The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-05-10
ALLEGES MISTAKE.
Her Hasty Words That Caused
Months of Misery.

h1O1DllS vi 4hlOC4Js
had thought loved him, had been
very happy as his affianced bride, and
whispered with a strange pride his
name, remembering that some day it
would be my own as we'll But mine
was not the nature to work control. II
was rather an early date, l thought,
when an engagement was so new a
thing not quite three months old, to
be called to account for my actions
And what had I done wrong? My
betrothed, Clarence Withers, had been
absent for a week, and during his alb
sence Will Maynard had been my
escort wherever | had CHANGED to go. l
would not have my engagement an
nounced, although it was currently
suspected; there were many kind friends
to whisper the fact of my so-called
Irritation to Clarence upon his re-
turn. And SO my first meeting was
not, alas, what had painted it to my
self. When l went forward to meet
him, glad, oh, SO glad, to see him home
again. and ready to tell him SO, if he
needed telling other than the story he
SOuIo Icdl III NY Cl CO anu
hands of welcome, he only took my
hands in his and held me off rather
than drew me to his heart, where my
head had so often lain, and said, in
cold, strange tones, SO unlike the low
ing words of welcome l was waiting
for:
Alice, what is this l hear about my
wife?''
Your wife, Mr.. Withers? During
which of my sleeping moments have l
been dignified to that title, or you
aspired to the authority of husband?"
ITO me, Alice, a promise made is a
promise kept and from the day you
gave yourself to me have looked upon
you as my wife dis solemnly as though
priest had already blessed our union.
You know full well my opinion of Mr..
Maynard. He is a man l would not
permit to cross my thresholds; yet dur
ing my short absence he has been con-
stantly and publicly by your side. In
fact, has shown you attentions you had
no right to receive
Mr.. Maynard is particular friend
of mine" | exclaimed, with flashing
eyes, slipping my hands from his clasp
land permit me to say will no longer
listen to this harangue. No right to re-
ceive ordinary courteous attentions from
gentleman! You strangely forget the
fact that you call yourself such when
you dare address me thus. Good morn
ing, Mr.. Withers."
stay, Alice! If ] spoke quickly, for
give me. But it was so hard to hear
all this just as | arrived home, hungry
for your welcome. You know, dear,
there were SO many aspirants for this
little hand l sometimes can scarce be-
lieve in my own rare fortune. Are you
not glad to see me, Alice?"
'Glad? No. When l was glad you
sent all my happiness back into my
own heart, and made your first words
words of reproach and blame. l have
done nothing to deserve either, and l
would do the same again"
Not if you knew it gave me pain"
YES; because you have no right to
feel pain. If you have no trust in me,
let us part"
st is not question of trust, my
Alice. But come, be my own sweet
girl again and promise me to announce
our engagement and thus put stop
TO Mr.. Maynard's useless devotion"
mo, Mr.. Withers. I have seen
enough to know that with such ma
ture as / have this morning learned
yours to be / never could be happy. l
w&ll return you your letters and your
gifts, and you will send me my letters
~:
ply as friends"
And SO we parted. He grew very
pale when 1 said it was all over-white
to the lips with anger, l suppose. What
a fiendish temper he must possess, and
what an incorrigible tyrant of hus-
band he would have made! Well, it is
all over now, l thought. / am very
glad, although / wished the strange
pain would go away from my heart,
and could not think what had caused
it.
1t was two weeks since Clarence
Withers and had met and parted, and
did not see him until the night of
Mrs. Struther's party He was looking
oh, so handsome-evidently not pining
in secret, for, as usual, he was the life
of the party, and devoted himself to that
pretty Irene Brooks. Well, i did not
wear the willow either for that matter.
Mr. Maynard was very devoted, and
my old friends rallied to my standard
in all their force. He asked me once to
dance with him-a square dance-but
declined, and he looked indifferently
relieved; and once when l was laugh
ing and talking with Mr.. Maynard,
felt his eye was on me, and threw addi-
tional empressement into the nothinga
! was saying. Yet l was tired and