The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-11-10


Mrs. Fengrove still hesitated.
what shall l tell him?" asked she.
Tell him to go about his business"
returned the doctor, energetically STIR
ring the fire until a red stream of
sparks flew up the chimney.
Mrs. Fengrove closed the door, and
went back to the kitchen porch.
Milo" said she, my husband will
have nothing to say to YOU"
II don't blame him much" dejectedly
responded Milo York, who was, in
deed, an unpromising-lookin subject
enough, with his unkempt hair hang
ing over his brow, his garments in
rags and the end of his nose chilled
and purpled with the bitter night air.
But it's dreadful night" softly
added Mrs. Fengrove. "Wait out here
the porch will shelter you from the
rain. The coffee-pot is on the stove
yet, and I'll bring you plate of bread
and cold meat and bowl of coffee"
"Thankee, ma'am,' said the tramp,
gathering himself like Il heap of ags
into the corner, to wait
lie drank his coffee and ate his sup
per like famished hound, and then
Mrs. FenCrove gave him tattered old
shawl, long since cast aside by her hus-
band.
Take this" she said, land lie down
in the barn loft; there's plenty of good,
sweet hay there But be sure you're
off before the doctor comes out in the
morning"
"Thankee, ma'am," again uttered
the man; and he disappeared like IA
shadow into the bowling tempest
Where have you been all this
time % suspiciously queried the doctor,
as his wife came into the softly illum-
mated arch of the Chinese screen
again Mrs. Fengrove turned scarlet
under his penetrating glance.
II only gave Milo little-some-
thing to eat and drink" she faltered
"You know the Good Book says: Turn
not away thy face from any poor
mani"
YES" dryly coughed the doctor,
''but guess the Good Book don't make
any allowance for tramps. And l tell
you what, Dolly, it isn't safe to harbor
these miserable wretches, with Aunt
Dorothy's silver tea-set in the house,
let alone your own spoons and forks,
especially as l am obliged to be SO
much from home"
| Mrs. Fengrove sewed on in ST.
lence; she was almost sorry she had
told poor Milo York about that
snug corner in the hayloft, but she
lacked courage to confess the whole
truth to her husband.
ut will be all right, dare saw" she
told herself. but Milo York mustn't
come hanging around here any more. ~
In the dead of the tempestuous night,
there came a ring AT the doctors night
bell. Old Mr.. Castleton was very ill
dying, perhaps! The doctor was won't
ed at once!
With yawn, our good Esculapius
rose out of his warm bed, dressed him
self and, saddling old Roam, set for his
midnight ride of six long miles. But
when he reached Castleton court, all
was still and dark. He rang two or
three times before a night-capped head
popped out of the window-that of the
old squire himself.
Dear, dear!" said Squire Castleton.
"What's the matter? Nobody ill. |
hope"
why, you are, aren't you?" testify
demanded DIR. Fengrove.
81? Not bit of it!' said the squire.
in surprise.
Didn't you send for me?"
mo, didn't" said the squire. "And
If you've got anything more to say,
you'd better come in out of this sleet-
storm and say it."
NO." said DR.. Fengrove, setting his
teeth together, "I'll not come in, thank
you"
st amt joke, is it?" questioned
Squire Castleton.
I'm afraid 1t something more seri-
GUS than a joke" said DIR. Fengrove.
GOOD night"
And, turning old Roan's head, he set
spurs to him and trotted rapidly away.
Evidently, the night call was a con-
certed plaza plan devised TO leave his
home unprotected - and Is mind
turned, with keen distrus,, to Milo
York and his tale of distress
God keep Dolly and the little one
safe until l get home again." he NUT
tered between his closed lips. Faster,
Roam, faster!' with touch of the
whip, which was scarcely needed, so
thoroughly did the good horse enter in
to the spirit of his rider. You know
not how much may depend upon your
speed tonight!
Meanw lille, Mrs. Fengrove, who had
just fallen into a restless slumber, after
locking the door behind her husband,
was unwontedly startled once aga in
by low, steadily continuous sound
like the rasping of some hard instru-
ment. She sat up in bed and listened
a minute. Under her window the
sound of muffied and subdued voices
was audible, even above the rattle
and roar of the wintry storm.
Burglars" she gasped to herself
And my husband is gone-and-Oh,
Milo York is at the bottom of this.
How wrong it was of me to give him
| shelter in the barnr'
Springing to her feet, she threw on a
blue flannel dressing gown. and hurried