The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-03-14


but a radical political woman is the
very deuce itself"
And with this ungaliant remark the
general took his companions arm and
departed.
Mrs Dickson. having dressed for din
ner, was sitting nervously in the draw
ing-room, while her face kept wander
ing between the clock and one of Miss
Singleton's most fiery pamphlets, with
which she was endeavoring to fan her
failing courage. Presently she started
as she heard the front door open Fred
had come back then. she thought,
with an involuntary sigh of relief; at
least her worst forebodings had proved
false. With a hasty gesture she laid
aside the pamphlet, and was apparent
ly immersed in the Queen, when Fred
entered the room, whistling cheerfully.
What had } "ppened at Queens Road
station, she Yondered; surely there
must have 4 terrible scene. Yet
Fred. alth9 e dared not look at
his face, $ cheerful as usual.
He sat hly in chair
nearly
wei I'M have YOU
Teen dong this afternool.9
There was no answer.
Here, | say. what are you about?
Working out some beastly acrostic?
You might chuck it up now and tell
me your news. What have Won been
about?"
She answered in hard, constrained
voice, without raising her eyes from
the page: That is question l might
more reasonably put to you"
What? l? Oh, l went to a few
shops, and looked in at the club for a
bit. That's my brief, unvarnished
tale And now yours?"
Her heart sank within her. Fred
was capable of lying to her, then.
"Was-is- Queens Road station "a
pretty place." she said.
Queens Road station? Singularly
beautiful, | should thinli-famous for
its woodland scenery. But why do you
ask?"
''Fred''-she raised her eyes at last,
and spoke very slowly what-were-
you-doing that placer
What in the name of goodness are
you talking about? Queens Road sta
ton? Why, haven't been near it for
two months
Sir, you were there two hours ago.
You see that | know all"
"A precious sight more than do my
self, at all events" rejoined her hus-
band. Camilla, what do you mean?
Is it a riddle, or theatricals. or are YOU
dreaming?"
You cannot deceive me longer |
have for some time suspected you, and
to-day, with Miss Singleton's help"
What in"
Silence, please have found you
out. Yes, sir she cried rising from
her seat and suddenly producing once
more the fatal postal card, II know
what this means"
Fred glared at it in open-nouthed
a&tonishment for some second NJ
then, grad lally realizing the
affairs he fell back in his chair-and
roared with uncomfortable laughter
Camilla burst into tears. 1T is too
cruel!' she sobbed
At the sight of her distress Fred en-
deavored to compose himself. And
wbat-what," he gasped, did you take
this to mean?"
They looked at the card together. 1t
bore a single line, 'B-Q. RS G."
Why" her voice was cholled with
tears, sit means he at Queens Roads
station at g.
Fred relapsed once more into sonor-
Gus outlaws.
"Ho, ho BE at - Oh! no! no!
Camilla. Camilla, what goose you
are! Why didn't you learn to play
chess? Bishop to Queens Rocks
Sixth, and it is my brothers last move
in correspondence game that | am
playing with him. And you and Miss
Singleton thought-ha, ha, hal
Camilla looked up quickly, a light
breaking through her tears A mo-
mert's suspense-and she had thrown
herself into her husbands arms, laugh
ing and crying at the same time.
VII leu. SliC ClltNss IlON CdH Won
forgive mel"
1t was at this precise moment that
the door suddenly opened. and Miss
Singleton appeared, flushed. di-
sheveled and breathless. "Oh, Camilla"
she exclaimed, impetuously there is
some terrible mistake. We went in
five hansOms, and waited an hour-and
there was a rude crowd which ieered
nd-why-what-do this mean?"
For she had now realized that here
was Camilla in her traitorous hus-
bands arms.
1T MEANS remarked that gentle
man, coolly, that for once in your life,
Miss Singleton, you have made slight
mistake. 1t means that the preternatur-
al sagacity of the Feminine league is,
for once, in fault. And it means fear
that the New Woman, despite her wis
dom, is even more liable to blunder
than the Old. Pail Mall Budget
An Apt Rejoinder.
A building in course of erection was