The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1900-07-07

| replied.
She Iool;rG me steadily in the eye for
about ten seconds and then said:
Neither dil l."
1t was hard to determine whether she
was speaking the exact truth, but l
was inclined to believe so.
Put you wish to see him" l said
stupidity.
"Of course" she replied when viii
he come back?'
Evidently she took me for a visitor in
RobinSon's rooms, waiting for him. If
l told her the exact truth she would 20
away. and didn't wish her to do that.
She was n very Interesting and mystic
riouS young woman. and | desired, the
pleasure of longer talk with her. So l
said that didn't know, which was the
truth, for of course the fellow might
come back some time or other.
"Ill wait for him. said she, and seat
I'd herself in a large and comfortable
chair.
This was rather more than | had bar
gained for. Robinson might be away
seven or eight years, which would be
embarrassing.
1T may be quite long WHILE" I fall
tered.
"Oh, that doesn't matter" she re-
Piled looking at me steadily and with
peculiar expression.
This gaze she kept upon me for the
next 20 minutes, during which period
she spoke not more than ten words, de-
spite my efforts to draw her into COLI
versation. The situation was exceed
ingly trying.
AS dclicately as possible l endeavor-
cred to find out what was the nature of
her errand. She would not disclose it,
but the manner in which she made her
various evaSions convinced me that she
had no feeling against Robinson nor
any particular interest in him person
ally The thought came to me that she
might be Il collector, but she disclaimed
that suggestion dccisivcly.
Having exhausted my ingenuity in
questioning | told her the plain truth;
that Robinson had gone away, and l
had taken his rooms and bought his
furniture. She shook her pretty head
and gently trowned in condemnation of
what she took to be my falschood.
lie had breakfast in the restaurant
down stairs this morning" said she.
He is living here still. And'-with de-
ciSion-"I think I'll wait for him."
Here was Il situation. At first l had
feared that my pretty visitor would go
away too soon, ana now, it seemed, she
was not going away 1T all. l wondered
whether she would stay till evening,
when, as it happened, the church choir
of which | was u member was coming
to my apartments to rehcarsc-chaper-
oncd 10y one of the cOntraltos who was
the wife of the organist
| was not equal to the task of asking
Miss Spencer TO 90 away, but at Il quar-
ter to g. when we had been staring ut
each other for almost an hour in alb
solutc silence, | vcnturcd TO mention
that it would soon be dinner time.
Miss Spencer replied that she rarely
had any appetite for dinner.
Then l spoke of the choir rehearsal
in an ordinary conversational tone, as
if we We're two society people drink
ing afternoon tea under the most con-
vcntional circumstances. She brighten
ed appreciably, and l could see that my
information had suggested some course
of action. After few minutes deep
reflection she looked up with Il smile
and asked sweetly, IF those people
come here, how are you going to deny
any longer that you are Wilbur S.
RchnSon:'
Here was light, but l wanted more.
suppose | don't remain!" said l.
Il won't let you co. said she. I'm
deputy sheriff."
you're a what?" | cried.
She turned as red rs Il rose, but she
did not weaken in the least With Il
very pretty gesture she threw back her
little coat and showed a silver badge
pinned to the lining.
well, upon my word!" said /. "IIow
did this happcn:"
Il was Sheriff Iowland's typcwrit-
En-" she replied, "and Il few weeks ago
he said | could help him more if Ia
be a deputy. He said there was moth
ing in Ike law to prevent woman
holding the office and that my salary
would J." doubled. | was having Il
hard time taking care Of my mother
and Gmrded the extra money. So
said all right, and he appointed me-"
Good ror you" said |.
"But | haven't done very we'll, she
continued, 1--WE made one or two
~. r'71a2f
sLuLLl 60,