Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-07-16


81 want Mamieg' growled th
squire. "Where is she? Do Vol
hear wife?"
"She's out, George, seeing abou
the chickens and ducks-ant
things"
But Mrs. Wylde's voice falterec
as she said IL, and she turned to tn,
cupboard .and busted herself will
the dishes.
"fubbishw stOrncd the squire
That's been the excuse night aite
night for two weeks. / tell you
wife, will know where my girl /,
in the evenings. Wonder what FL
mer thinks Of such goings on, ant
her husband that's to be?"
"Horace Elmer can think no harm
of our Mamie, George" said hi.
wife, with dignity. "She is a good
girl, is Mamie-good as gold and
true as steel"
But Squire Wylde was not to be-
pacified. He fretted and fumed all
through supper, and when s O'Clock
struck and still his daughter had
not made her appearance he was in
the white heat of paternal rage.
Even the sight OF. Horace Elmer,
who called as usual to see Mamie,
was not sufficient check on his
tongue.
"Is Mamie in ?" echoing the
young mans question. "No, she's
not In, and if you don't look after
her closer you'll find her out for good,
one of these days, Elmer, and"
"Oh, George, hush! Think what
you sayr pleaded Mrs. Wylde,
looking very pale.
III won't hush, Mary" growled
the irascible old man. "You know
yourself how much comfort our
children have given us. There's
Charlie now. It's nigh onto three
years since he sneaked away from
his fathers roof in the dead of night
and went no one knows where-to
thunder, very likely. And now,
when
"But, George, you were hard on
Charlie" said Mrs Wylde, firmly.
"You browbeat him and put him
down upon every occasion, and the
poor boy-bore-
Here she broke down, and, put
ting her apron over her head, began
to sob.
Horace Elmer, a gentleman to the
core, arose to go. He would not
stay to witness o "scene."
Perhaps l shall meet Mamie"
he said, as he bade them good eve
ming.
He lit q cigar and strolled slowly |
along, meditating on what he had |
heard in the village, and on the hint
the squire had given him.
There had not lacked plenty of Of
ficious persons to inform him of Ma
mie Wylde's shortcomings, and her
fathers words seemed to confirm
the gossip.
Bnt Horace was one of natures no
blemen.
al can trust the woman l love-" he
said proudly to himself, Through
evil report and good report"
A voice spoke Mt that moment,
close to him.
Goodnight, dear, and trust me to
keep our secretm
Turning at the sound, he was just
in time to see Mamie Wylde IN the
close embrace of tall young man
and her laughing face brushed by a
blonde mustache.
Unobserved, he turned away and
walked silently on in the darkness,
a great and sudden anguish at his
heart.
His Mamie was false after all, and
.he gossips had said the truth for
jnce. He could not face her tonight
lit was impossible. He hoped he
might never look upon her face
again. Tomorrow he would write
% set her free.
SO he bravely fought his battle
md Won II. l.
Mamie, meanwhile, reached home
at S:45, breathless and rosy with
'apid walking, her eyes shining like
stars.
The squire opened battery on
Ter at once.
"Where have you been, minX?n
he demanded with much asperity.
Isn't this pretty time TO come
nome of an evening""
"pve been for a walk and call,
lad, and I've had my supper"
aughed his daughter, saucily. "And
where's the harm In that, you dear
Did bear?n
"Do you go for walk and call
every nightG" demanded her father,
sarcastically. What are the days
for, you baggage"
Don't call names dad-it isn't
nice. Mother can tell you II I'm not .
too busy daytimes TO make calls or
walk
Indeed she is, George said the
gentle little women, looking at her
daughter with all "A mothers love
and pride, "She helps me with the
housework, aud after that thep's
her wedding things, George, you