The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-03-03
IN AN upper room of a Roman pen

sion a girl was straining her eyes in
the fading light as she bent over a
partly finished letter. Her pen
scratched on busily, and just as the
Ave Maria floated out from the belfry
of the Trinita del Monte she gathered
up her papers and went to the window
with a sigh, partly of relief and partly
of rapture over the sunset glow.
A quick step was heard in the corri-
dor and brisk, fair-haired little wom-
an burst into the room, fiinging dozen
parcels upon the table and herself into
a chair before the open fire.
my dear Margaret" she gasped, do
let me have some tea. I'm completely
done for. What do you suppose I've
been doing since dejeuner? You know
the Bronsons asked me to drive with
them on the Appian way. 1t was their
first experience, and l took wicked
pleasure in seeing the destruction of
their preconceived notions. The cap
tain was grimly silent-you can never
take him by surprise! But Mrs. b
was moved to the warmest expressions
OF disapproval. And this is one of the
sights" she groaned; do let us go back
10 the Pin-see-o. Why, we have dozens
of pretter drives round Pittsburgh"
So to the Pncio we went, and then
begged to be put down. and walked
over to Alinari's, where | got the Ra-
phael photographs you wanted. After
that l simply few about getting prizes
for to-night's eucher. Tell me if you
think I've made a good selection. The
first is this little bronze ST. Peter in the
chair. Isn't it perfect, especially the
toe? That cost more than | meant to
pay, but it is such a charming souve-
mir. The second is this paper weight
with the dying gladiator on top; isn't
it just too dear! For consolation
prize bought a loaf of good, substan-
tial American sponge cake. / dare say
there will be a sharp competition for
that if we had the sort of dinner we had
last night"
Little Miss Ives paused for breath,
and Margaret poured the tea while she
smiled at the recital.
What else?" she inquired THAT is
hardly enough to have tired you,
Anne"
Well said her friend, 81 did a lot
more, but first l must tell you ro-
mantle bit of gossip Mrs. Hyde has just
whispered to me; and il is about you,
my lady"
Margaret looked incredulous, but I'M
disturbed. Her friends had a fancied
atfaire du occur arranged for her al
mpst daily, but she was so unruffied
aid placid through it all that they were
beginning to despair of her.
The elevator had, as usual. STUCK be-
tween the second and third stages"
continued Mrs. Ives, land while that
stupid porter and several other equally
useless beings were making a wild en-
deavor to bulge US Mrs. Hyde and had
a long talk. She asked me if had no.
1iced the young Scotchman at our ta-
be. You know we did not speak of him,
Margaret, and l insisted that with his
iawny hair and mustache he ought al
ways to wear a Tam O'Shanter and
shooting clGthes-he is so exactly like
Hacks heroes Now don't look so
skeptical, my child-he almost broke in
TWO leaning forward to watch you
when you were talking with Capt
Bronson at luncheon. Mrs. Hyde found
that her husband knew him; they had
met in the Trossachs a year or so ago,
and this young Fairbairn confided to
the Hydes that he was desperately anX
ious to know you. He said that you
were so like some one he knows at
home-that is, your profile, not your
full face-and he is evidently fas-
cinated-"
Margaret broke into irrepressible
daughter.
my dear Anne" said she, "your
canny Scot is plainly just little mad.
No one was ever fascinated with my
profile. Don't you know that l always
make it point to give a full face view
30 those of my friends whose good opin-
ion l cherish? How absurd! Besides,
j have to serve as a reminder of other
days; it is too much on the order of
faded flowers and locks of hair. Please
don't tell me any more"
Just this" pleaded Mrs. Ives, as she
rose, picking up her eucher prizes,
sacred and secular, 1.-The girl whom you
resemble so closely is also a Margaret,
and ii is this coincidence that has so
completely bowled him over. l dare
say she rejected him just before he left
home. Surely, that would be interest
ing?"
Very" replied Margaret, but what
Is still more interesting, you have en-
actly Is minutes before dinner Don't
keep me waiting, please; I've written
eight letters for the American mail,
and am hungry enough to devour your
consolation prize on the spot"
AS Miss Raynor took her place at the
table d'hote she glanced casually at
her new neighbor. Two seats beyond
her, chatting with an elderly English
man, was the bright-faced stroNg and
sturdy young hero of Mrs. Ives story.
Margaret looked but for a moment, yet
he quickly turned and caught her eye.
gazing at her for az almost impercept-
ible instant-then she turned. with per-
feet composure, TO speak to Capt. Bron-
son. An animated discussion. not un-
like that which took place nightly at
this festival meal, was in full swing.