The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-01-10

Isl te pas gagne," he began. Con
found it, | never can get my tongue
around your creolisms! The saying is,
however, that if there were no signing
in the world the world would stifle.
Now, prepare to face the music"
And off he went. He soon returned.
BY his side was sturdy old gentle
man.
Rosine's heart beat more rapidly.
1.-The dragon!" she said.
Silvery hair had the dragon. A dark
mustache had the dragon. a florid
complexion had the dragon. And a
manner that was grave, dignifed,
courteous.
Uncle Albert" explained Cyril,
with boyish eagerness, this is Miss
Rosine Wilde"
"Wilde!" The old gentleman started
perceptibly. He looked at the blush
ing girl-at the yellowish gown. He
bowed.
And" avowed young Rodney, send
ing his sweetheart swift smile of en-
enlargement, ''and-the young lady of
whom | spoke to you"
"Oh" exclaimed Albert Ellsworth.
Then, interrogatively: wilde? Was
your fathers name Clayton Wilde?"
Rosine assented.
"And your mothers maiden name
was Magnolia Kingsley?'
"Oh! dear, no. Aunt Magnolia was
never married. My mothers name was
Madeline Kingsley"
"Eh?'' cried the dragon.
The horid color had faded from his
checks. He was Juggling nervously at
his dark mustache. He looked agitated
and perplexed.
"My mother died ten years ago"
said Rosine, and since then l have
lived with Aunt Magnolia"
Mr.. Ellsworth regarded her grimly
rs that" he asked, abruptly, your
aunt's gown you have on?"
The soft rose fire in the girls cheek
deepened.
How in the world did you know"
she counter-questioned
A queer, wavering smile was his
only reply.
A constrained silence ensued. Cyril
gave his uncle an astonished glance.
$50 Magnolia is an old maid?" said
Mr., Ellsworth, abruptly.
IF she is" cried Rosine, stunr to
defense by a remark she considered
rude, sit is because she was true to a
lover who proved unworthy of herr
"Eh?' calculated Mr. Ellsworth,
more sharply than before. And sud-
denly he turned and walked away.
The following day he insisted on ac-
companying his nephew to the gaunt,
ramshackle, once aristocratic old house
in the French quarter, where Rosine
lived. Ae they were passing the vault
ed entrance to the little tagged court
yard, Albert Ellsworth caught sight of
familiar figure moving among the
ported palms and boxes of blooms.
Go on, lad!' he said to Cyril. He
had paused, and was looking through
the brief avenue of gloom to the
brightness beyond.
Cyril was about to question this new
vagary when the thought of peculiar
possibility made him catch his breath
and do as hidden. lie knocked at the
to Rosine's radiant presence. And
meanwhile his uncle went into the
courtyard. The little old lady stand
ing by the banana tree looked at the
sound of the step on the stones.
"Magnolia!" he cried.
Miss Magnolia gazed at him in a
dazed, half-frightened way. Did ghosts
in, Il
than he whom she had known, and
with hair grown gray; but the same
Around her, in a fantastic dance, the
broltvu fountain, the long-leaved
banana tree aad the giant oleanders
went whirling. She didn't faint, but
she came nearer to it than she ever had
come in her lie.
Did you think l had deserted you,
| Magnolia? When l left you to go
north on business, believed in you as
| I've never believed in anyone since.
And while away l heard and read that
you had married that young Wilde
used to be SO jealous OF. So l went to
Europe. And l stayed there
But Clayton Wilde married Made
line. always told you he came to
sc her"
Yes, know that-now. l was a
fool to have been SO easily convinced
of your falsity. You haven't changed
bit knew you the moment saw
YOU"
Miss Magnolia smiled delightedly.
She did not know he had expected tc
see her.
81 never forgot the dress you wore
the last time | saw you" declared Mr..
| Ellsworth, waxing fervent Il recog.
nized it on your niece last mig hit"
Last night! Are you-surely you
are not the dragon?"
"Wha-at?"
"The-the dragonr' faltered Miss
Magnolia
Mr.. Ellsworth still looked blank.
THAT" murinured the little lady
feeling she was in for it, and might as
we'll make clean breast, was what
Rosipe and called Cyril's uncle. And
Rosine was going to conquer him."
He burst out laughing.
"Well, she did. The boy shall marry
Madeline's pretty daughter. And you
Magrolia-you'll marry mel"
"Oh, dear, nc! I'm too old"
Not day"
And ugly-now.
"Loveliest woman in the world to