The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-06-01
Our Unsuitable Crime
And How 1t Ended
iOLD MAN, l want your advice

lence that had lasted some ten
minutes or so, and during which he had
sat frowning at the fire, putting at his
briar in that erratic fashion which de-
notes a perturbed mind. l had been
studying his face through haze of to-
bacco smoke, and, being prepared for
his words, | answered that he was wei
come to the best counsel | could give,
whereupon he thanked me very ear
nestly and threw himself back in his
easy chair.
ITS rather curious affair."" he be-
gan, ditfdently. ut happened last
night. wanted to go out to Bayswater
to see my old nurse, who lives there. l
took the bus at Oxford Circus. AS |
dare say, you remember it was nasty
night, wet and foggy, and the vehicle
was soon full; in fact, by the time we
reached Westbourne Grove there was
only room for another. Here we picked
up our last passenger. She was young
lady"
And of course, you contrived that
she should sit by you,' l said.
GU WOulu nave UOuO lllG SOllIC y Jul
self" Debenham retorted. ANY man
would, for she had the sweetest face.
It's haunted me all night-it has, really.
l dare say she was about IS, or perhaps
20-not more. She had brown eyes,
very brown eyes-you know the kind
that seem to speak, almost-and they
were shaded by long lashes. She has
brown hair, too; the kind of hair that
twists into a lot of curls-natural cdrls,
you know. l wonder why all girls don't
wear their hair that way. Then her
mouth--her mouth
"Never mind her mouth [ inter-
posed, hastily, seeing that he was about
to indulge in an eXtravagant flood of
rhaps Ody. ut was an ideal mouth,
haven't a doubt, and I'm sure that her
chin was all that a chin ought to be,
but these special features, [ take it,
have nothing to do with your story"
''Well-er-not exactly, but you'd I'M
derstand a fellow raving about her if
you'd seen her. OF course, I eau make
you understand what she was like.
She was the sort of girl you feel you
can never describe"
Just so: a regular unique specimen.
know the kind
Indeed you don't, for there isn't an
other girl in London like her"
''Well, WELL then, there isn't" I re-
turned impatiently. The fact was Deb
enham had come to my rooms so often
with the same story that it was becom-
ing a trifle monotonous.
''She sat down next to me-" he went
on. There wasn't much room, and
she thanked me when moved. She had
the sweetest voice."
''Well, there's nothing curious about
that. 1 lieve you said"
I'm ming to it if you'll only give
me II :, he returned, in an aggrieved
tone. you've no patience. 1t was
when the conductor came round for
fares. Then she felt for her purse; she
found it was missing. At first she
thought she must have dropped it, and
! searched the floor and under the seat
However, it wasn't there. Poor girl!
never saw anyone so distressed in my
life. 1t seemed she had five pounds in
it, and it was evidently quite fortune
to her. Well, paid her fare for her
and we got out together"
Il don't think you need tell me any
more" l said, dryly.
Debenham stared.
"Why not?"
Because | know the rest"
How the"
"Yes, | do. You lent her the five
pounds, of course. Ny dear fellow
you've been had"
81 didn't do anything of the kind"
Debenham retorted, hotly. ''Sht
wouldn't let me. That's what came to
ask your advice about. | thought thai
as you were a lawyer you might be able
to suggest something, but l wish IL
never mentioned it to you
Of course / FASTENED to soothe hi
ruffled plumes, and in little while HI
went on with his tale. 1t appeared tina
he had seen her home, and that he haC
learned her name. 1t was Charnley-
Kate Charnley. She was dressmakel
and lived with her sister.
'And you want to help them, eh?'
said, after time.
Eyes, but it'll be a difficult matter
They're a clergyman's daughters, ant
very proud. l don't see what [ can do
It's awfully riling, you know, Kennion
to have pile of money and not be abl'
to do little good with it once in way
It's shame that this girl should hav,
to slave at sewing machine all da,
s. while a great strong beggar like mt
lounges around killing time"
"Isupposeyou want to refund this fiv'
pounds?"
Eyes, l can't dc more; but I don
even see how San do that"
well, you might order gown o
some sort from them"
Don't be an ass; men don't bu.
gowns"
you could say it was for your sis
ter"
But I haven't got sister, and if
had she'd never let me choose her gown
for her; besides, she'd have to be fitteC
on and all that, you know"
was obliged to admit the force o
these arguments, and fresh period o