The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-09-04

sent to let justice of the peace per-
form the ceremony"
but II wa-want you or no-no-
body" said John. "No-now jus-just
tell me one thin-thing. Wo-wou-
would mar marry me if II did not
stam-stam-me
YES, John: for l think you have
many excellent qualities, and would
be capable of making your wife very
| happy"
"Tha-thank you for you-your
good -pin-pln-ion. You give me
ho-hope. In tell You wh-why.
| There is an in-in-stl-tute where
stam-stam-m is ire
| treated so as to be leSs-less -ened
and of-of-ten coo-cured. IL will
| go to it. perhaps II can get so
that | can re-re-peat yo-your chu
church service as well as you can. "
| A great look of relief came into
Mary's face.
just the thing" she cried. so,
John, if you only could overcome your
stammering and we could be married
in church by the Episcopal service, it
would be delightful"
| so 1t wo-wou-would."
81 am so happy, l am almost willing
to let you kiss me-
DO: | can do that with-with-out
STAN - STAN - mer- mer - ing, you
know"
Mary laughed.
"Wait till we are regularly en-
gagged" she said
"Per-per-haps l cannot be cured
and we sha-shall never be reg-reg-u
-larly en-en-gaged," said ohm,
dolefully.
I'VE will not think of that
II sha- shall"
A few days later John, with big
valise in his hand stood at the railway
station waiting for the train that was
to carry him to Philadelphia, where
the institute for the treatment of STAN
merers was. Mary was present to bid
him good-by.
Now you'll give me thine to find
out wha-wheth-e II can be co--cu
cured, will you not?" SAID John,
anXiously, and not gi-give Bill Ia
! Taylor en- coo - cour -age-ment
| wa -tttL M my d du-SCHCC'
DO not worry about Mr.. Taylor,
said Mary, laughing "He can be no
more than friend to me, and l shall
not fall in love with him while you are
gone.
II am glad to he-hear you say it.
I'll do my be-best to get coo--cured,
in-in-deed WILL" added the poor fell
low, pathetically.
Il know you WILL said Mary, deeply
touched. II feel certain that you will
return cured
"Tha-thanll you
The train rolled in front of the sta
ton, and in moment the young man
was gone.
Mary words concerning his rival for
her affections had given John much
comfort. for he believed that she was
a truthful girl, and during his journey
he maintained cheerful condition of
mind.
After his throat had been thoroughly
examined at the institute, he learned to
his great delight that he could probably
be cured, the chief drawback being
that he must undergo long and tedious
treatment. The expense, he was told,
would be from eight hundred to one
thousand dollars. 1t was heavy for a
young man in his circumstances, but he
did not bcgrudge it. Fortunately he
had been careful and saving, and he
had a deposit of two thousand dollars
in the savings bank at home. He had
sufficient means for his present pur-
pose. although it would be necessary
to defer his marriage for several years.
Buoyed up by strong hope, he applied
himself enthusiastically to the treat
ment. practiSed the prescribed vocal
exercises, etc, patiently for hours. and
was rewarded by steady improvement.
Everything was suspicious until he re-
ceiveG letter from an acquaintance,
who wrote that Bill Taylor was escort
ing Miss Beverly here and there, aid
was evidently finding much favor in
her eyes Filled with imprudent ieal-
ousy, John angered his sweetheart
with letter in which he expressed his
fear that she had not been faithful to
her promise. Her reply was spirited,
and contained the statement that she
did not want lover who could not
trust her out of his sight. John was
then sorry that he had so foolishly
yielded to the promptings of his jeal-
ousy, and became possessed with the
dreadful idea that although she might
not have encouraged Bill Taylor, she
would now probably transfer her affec-
tions to that detested individual While
the stammerer was in this wretched
condition of mind, he received a second
and almost crushing blow. He learned
that the savings bank to which his lit
tie fortune had been intrusted had
failed on account of reckless and I'M
scrupulous management. OF the two
thousand dollars he had only two hun.
bred dollars left, and he had not vet
been half cured of stammering.
The poor fellow was, of course, filled
with anguish. For time it seemed
useless to attempt to overcome the OBJ
stacles that had been so unexpectedly
placed in his way. But soon his cour-
age began to return. Perhaps by most
persevering and desperate efforts he
could hasten his treatment, and go
from the institute cured before his
money was exhausted. The principal