The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-12-09

| undesirable notoriety.
Moving closer to her husband, she
sank on her knees beside him. laid her
hand on his arm and raised her eyes,
full of appealing eanestness. to his
| face. "I'll take another name. Jack!
For the sake of our baby boys, do let
us drag ourselves out of the mire be-
fore they are old enough to be harmed
by their surroundings. ] cannot bear
to think of my innocent darlings be-
coming eye-witnesses of the shames.
cheats and subterfuges of our daily
lives"
Her whole face softened as she ap-
pealed to the father for the chidren's
sake she put up her arms and
tried to draw his head down to her
own.
He liked all pretty pictures, so moved
little aside to obtain full and COM
Portable view of his graceful wife.
"You look so chorming," he said, "in
that humble posture that, if l had
kingdom, l would certainly give you
half of it. Being only poor beggar
I can't reward such pretty bit of play
acting; but if it's change you want
| (women are such restless creatures)
we're just about to have one. AS you
very wisely remarked some minutes
ago. when things get too hot for us
here we'll be obliged to move on to
some more bracing climate I've been
wanting to get out of this for the last
fortnight, but unfortunately the
sinews of war were lacking I've this
evening won enough at ecarte to carry
us over to France. | shall start by the
early train tomorrow. You had bet
ter follow with the boys in couple of
days; as this is not our first fitting.
you know exactly what you've got to
| do"
| She rose slowly to her feet and stood
facing him. lines of resolution harden
ing the whole expression of her face.
"And when we are in France" she
asked. in a carefully controlled voice.
show are we 10 get on there any bet
I ter?"
my dear girl! we get a fresh start
and rid ourselves of the incubus of
debt that weighs us down. If I'm
lucky at cards, I'll pick up enough to
exc out my miserably insufficient in
come; if I'm not. we must just hold
ourselves in readiness for another
move, when our credit gets exhausted.
You, with your quick wits, ought to be
help instead of a hindrance," he
added in an injured voice.
Sand you positively refuse to work
| yourself. or let me work?"
81 do positively refuse"
"Then." said Mrs Plunket, "from
this day forth I cease to be your wife.
Go your way and leave me to go mine.
I shall have to be father and mother
to our children"
Her husband was silent for some
minutes. He gazed steadily into the
fire with a deepening frown. Conflict
ing emotions were at work within him.
| At last he came to a decision, drew a
card from his pocket and handed it to
her with averted eyes.
"Here's my future address," he said
sullenly. 81 give you just week to
get over your tantrums If, before the
end of the week you follow me to
Boulogne, well and good; if not, con-
tinue my journey alone and shall trou-
BILE my head no more about you"
| Mrs. Plunkett walked silently from
the room to the nursery where her twin
boys lay asleep in two little cots.
AS she stopped over them. four
sleepy brown eyes were opened. four
| little arms stretched out to hug mum
mie;' but before she had finished COW
| cring each in turn with kisses the
tired eyes closed, the soft limbs re-
| leased their hold, and the brown heads
were nesting down again in the pill
lows.
MAY God give me strength to rear
them up as honorable, upright men,"
was the mothers heartfelt petition.
| Twelve years later, one cold foggy
night in December, Hon. Capt. Plunket
was sauntering down the Strand. with
friend whom he had picked up near
Lake Nyassa. Ten out of the twelve
last years of his life had been passed in
the wilds of Africa.
Business connected with some pros
pecting claims had brought him 10
England. His affairs were now all set
| tied, and he and his chum were start
ing back the very next day to the more
congenal freedom of a colonial life.
Lets turn in here, Austin " said his
companion, as they passed one of the
numerous theaters in the Strand. 81
hear there's a good play and a stun
| ming actress who's been the hit Of the
| season."
"All right" responded Capt. Plum
ket, answering to the name by which
he had been known for many years.
The first act was over and TIE cuI tain
had just been lowered, and the house
was still ringing with tumultuous ap-
plause when the two men took their
| seats.
"Pity we're so late" said the
younger man, who, in his pre-African
days, had been a great lover of all
things theatrical.
II dare say we shall get more than
we care for" replied the captain, care
lessly.
The curtain rose upon an elegant
drawing-room scene; through open
glass doors leading to a garden came
the sound of exquisitely musical laugh
| ter.
Capt. Plunket started. Where could
he have heard that voice before? How
familiar it sounded
| Vas tbara eha oo,,oo 4l-o,~L A.