The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-12-31

country-seat of |
Joshua Warren, capitalist, who had |
built it just three years previously, ana
it owned neither ghost nor gallery |
of solemn-visaged ancestors. AS mat
ter of fact, Mr.. Warren, albeit qule'
man. and one not given to boastlng'
was rather proud of the fact that he
had neither a pedigree nor family
skeleton to keep him awake nights.
His principal desire, now that he had
made his fortune, was to enjoy life and
t. make those about him happy without
Worrying his head about genealogical
trees orways and means of forcing him
self into the upper ten On these
points his wife and their only daughter
Nadge. agreed with him-and being
agreed, they succeeded in making the
most of life. They We're jolly entertain
ers, aud always had houseful, more
on less, of company, usually lou OF
young people, whom they preferred as
being more likely to make things i've
"; and during these particular holidays
tLev were housing at least dozen
young folks, on account OF Madge, who
was to be married in the middle OF jan
uary to VIII Braden.
There were all kinds of jolly times
during that closing fortnight OF the Old
year. The sleighing was faultiess, there
were lots Of social festivities at Cilveden
and neighboring houses, and there was
every opportunity in the world to drive
dull care away-yet VIII Braden' de-
quite the sweetest girl in the world, was
unhappy. Not all the time; Tor oc-
caaionally Madge would devote to hin
an entire five minutes, all at once, there
by filling him with ecstacy-aftel
which, alas! she would neglect him FOL
hours together to attend to her duties
as hostess, whereupOn he was plunged
into despair, and became gloomy ant
sullen. much to the amusement OF al
the rest, who called him Hamlet" be
hind his back, and cracked jokes aDou
"'green-eyed monsters" and so on, u
the justification of Mrs Warren, WHIT
earnestly insisted that poor, dear VIII
lies" eyes were not green, but hazel.
But there was no doubt that Will wa
Jealous, just as most young men ar
likely to be when the attentions OF tn
adorod one are demanded in other quar-
tiers, even though by the laws of hos
pitality. He told himself he didn't min
it. but he did. What CALLED him Partlt
ularfy was the presence OF that ped
greed prig from Philadelphia, MIR. Nal
tindale, whom he rlad long suspected
a sneaking affection for ALadge, who, b
The way, was particularly pleasant
him, not to say somewhat contidentli
with him. For, at least half dozc
times, viii had seen them, apa
from the rest, talking in guardt
tones about something or othe
and at these times both had locke
very serious. 1t was getting past g
durance, decided Mr.. Braden, and he pr
posed to put stop to it. So when the
returned from their sleighing party {
New Years eve, he drew Madge, who h;
seemed to be flirting desperately all Il
evening with Martindale, into rece
in the hall, where he proceeded to pr
test with much vigor against the trea
ment accorded him.
Madge laughed merrily, then pr
tended to be offended. Don't be
idiot, WILL" she said, sharply. Il thin
know what I'm about"
"You know nothing Of the sort,
else you don't care" declared wi
with some heat ut seems to me q
entitled to some consideration, inste
OF which you do your best to make I
feel badly and to make laughir
stock Of me. Darling" he went {
more gently, this is the last year
our single lives. Can't we watch it c
and the new one in just by ourselv
since the New Year means SO much
us both?"
Madge was touched, but for some
scrutable reason did not choose to
him see il just then. "ron't be 'spoo