The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-12-04

1
laide said suddenly: You are SO Kind,
| Alan. Let us take the very shortest
way" and then she said nothing more
But her senses seemed keyed to the
| highest pitch as she followed Alan
through the corridors and into a cell.
| She knew it was some dreadful night
mare which must end some time. For
that looked like Rob sitting there, only
Rob was SO young and Gght-hearted,
and this was man with an old, hag-
gard face.
Rob, Rob, tell me what do you owe
Carter? | have money, | can pay him" "
said his sister, passing her hand gently
over the bowed head.
Rob started ard said in a low, mo-
notonous voice: you can't, it's such an
awful sum. | don't see how it ever got
so large. | didn't mean to do wrong,
Ada, but l just had good times and
drifted along with Carter's set and now
| just see the end He declares l owe it
all to him. But | deserve i'll knew
better than to go with such fellows.
was weak, and you know mother al
ways said to be weak was to be mis-
cradle But You mustn't be here, it S
no place for you: just leave me.
Father'll never know, he hardly ever
reads the papers, and you can say I'm
visiting" Rob's hopeless manner, so
utterly different from the Rob she
knew, went to Adelaide's heart like a
knife. Her mothers boy like this!
Tell me, Rob! perhaps can pay it, "
she urged eagerly.
You? Why, papa never give. you
money. It's good and dear of you,
Ada, but you can't help me. let my
self get into Carriers power, and must
face the consequences-anyt but
have papa know
Tell me, - persisted Adelaide.
cone hundred and fifty dollars, - said
Rob, slowly, you Sec
Yes that is just what have said
Adelaide, in tones of sudden relief.
Come, Alan, you will take me to
Carriers, it isn't too late if we hurry"
She turned to Alan in painful eager
ness. and before Rob could compre-
bend it all, she was gone.
No one ever knew what she said to
| Eldridge Carter. Alan stayed in the
hall without at his boarding house-but
he thought he never saw a meaner,
more misunderstanding fellow than the
one who opened the door for the pale,
stately young girl who swept out of
the room like a princess. Carter fol-
lowed them to the station house, still
subdued and quiet.
An hour later Rob was in his own
room at home. As Adelaide fingered,
10th to leave him, he caught her by the
arm. I'm worthless fellow, Ada;
you're worth six of such fellows as
am, but shall never forget this, never!
Oh. Ada, if you could know all I've
suffered, the rack I've been .on! I've
felt so bound to Carter and ! can't be-
lieve I'm free at last, and all through
you"
Adelaide looked into the changed
face before her. frightened at the rare
emotion Rob betrayed. But why
didn't you contide in me, Rob, dear?"
she asked, reproachfully.
Il knew, or thought l knew, that
you couldn't help me, and as if you
didn't have enough already. / said
that, weak as | was, wouldn't be that
weak-to make you suffer for me-and
papa never has money, and papa never
would forgive or understand. But, oh,
| Ada, how | did want mamma! but
uickly-''you're just next best-just
the best sister in this world!' He bent
over and kissed her-when had Rob
done that before?
| lVbau A1a1oiJn stood har
own room, she could not realize how
much had happened since she had stood
there before. She felt that ages had
interviewed. Good-by to that beautiful
time at Aunt Eleanor's, but oh. Rob
was safe, and free from the evil genius
of his school year! How earnestly she
prayed that she might be the one to
meet Rob's needs at this time! How
| inexperienced and alone she felt!
| And then. hardest of all. the next
day Aunt Eleanor must be written to
at once, asking her if the money could
be spent in a way greatly needed in
stead of the promised visit, which she
had just written would give her so
much pleasure. Days passed in sus-
pense. and then came Aunt Eleanor's
| answer:
My Dear Niece-n you choose to spend
your own money in other ways than to visit
your aunt, have nothing to say; but it is your
own fault that this is the last invitation shall
ever send to be rejected. AUNT ELEANOR"
Adelaide had a little cry over that
| note. Yet l can't blame her." she said.
Her father thought the giving up or
postponing of the visit was a girls
freak and worried no more about it.
But Adelaide's anxious heart grew
lighter as she saw the change in Rob.
There was a new manliness, differ
ent atmosphere, about the boy. After
school was ended, he became, through
a friends influence, bookkeeper of the
large mills at Manchester. He had
had bitter lesson, but he never would
! forget it.
1t was just year from the time that
Adelaide had given Carter her check
tn at it was returned to her, with inter-
est. Then for the first time she told
Rob, in answer to his questions, how
and why she came by it. Rob said but
little, but week later came these few
lines from Aunt Eleanor to Adelaide:
THAT foolish boy has written me all about f..
If you are one that can forgive people, come aA
soon as possible, and visit your loving Aunt
Eleanor"