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

hardly dared put this into words, it
was still too vague for that; but it was
there, the little cloud no bigger than a
mans hand. But when she stood hold
ing Aunt Eleanor's letter and check in
her hand she did not think of any of
these things. Her heart-young and
| glad in spite of sorrow and care-gave
u great bound in her relief and pleas
ure. If Cousin Myra came she need
have no misgivings, for she was a
maiden relative, agreeable, efficient,
who seemed to live to help others out
of difficulties, and was always ready
to step into the places no one else
wanted to fill: and with all this money,
she need not ask her father for cent.
Oh! how charming it would be not to
think of meals, nor Rates clothes, nor
soiled carpets and windows; to be free
like the girls about her, and enjoy the
lovely time her aunt's letter promised
her. She surely had earned this bit of
Eden after the past two years of daily
duties carefully performed
She went down to dinner that even
ing, her face rejecting all her happy
anticipations. Even her father was
struck by the shining, happy eyes ops
posite him.
rs anything the matter, daughter?"
he asked, with misty feeling that
young girls faces ought to look that
way often. And then Adelaide's hap
piness overlooked, and she told him of
Aunt Eleanor's plan.
'Ges, it is time you had a holiday"
said her father, rousing himself, and
If Myra will come you can GO" he
added, feeling very unseliish and
paternal in thus giving his sanction.
Just here Rob came in-he was late
quite often nOwadays-and the CONVEX
sation took another turn. But Ade-
ladies keen eyes noticed that Bob hard
| ly touched his dinner, and that he
looked pale and tired.
"Poor boy, he can't be well!'' she
thought, but wisely said nothing then.
But as he was hurrying off as usual
towards the front door, Adelaide laid
her hand on his arm: Rob, I'm
afraid you're not we'll; won't you stay
at home this evening? I'll do any
thing to amuse YOU" she added, with
her bri 9htest smile
AS he turned towards her, the light
from the hall lamp fell on his boyish,
attractive face. Instead of its usual
easy, gOod-naturcd look, Adelaide was
shocked by its pallor, and the strange
expression about the eyes.
| Don't mind me, Ada" he said, try
ing to smile, I'm all right, and | must
go down to Carter's; he said he would
help me out on my trig'" he added
But his face kept coming between
Adelaide's plans for her visit all even
| ing. Was it sickness that made Rob
look so? Ought she to have a pale
blue or one of the new greens for an
evening dress? And that lovely bon
net at Stevens'-could she afford to
! buy that? She certainly could. if she
had her cloth suit fixed over. If Rob
should be sick-he had never been
| since she could remember but what
| if there was something on his mind?
| What if he worried about his studies
more than they supposed, and that the
coming examinations weighed on him?
| What if he were learning to smoke
like that horrid Carter, whom she
/ INFNSl Nl't llhCs Clls IL llCI DlCSSCll,
wise little mother could only have
| stayed with them, she would know
what to do. She herself must do more
to make home attractive-she would
coax her father to let her have more
| company in the evenings now and
! then.
Kate had gone to bed, and Louis was
| studying in his own room. Mr.. Bar
ringer always buried himself in his
books and magazines in his sanctum
upstairs. Adelaide sat in the pretty
library, her hands busy on an apron
for Kate, her thoughts keeping pace
| with the needle flashing in and out of
her work.
How foolish she was! Rob would
come home soon, and laugh at her
fears. How loud that door sounded!
Was that a scream upstairs? That GER
tainly was the front door-how nerv-
GUS she was getting, and she always
| despised nerves! There, at last, that
was his step in the hall.
She threw down her work and ran
out: ''Oh, Rob, I've been so worried
about you! Are you sure" She
stopped suddenly, as she saw that it
was not Rob, but Alan Gregory, Robs
old friend, whom he had seemed to
drop lately. Adelaide turned cold with
sudden foreboding, but she said at
once: II beg your pardon, Alan. l
thought it was Rob; he has not come
home yet"
Il know. l wanted to see you, AIDE
laide. Can we go in here?" asked the
young fellow, indicating the library
Adelaide led the way with what cour-
age she could muster. what is it?"
she asked, and Alan answered at once:
ITS Rob; he is in trouble, and deter
mined to come to you. I managed to
get Rob's key, though he didn't want
me to come. You sec he has some way
been getting more and more under the
influence of Carter, who is bad lot,
and he owes Carter quite sum. Car
ter has been threatening to write to
your father, until Rob was desperate.
III run away first; anything but that
he said, and Carter said: No, my man,
you don't play that game, and the first
thing tonight he had Rob arrested
Alan paused, full of pity for the white
face before him.
And where is he nowP" Adelaide