The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-02-07

"Let me entreat you, Mrs. CORN, to
reconsider the matter. 1t would make
things SO much easier for everyone if
you would trust me! Won't you seal
up the letters and let me take them
| away?"
Il have already told you that will
give them to no one but Mr.. Endi-
colt"
But"
MY mind is made up: thank you
very much for the trouble you have
taken. and excuse me. if | must wish
you good morning. l have some shop
ping to do"
Applegarth rose.
IF you would" he began, when
suddenly a mans voice sounded with
out.
MRS. CORN is in the boudoir, you
said?'
My husbandr' exclaimed Lucille in
CONSERVATION; what shall do?"
Applegarth looked in surprise at
her changed countenance. Was the
worthy banker a veritable Othello,
that she appeared so alarmed as she
stood there, the letters still in her
hand As the handle of the door
turned she looked round wildly for
some hiding place for them, and then
suddenly catching sight of pale green
card-box, with a big gold Liberty"
painted upon it, she flung them hastily
into it, jammed down the lid, and
sank into chair, just as Mr.. Corip !
peared on the threshold. II
Lucille oh! l beg pardon" he
added stopping as he noticed Apple
garth, and glazing at him with an air
of suspicion. II didnot know that you
were engaged" he continued, adj
dressing his wife, who was nervously
fdgeting with her rings, in way that
was anything but reassuring. Have
l disturbed you?"
Applegarth stepped forward quickly:
II was endeavoring to persuade Mrs.
CORN to purchase some of our newly
imported goods
| Then"
Il am traveller for Messrs Liberty
& Co." he continued boldly, Selling the
box, while Lucille gazed at him with
wide-open eyes.
Il see," said CORN, without relaxing
his frown: you've come about the
Turkish embroidery l suppose?"
Exactly" replied Applegarth,
promptly.
1T seems to me that shopkeepers do
quite enough in their showrooms to
induce people to spend money use
lessly without Fostering them at
home"
I'VE only venture to call on our old
customers explained the young man,
alphabetically, and really this en-
broidery is so very beautiful"
yes. | dare say" interrupted the
banker, but | particularly dislike
that sort of thing; so gaudy and
"Oh, excuse mel" exclaimed Mr..
Corin, checking what looked like a
tendency to display his wares, tits
quite useless Mrs CORN does not wish
any of your embroidery"
There is lovely strip here fol-
twenty pounds sterling" interposed
Applegarth, at random.
Twenty pounds sterling!' cried the
banker; twenty pounds sterling! Per
fectly preposterous. Certainly not
We don't want your embroidery; we
won't have it, do you understand.
Good morning"
Good morning" replied the other
quietly, taking up the bandbox.
''Oh, but won't you leave the box?'
cried Lucille, hurriedly, perhaps"
mo, no, take it away; | hate those
sort of things numbering up the place.
Applegarth bowed and the dool
closed on him-and the box. The mex
moment Lucile's sobs caused her hus
band to turn towards her with aston
ishment.
What on earth is the matter?"
= A fresh burst of weeping was his only
t answer.
5 Whats wrong. Lucile?'
: "You-are So unkind - to One,
came brokenly from behind the fiimsy
| bit of embroidered muslin that die
duty for a handkerchief.
: "Unkind? What nonsense!-becaus,
/ won't let you throw away money b,
| handfuls on mere nonsense?"
1T isn't nonsense! Besides. you al
ways say that-you never do anything
to please me now!"
MY dear child" he said, soothingly
4 as the little frame shook with hyster
ical emotion.
l 'Oh, l know, you don't care abou
me now; you think I'm silly and frivo
1 lous, and"
Il think you are the sweetest littl
D goose in the world" he calculated, a
: he drew her hands away from he
! face, and looked into pair of blu
/ eyes that possessed the rare and envi
! able quality of looking all the prettie
- through few tears.
r mo, you don't" and big drop tina
had trembled on the eyelashes fel
with q splash upon his hand, and Lu
= ellie knew by experience that the bat
: tie was won-''you never let me hav
my own way"
rs it about the ball to-night?" h
= asked coaxingly. II didn't mean it, o
t course
e at isn't that" she said, with shalx
e of the head and only half yielding t
S his encircling arm.
3 Surely you wouldn't cry about tn
- embroidery. darling?"
+, ~ did want II ca Yn,nb and