The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-03-22

Maud, who was enjoying an afternoon
cup of tea in the lowest chair she could
find in her aunt's cozy little drawing
room.
She was the only daughter of Miss
Talbot's favorite brother, and had been
conscientiously spoiled by both father
and aunt whose considerable means
enabled them to indulge most of her
whims, on the plea that she inner
tied her dead mothers delicacy of con-
stitution and must not be worried. The
latest of these whims had been to en-
gage herself at eighteen to a good
looking young barrister, who, like
many of his fellows, had not yet had
an opportunity of giving his eloquence
to the world. He was not what would
be called good ''parti," but he was a
gentlemanly, pleasant fellow genuine
ly in love with Maud, who under all
her fanciful, spoiled childishness, had a
warm loving heart, that had really
given itself into Jim Burgoyne's keep
ing. Therefore, it was with no small
surprise that Miss Talbot heard the an
swer to her question, spoken in an ag-
greived tone:
mo! l told nurse to send the car
riage for me at six. l hope that is not
toe late for you? Jim is otherwise en-
gagged"
otherwise engagedv' echoed Miss
Talbot, in amazement. why, Maudie,
what do you mean?"
just what ! say, Aunt Joan! Jim
seems to find other things quiet as anus
ing as looking after me, so naturally
= don't trouble him more than | can
help" and the speaker put down her
cup, and ciasping her hands round her
knee looked resentfully at the fire.
"And pray when did this state of
things begin?" asked Miss Talbot, re-
suming her interrupted knitting, a
smile Frightening her kind gray eyes.
''Oh, you need not laugh, Aunt JOAN"
answered Maud, solemnly; 'it is very
serious. | am excessively angry with
jim; and it will be some time before |
can forgive him, and-and he does not
care Bit" This with a little catch in
her voice that made her aunt look at
her sharply, and find that the eyes
staring at the fire were full of tears.
The still handsome, stately woman
rose, and drawing a chair beside her
niece, put her hand upon her shoulder
saying:
Child! what foolish tiff is this?
What has Jim done to offend you?"
Maud hesitated moment, then her
Indignation found vent.
Il will just tell you the whole thing"
she cried, land you will see if you think
he has behaved well. 1t all began at
that ball we went to last Monday
week. | had promised him some of the
first waltzes and refused other partners,
and he never came till more than an
hour after we got there. Then, instead
of apologizing, he merely said he had
been unexpectedly detained by friend
whom he had not seen for some time.
and hoped | would give him other dances
to make up. | said | could not, and
told him l was not pleased, and danced
with other people all night. He calmly
went and amused himself as if nothing
had happened, and danced three times
with Mary Lowell! | would not go in
to supper with him, and made father
come home early. Jim came down to
the door with us, and asked me to look
kindly at him before | said good night
but l was much too angry, and never
looked at him at all. The next morn
ing he came, and actually laughed at
my reproaches when l was quite in
clined to make friends with him, and
did not see why l complained. The
result was that | got angry again, told
him that if he did not care for keeping
his appointments with me he had bet
ter not make any, and would not listen
to any excuses on his part, but left him
and went upstairs. | had a note from
him in the evening, asking me to see
him and make friends with him
before he went off the next day,
but thought it would be a very good
lesson for him to wait till he came
back, and | wrote and said that was
engaged, and that"-with little sigh
was nearly week ago."
''Where was he going?" asked Miss
Talbot.
He had been engaged to some
friends for shooting a long time ago
He will be away a fortnight" There
was rather a melancholy tone in Maud's
voice, in spite of her just Indignation.
And so, for a senseless bit of pride,
you let this man, whom you know very
we'll loves you with all his heart, go off
without as much as kind word. Child,
child, you are playing with edged tools;
take care lest you wound yourself; it
is dangerous work Miss Talbot's
voice had sad ring in it that made
her nearer look at her in surprise, but
she went on without noticing her. gaz-
ing at the glowing Goals as if reading
her words there.
'Your silly little tale brings back to
me time that is long past and gone;
time when the blood ran fast in my
veins, and my face was fair and smooth
like yours, though Isuppose you think
l must always have been forty years
old. Did no one ever tell you Aunt
Joan's story? Did you ever wonder
why she never married? All, well! l
daresay not!'
She paused, and Maud, little awe
struck by this strange news Aunt Joan
so Unexpectedly revealed to her, drew
her low chair close, and put her hand
upon her knee. Miss Talbot took it
lovingly in hers, and went on in the
Same slow sad ramem beriug sort of