The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-02-01

florists on his way home and bought
handful of yellow roses. ITS impossi-
BILE to go by this shop and not come
in" he explained to the young lady,
who put them down to his account; he
looked so much more than he said, that
the rest of the day seemed to be bright
| ened for her by the mere remembrance
of his voice. ''They will please Mrs.
Berwick" he thought; ''she likes little
attentions, and there is no reason on
| earth why she shouldn't have them
while the game lasts. | expect it's
about slipped from me this afternoon;
but it's as we'll to take it calmly. It's
foolish thing to say, but l believe l
could have borne it better if I'd had
single kiss to remember" He let him
self in with a latchkey. Mrs. Berwick
had evidently been waiting for him; she
came to the dining-room door and
beckoned; there were tears in her eyes,
and little cambria handkerchief was
crushed up in her hand. Her agitation
interested him, but he wished that she
used some other perfume than white
rose; it was too strong, and he was
tired of it.
"Oh! Mr.. Midway" she said there
is a horrible man in the next room.
He says he must be paid before he
leaves the house
81 may differ from him on that
point" he answ cred, slowly, but
meanwhile don't distress yourself.
Here are some roses. saw them and
felt that their natural place was under
your care. If you wo uld give me a cur
of tea in the drawingroom | should be
very grateful. But first I'll speak to
the scoundrel in the library" A little
later he sent for the butler. Rogers"
he said, take care of that gentleman
downstairs, and make much of him.
To-day is Wednesday: he will be here
till Friday morning, when the bills will
all be settled am tired of people
clamoring for their money. And,
Rogers" he went on after a pause;
while his eyes flashed with amusement,
81 shall invite all the gentlemen and
their bills here tomorrow night. Have
good supper ready in tn e dining
room the best you know how. shall
take one end of the table, and Mrs. Ber-
wick, | have no doubt, will have the
kindness to take the other" Rogers
looked at him for moment puzzled.
"Yes, sir, I'll see to it" he answered
without a word of comment The next
morning the majority of Mr.. Medway's
creditors received a little letter. 1t
ran thus:
my DEAR SIR: apologize for having neg
lected you long but my Australian affairs
have taken up all my time. 1t would give me
much pleasure il you would come here tomOr-
row night, at eleven, when l wish to do myself
the honor of entertaining you with some other
creditors at supper, and of Immediately after
wards settling your claims upon me.
Yours truly, g. MIDWAY
At ten o'clock the next night, Med
way and Mrs. Berwick stood looking
at the supper table Rogers" he said
get four of those folding Japanese
screens from the bedrooms-the very
high ones. Open one fiat cross the end
of the table, so. Put a small table, not
wider than this, and not more than
two or three feet long, on the other
side, and push it close up, so that but
for the screen it would join on to the
supper table"
Rogers, who prided himself on never
showing any surprise, did as he was
told.
Now" continued Midway, LAY my
supper behind the screen. | shall want
a bottle of champagne-open it, mind
and my check book, pen, ink and
sheet of paper by me. No, you needn't
put any candles; shall not want them
to guess that am here. and there will
be light enough from the lamp above
Now place my chair, then the other
three screens close as possible, SO that
they make a little square room that
anyone may walk round and yet see
nothing" lie looked at it carefully
when it was complete. quite a snug
little place" he said. Mrs. Berwick"
he went on, turning to her, 81 am 60
ing to ask you to receive these gentle
men when they arrive. Bring them
down, sit at the head of the table, and
be as gracious to them as you can. |
shall eat my supper behind those
screens; you can make any excuse you
like for my absence. Rogers, put the
wine on the table-a bottle of cham
payne to each man. When it is pretty
low down" he said, speaking to Mrs,
Berwick again, II want you to say that
there's a pleasant surprise awaiting
them, as well as a settlement of all
their claims and propose that they
should drink my health. just IS they
are putting the glasses to their lips,
Rogers is to pull away the front screen
across the end of the table, and they
will have the pleasure of knowing l
have been with them all the time, and
each man will be able to reflect with
satisfaction on any remarks he has
made"
"Oh, Mr.. Midway" she exclaimed,
clasping her hands over the front of
her low yellow silk dress, chow am l
to entertain these men, and what will
they think of me?"
my dear lady, you have tact and
charm enough TO entertain all the men
in creation, which makes the rest of
your sex superfuous. If they attempt
to pay you too many compliments you
will be glad to think l am listening to
them there. Now, | am going for
little stroll l wonder if it would be
taxing your kindness too much if |
asked you to make another button hole