The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-03-22

CnlIu was small ana SlcKly. ASurunheH,
depressing little group.
just as Stephen Mostyn was begin
ming to weave round in his mind a
pathetic, tender fancy, the small boy
becoming more than usually importu-
nate, his mother said, with no flicker of
change in the expression of her face,
but with voice whose rough grating
easily overpowered the noise of the
train.
jest you stop worritin', Tommy,
else I'll tell yer bloomin' dad when we
git 'ome-see if don't"
Stephen shut hiseyes, and only opened
them as the little family bundled out
two stations further on.
The Monuments Mark lanew No
further passengers invaded his carriage.
II can't stand this any longer, and
the condensed fog chokes one. l shall
get out at the next station and go back"
"Aldgate!'
Out he jumped and crossed to the re-
turn platform, literally feeling his way.
The underground station at Aldgate is
often quite dark in the middle of sum-
mer, and on this day the fog was dense.
He found his way to seat and $50 thick
was the darkness) did not discover, till
he had taken his place at the end of Il,
that there were two other people near
him. One of them, man, was speaking
in disagreeable querulous voice.
I'm sure it's not my fault if | get
nothing to do. am always trying to
find something"
Yes; in other peoples pockets" an
swered woman's voice. 'You want
the wage, not the work"
Good heavens that is Millicents
voice, exactly" thought Stephen; what
an extraordinary resemblance!'
What becomes of money in your
hands ! can't conceive" she went on.
at is Milliccnt's voice! What in Gods
name is she doing?" and Stephen tried
to catch a glimpse Of the figure that was
screened from him by the man between
them, and still moro so by the darkness.
What have you done with the money
| sent you last?"
Done with it? Spent it, of course.
A family can not live on nothing. 1t
was not much for you to give-you, who
live in luxury; you, whose husband is
rich; you -"
My husband is very far from rich,
and if he were so it would benefit you in
no way. Every farthing | have given
you for your wife was my own, made by
my own work. |. n woman, worked to
help woman, as would a man, but not
such as you"
"Whatcyer you may have given you
owed to my wife"
Il owed hero"
Eyes: for taking from her what was
hers by right"
shall let this brute go on speaking
to hero" said Stephen to himself, hold
ing the edge of the seat tightly in each
hand.
And now that she is i'll and in want
you in your prosperity grudge little
help to her and her hungry children"
Il have lowered myself by listening
to you thus far" said Millicent. sin or
der to see if you would not in time say
what expected of you-what waited
for. Now that you have done so, will
answer you fully this once and never
speak with you again. | feel that you
can not have lived your life without
some ones having called you liar and
coward, or without your knowing that
many had right to do so; therefore |
will not pause to add my testimony to
theirs. When your first letter came last
year, addressed to my husband, to wait
an answer he was, happily, away from
home. To save time, |, contrary to my
inclination, opened your appeal 1t
contained a manly reference to your
wife, and my husbands regard for her
in past years, and cringing demand
for money for her and your children, if
not for you, and it ended with sug-
gestion as to the possible unpleasant
consequences to his domestic happiness
if the subject of your letter became
known to me. Every detail of the
story, as far as it concerned himself, my
husband had long since told me, and no
mud thrown by you could shake my
trust.
You lie when you say that l took
from your wife what was hers by right.
My husband once loved her with all his
heart and soul, and She made him suffer
bitterly. But he had loved her, as | say,
and for his sake | consented Gf the mrs
cradle story should never reach his ears
to give him further PAIN to help the
woman who had repaid his love with be-
trayal, his confidence with treachery,
but who had been dear to him before he
gave to me what took from no one else.
You lie again when you speak of her
present suffering and the wants of her
hildren-silence!" as the man attempted
to speak. "Do you think that in dealing
with one like you | should take no steps
to verify your statements? OF the two
children that lived with you and that
you called hers, one only was your wife's,
and has been dead six months, you cur!
And your wretched wife flung from her
my husbands love and trust, not for the
love of another man, but for life with
you, who dragged her to the mire in
which she died nearly a month ago!
Nearly week since had proof of all
am saying, and my only reason for con-
senting to see you again, as you asked,
was to tell you of this, and also to warn
Won that if Won ever communicate with