prettiest
girl in Swanfield, and Judge Lambs
daughter, and the law office was in a
wing of the house; so that from Jacks
earliest days therein he could watch her
slight figure gliding about the garden
or resting in the hammock on the lawn,
and his artistic sense rejoiced in her
beautiful head, her slender throat, the
delicate aquiline profile, the dark hair
and eyes that set off so we'll her whole
somely roseate cheeks. And when he
came to know her, and found her a
bright, sweet young creature, full of
sentiment and romance, Jacks rather
impressionable nature melted before
such beauty; he thought he fell in love
with her.
Nelly had heard all about the tender
tokens, the flowers, the volumes of po-
etry, the bits of ornamentation, even
the tiny turquoise ring wrought as a
| forget-me-not; but she did not know, for
Laura had some reticence, that although
Jack had taken many of lovers priv
ileges, he had never in good set terms
asked Laura to marry him. But, in
deed, Laura thought that he meant as
much. Perhaps, had things been differ
eat, and this gay youth been obliged to
study his full term with Judge Lamb,
he would have drifted into matrimony.
Perhaps not, but propinquity does Won
ders
However, my dear girls, it is safest,
and, mot to put too fine point upon
it," far more decent, never to let any
man, however devoted he may be, dem
onstrate his affection in Jacks fash
ion. Poor little Laura had given her
girlish heart entirely to this young
scapegrace, when, like others of his sort,
''he loved and he rode away" You see
he had inherited half million, had got
his kingdom come" as the country
phrase is, and in the full sense of power,
pleasure and ability at last to follow out
his life's desire, Laura was quite brushed
out of his recollection. He had superb
studio in Rome now, had his valet, his
horses, his fine lodgings, was bu0n
cdmarddO with all the artists, who smiled
az LILO pom DuO CllJOl SN1 lL1o O4lIlClo
in fact, he was no longer lazy Jack
Davenport, but "John Davenport, the
American artist" Laura, law, Swan
field were all dim shadows; he did not
even sketch her face any more; he was
sprawling at the feet of massive
blonde German beauty, sort of splendid
Glumdaclitch who could have strangled
| Taura with two finperS Or toSSed her in.
to the Tber like a dead kitten.
Laura did not know all this; she was
hurt and surprised that Jack did not
write her, but out of her kind heart and
abundant affection she made excuses foI
him; and out of her remains of self
respect forbore to write first; so she
heard nothing, nor would she have been
edited had she heard all; it was case
where Ignorance is bliss"
Nor did Nelly know it either, or per.
haps she would have forborne her small
revenge, even though she was girl.
Naturally, she took Laura's view Of
the case; and, though she suspected let.
tiers were at least infrequent between
the pair, she thought if they were the
valentine would be still more of sur.
prise to Laura and hoax her more sue.
cessfully.
So in due time the verses were con.
cocted. 1t takes very little talent to
write such rhymes, and Mrs. Damon