The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-12-19

set. But just week before it, an orri-
Ger came and-arrested James. Nora,
that handsome young sweetheart Of
mine was as cold-blooded a villain evef
lived! He had robbed his own fatheN
gambled away his money! can't tell
you all the story of his sin! What |
want you to see is that the Lord Himself
was watching over me to keep me from
becoming the miserable wife of that
wicked man."
Nora sat, speechless skeptic, as the
sweet voice went on: "Of course it hurt
for a long time. But after awhile was
helped past it till all the pain was gone,
and in a strange, sweet way, it seemed
to me that bitter experience helped me
to appreciate the really grand, good
man later learned to love-"
"And he?" Miss Nora leaned forward
as she asked the question and held her
breath.
''He taught me how truly fine and
pure a mans life may be, how all en-
nobling his love. l honored him so en-
tirely that when he afterward found he
had been mistaken in his love for me,
l could only admire the consideration,
the real nobility of character, that
prompted him to frankly tell me So"
Nora looked at the rebound best
dress, at the thin little figure, the tired,
but smiling eyes, and forebore to speak.
81 wonder what she'd do with half the
blessings most women have?" she
thought.
1t happened in the most curious way,
just three nights later, that big DR..
Grimes, passing the Yarwood cottage,
stopped in the shadow of the fir-tree
to gaze in at the little studio; and at
that same instant, Miss Yarwood, lean
ing over her china-lliln, more tired than
ever, and just little ''shally" from
loss of sleep and appetite, suddenly
gave out entirely, and fell, teacups,
pin-trays and all, against her kiln, and
on, in a heap OF tinkling porcelain, to
the floor. Curiously, too, Dr. Grimes
forgot all about his ridiculous shyness
of the little woman, vaulted her fence
(tir-tree, too, he afterward thought,
so great had been his haste), and in
half a flying minute reached her side,
lifted her out Of her pitiful ruins, and
sat her bolt upright upon a chair.
She had not fainted-not she. She
was only trife dazed, and not very
strong" as she explained. She felt
there was some explanation called for,
for there was absolutely no misunder-
standing the fact that the big doctor,
having sat her upon her chair, had
shaken her soundly.
mot very strong indeed!" IAN
other shake) 81 have heard about it!
Miss Nora says you need a guardian,
and am come to be he" His voice was
harsh and angry.
Don't you know, know, you are kill
ing yourself?" Then it came over him
suddenly just how pale and thin and
pitifully small she looked, this mis-
guided bread-winner, and he looked
about wildly until his eyes rested upon
d pillow across in the little window
scat. He STROBE after it; then he put
1t gently back of her head.
ibid I-shalle you, you frail little
mite of a woman? | might have killed
you; the Lord only knows how easily
l could do it. And rather than hurt
hair of your head"
He stopped and looked unsteadily at
her, for his eyes were swimming in
sudden tears. And Miss Alice felt Il
strange yearning in her heart toward
this man whom she had selected to be
dear Nora's lover.
You didn't--shake me-very hard,
l guess" she stammered. II must
have provoked you to it, falling clum
silly like that"
He stopped her short. 'What sort of
an old party do you think me, anyhow,
Miss Alice? Would you believe thing
L told you as solemn TRUTH"
"Oh, l would" she cried, looking
steadily into the kind, gray eyes.
Then please believe that love you
from my very heart, and that, old
bachelor as am, | shall always be, un-
less you let me come as business man.
ager of this firm. AS Mrs. Grimes you
may paint teacups for me alone, and
I'll promise unbounded admiration and
prompt pay. VIII you be my wife,
Alice, and let the love and care of life
time atone for the ugly gruffness I've
shown tonight"
He was holding both her hands, and,
lreeling there perilously on those
broken bits of the fine arts, could look
straight into the big, brown eyes.
81 thought L had given all my heart
toto Robert-but that was long ago,
and"
And now?"
And now you-you remind me of
HMM being so grand and good i mean
so much so that | believe, in time
How much time?" cried this impa-
tent lover. Don't you know that since
that first day in the leaky, Osgood
shanty I've thought of you day and
night, and loved you until I've been a
perfect old fool? How much time?
Can't you love me in five minutes?
Now?"
And the little woman, moved by some
| impulse, leaned suddenly forward and
4ra,nuIo,,clv I-icca1 fha cr,n 1,cr,tipl l. IL