Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1899-11-22

Marion in fearful wrath. Aunt Sarah
suffering in sympathy, but sustained
by conscious rectitude.
You shouldn't have done it without
Consulting me-" sobbed Marion as she
re-entered the studio. "He may be Of
Tended and so away without giving me
q chance to explain. may never see
him again"
"Smnll loss. I should say." reioined
Aunt Sarah. "still, if you feel so bad
ly about it you can wGite a note to him
and say it was all my doing Thank
heaven, my shoulders are broad
enough! Let him come and ece me.
III give him piece OF my mind"
Marion sat down by the table and be-
gan to struggle with note to Mr., 10
bart. She tore up half Il dozen sheets
OF paper, but fiually folded one and put
It in an envelope
rive merely begged him TO come ard
rec me tomorrow" said she. ut was
all could DO"
She rang the messenger call and then
eanK into chair. Aunt and niece sur
veyed each other In silence. Neither
could lnd words to express her feel
ings.
A loud knock startled them. Marion
opened the door, and in strobe a tall
and dark young man whose appear
ance suggested slightly the handsome
I villain of society drama. His manner
was appropriate TO the scene where
the villain begins to be foiled. but does
not yet despair. He was pulling and
biting his mustache in quite the con-
ventional manner. Behind him came n
messenger boy carrying big white
bundle.
MIR. Hobart" cried Marion, amazed,
and Aunt Sarah sat up very straight
In her chair and looked severe.
Miss Adams" said the young man,
81 have entirely failed TO understand
your message, and as for that Of your
aunt
He finished with a gesture of despair
as he glanced at Aunt Sarah.
do you think it was quite proper,
sir" said the maiden lady from Hat
Geld, that you Should consign your
supertluous wardrobe to the care of
young LADY,"
And may l ask madam" said Ho-
bart. what led you to believe that it
was mlneY'
Then Aunt Sarah was what she would
have called clustered" The suspicion
of IN awful mistake began to dawn
upon her.
Il left my card for Miss Adams lato
this afternoon" said Mir. Hobart, with
dignity, but as for these garments
know nothing about them. They are
not mine, and | shall ask Miss Marion
Adams to explain how they cane to be
here. ! should tell you, niadam"--and
he turned to Aunt Sarah-.ltat there
Is an engagement Of marriage between
your niece and myself, or ut least there
was"
AT this last clause Garion burst into
tears
II really beg your pardon" STAN
mered voice from corner OF the
room.
Every one started, and the two ladies
| screamed. A bearded face appeared
above screen. Evidently its owner
was standing on u chair in order to
make himself visible.
"Why, it's Mr.. Walllng!" exclaimed
Marion. well, should like to know
what he's doing there"
80 should r. cried Aunt Sarah and
NIr. Hobart In one voice.
81 can explain in one moment" said
Walling. You will pardon my remain
ing here. am somewhat imperfectly
attired."
Aunt Sarah threw up both hands
with the gesture Of one who abandons
a wicked world to its fate, and Hobart
looked like the villain just before he
commits the murder in the last part Of
the first act.
You see" said Wallirg, my studio
is next door. 1 live there. This evening
after dinner l came home to dress and
( was astorisbed to find my dress suit
ana many ether articles missing. The
studio was upside down. In the middle
Of the floor was a sheetful Of my brio
a-brac and other small belongings.
"Cf course saw at once that ] had
been visited by burglars and thar they
had been frightonSi away by some
sudden alarm. How they had got in or
out I could not understand, and / spent
some time in wrestling with that prob
lem and in discovering the extent of
my loss.
AT last, in knocking about the stu
do became aware that the door be-
tween it and this one was not fasten-
ed as usual"
81 nailed it up myselfH' cried Mar
2 ion.
Evidently the burglars drew the
nails and picked the lock- said Wall
ing. They doubtless knew the habits
! of the tenants and counted upon your