The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-02-26

evidently anxious to win my favor.
She had a shy, coaxing way of talking
to me that. to my prejudiced mind,
seemed an artful effort to disarm my
suspicious; and her pretty face was
never more repulsiv4 TO me than
when it was lifted TO mine with a
pleading smile, that asked for the
affection and confidence Iowould not
give her.
The winter was an unusually severe
one at Staplcton that year, and just
after New Years Lizzie knit for her
teacher a pair of scarlet wooden nit
tens, which she asked me to finish in a
pretty fancy stitch she had not yet
learned. Both my sisters were enthu-
siastically fond of their teacher, and /
had not carried my jealous fury to the
point of trying to deprive her of their
love. So, with some show of willing
ness, | knit the tops of the mittens in
meshes of scarlet wool and white silk,
and in an odd stitch have never seen
except in my own work.
1t was about three weeks after Christ
mas when, looking over at Ramsay's,
as did. oh, far too often for my own
peace, / saw in the brightly-lighted
parlor Alice Hall and my Frank, stand
ing near the fireplace, talking more
earnestly than usual. Suddenly, she
covered her face with her hands, and !
could see her shake with violent sob
bling. For moment he looked at her,
his whole face pititul and slender, and
then he put his arm around her and
drew her into close embrace, smooth
ing her hair and bending over her with
caressing tenderness The door of the
room opened, and Alice sped away,
while !, shutting the opera-glass had
long used for spying with snap, re-
solved to break my engagement Frank
would come the next day to see me for
the last time
But the next day he did not. come. In
his place received brief note:
my father is dangerously i'll 1 go to New
York on the next train"
Restless, miserable, I wandered off,
taking the Stapleton road. and walked
into the village, making some trifling
purchases as my errand. 1t was at the
store where bought some ribbon that
l heard two ladies conversing, one OF
whom said;
They have smallpox at Carriers"
This made no impression upon me,
and l had forgotten it by the time
turned my face homeward. But as
passed Carter's lane | remembered ii
and looked idly down the narrow foot
way. Suddenly all the blood in my
veins seemed to stand still, for just be-
yond the turn lay, upon the ground, a
little scarlet mitten. 1t flashed upon
me in a moment that it was Wednesday
afternoon, when Alice Hall gave the
Carter children their music lesson. l
turned down the lane, and took up the
red mitten as cautiously as if it had
held a snake.
Yes, it was Lizzie's gift to Alice Hall,
with my fancy knitting on the wrist.
How proudly Lizzie had told her
teacher she need not teach again with
cold fingers, and what gentle kiss
thanked her! She, this fair, sweet rival
of mine, was on her way to CartersT
to danger, perhaps to death. Would
Frank still love her when her face was
SCARED and pitted? Would all his love
be mine if she died? If she died, and
had murdered her!
The thought seemed to be shouted in
my ears and drove away my demon. l
started at full run down the narrow
lane, never pausing until before me I
saw the slender figure sought when
l sent my voice ahead in q ringing
shout:
Alice! Alice HAIR
She did not hear me, and already she
had entered the gate o for those mo-
ments lost in irresolution! Up the
steps, into the housed Should l, too,
risk contagion to save her? Yet still 1
sped on, rushing into the house, and
seiziNg her as. she stood before the fire
in the great farmhouse kitchen.
Come with mer' gasped; and she
obeycd instantly. She told me later
that she could not but obey such a
voice and such look as mine.
Out of the infected house, down the
lane, led the way, until sank down,
painting and exhausted.
What is it," she cried, kneeling be-
side me on the frozen ground. lis
Roberts father dead?"
They have the smallpox at Car
ter's," gasped.
And you have nearly killed yourself
to tell me?"
But" l said, recovering some
breath, "who is Robert?''
ii must tell you" she said: you will
keep my secret?"
promised that.
Robert is my husband" she said,
gently; but his father does not know
of our marriage, and l am willing to
wait until Robert can be independent
of him. That is why / came here
Frank, Roberts brother, you know, is
SO good to me, brings me Roberts let
tiers, and does all he can for me. |
have so longed to tell you, because it
seems as if you were already my sister,
Frank loves you so"'
You knew Frank before you came
here, then?'
"Oh, yes! He told me about you, and
he wanted me to be near you, so that,
when you knew, you would have
learned to love me. | thought you
never would, but you must love me q
little to run into that infected house
IN Snva nal"