The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-02-22
A HARMLESS LADY.
Why Mrs. Whitcomb Followed Her
Husband to tho Country.

with the more pretentious fence along
the country road. From the two cor
ners thus defined, the land spread out
in even broadening borders, and upon
each side of the dividing line embraced
a distant farmhouse in its lazy sunny
arms. In their soft colors of green
and white, the two houses lay like idle
creatures sprawling in the sun.
The meadows glistened under the
floating light of an early summer morn
ing, and Farmer BaSSet, at the foot of
his fertile undulating field, stopped
now and then, with hammer in hand,
to direct a long gaze of satisfaction
over his thriving estate He was knee
deep in long grass, and under his great
straw hat was sheltered alike from the
suns rays and from ordinary vision.
But the outlook from under its broad
brim brought food of pleasure to its
owners heart, for he noted on the one
side the clean smooth floor of earth be-
tween the why stems of wheat and, in
contrast to it, the weed-entangled
growth upon the adjoining land.
"Jinkerton!' suddenly exclaimed the
farmer, with surprised stare over the
fence. Has Whitcomb come back?'
Two men could be seen across the in
tervening field, walking slowly about
the house. One was bent and was lean
ing upon the arm of the other.
That's Whitcomb or it's his double, "
he calculated again. 81 wonder what
it means The house is all closed"
With a sudden vigor he drove the
long nail home into the thick wood
and, giving it another sharp decisive
blow, dropped his Ratchet into the bas-
ket and started in the direction of his
house.
Mrs. Basset had made the same obser-
walton from the kitchen window, and
met him at the door in all the citation of
discovery.
''EIe must have come late yesterday
evening, and he has taken the back room
upstairs"
I'D like to see the old fellow. If |
thought he'd be friends, I'd go over
But he left here in such mighty row,
and has never been back since-per-
haps it's better to let fallow land lie. ;"
Hes married, isn't he? wonder if
his wife came with him"
Basset pushed the damp hat rim back
from his matted hair and looked at her
from his gentle blue eyes
I'D hate to be otfish with him
about old times, too. He looked kind
o. sick, didn't he? A man seemed to be
helping him around the yard
He went about his work all that day
in disturbed meditation, glancing to-
ward his neiphbor's house, which still
long dlSuSe. Later, as he was return
ing from the orchard, he set down his
basket OF apples and stood with his
eyes fixed thoughtfully upon one of
the windows, whose blinds had been
partially opened and through which he
might draw some knowledge of the
silent interior; il was like an eye,
2rowsy and half closed, but full of a
subtle intelligence.
lie bent down with his hand upon
his basket again when Mrs Basset
came toward him hastily There were
traces of a recent .astonshment yet
lingering on her face.
"Jo, she said, Mrs. Whitcornb is in
the house,
Mrs. Whitcomb?" repeated the
farmers voice, uncertainty. where is
Mrs. Whitcomb?''
''Why, in the sitting room, to be sure,
just at present. She wants room of
her own, though, to keep for several
days, or maybe a week. You see, her
husband has something the matter
with his eyes, and the doctor would not
treat them unless he left the city and
came to some quiet place. He is run
down and nervous at the same time,
and his old home was the most con-
venient place to come lie brought no.
body with him except man servant
who knows how to nurse and take care
of him. They wouldn't let her-his wife
eveu-come with him: but she was so
anxious about him that she followed him
here, and, now as she can't go over there
in face of the doctors orders, she wants
us to keep her. She's a devoted little
wife, and of course | consented"
Her husband patted her approvingly
or. the arm and prepared to go in to his
guest
In the meantime, in the Basset sit
ting-room stood a little woman attired
in a jaunty sailor hat and a dress of
soft and flowing elegance. Her eyes
were directed toward the window and
upon the house in the distance.
at is very foolish of me-" she was
thinking, and when Henry is perhaps
suffering. But l can't help it; after a
few days he will be able to go about,
and he is sure to see that woman again.
She may be designing sort OF wom-
an, for all | know, and may want to
amuse herself with him; or she may be
desperately in love with him yet and
he, being weak and nervous and in
such a state of health anyhow, why,
there's no telling what she might do
or he either, for that matter Oh,
what am ! saying?-or thinking?-it's
all one. How Henry would feel if he
knew
And she gave her small foot vicious
stamp hat set her ruffles huttering
from shoulder to toe, like the rustic of
a tree and its innu merable leaves
IL suppose must put on the ugly
mask of deception and smile and smile
and be a villain, for I'm not bit
frightened about him. If he could only
be in alarming danger without its be-
ing serious! | believe it would be
easier then; but he can't, and what