The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-01-10


1--WE played 'porrazo' in our rooms
with the colonel and Mr.. Edmunds.
Do you play 'porrazo,' Mr.. Grandin ?"
Il tried it once, Mrs. Blake, but
do not approve of a game where you
lay down a card and say 'porrazo,'
with great triumph, only to have the
next person to you lay down another
card and say contra porrazo,' and
take it all away from you. Where is
the colonel, by the way?"
He has gone to the city for the
day"
There is something here that
wish you to read, Mr.. Grandfn," said
Josephine, handing him the paper.
The young man read the article,
and brought his lips together in a
bunch.
This refers to Col. Talbot, I take
it." said he.
Josephine nodded.
"And it means that he has lost his
money!"
Josephine nodded again. and her
aunt looked sadly into her coffee cup.
Does this involve you in any way,
Mrs. Blake?"
Not at ALL"
Mr.. Grandin smiled cheerfully.
81 suppose I ought to be decently
sympathetic" said he, but it is des-
perately hard work. This affects no
one. it appears. but Col. Talbot. and
my regard for him is entirely by
proxy. | am ready to take his loving
daughters word for it that he is a
delightful character, but he has
never shown that side of himself to
me"
But it affects me-" cried Josephine.
Don't you see that?"
Not a bit of it, said Mr. Grandin.
Il am going to take care of you, and
l have a great plenty" Mrs. Blake
looked up in surprise, and he adj
dressed himself TO her. This is a
matter which l would have taken up
with Col. Talbot, if he had ever given
me a chance, but his manner toward
me during the last week or so has
been such as to make it impossible
for me to address him on any subject
| don't blame him. / am sure that
if l had such a precious object to
guard. | should be Cerberus. too"
He took a card from his pocket and
wrote some names upon it. Here is a
bank" said he, land a firm of attor-
neys. and well-known business house,
all of them located in the city where
live. Now if the colonel wishes to
make inquiry of any of these he will
find out. | think, all that he needs to
know about me as a son-in-law."
Mrs. Blake picked the card up doubt
fully and placed it in the bag that hung
at her side. She stood a good deal in
awe of her brother.
When the young people were alone
few minutes later, Josephine said: II
heard where you were last evening""
Grandin shook his head sadly.
what a small place a big hotel is"
he said.
Are you anxious to make yourself
still more unpopular with my ia
ther?"
81 wanted to see what sort of a
step-mother-in-law l was likely to
have-that was all"
What do you think of her?"
81 agree with you. She won't do
at all. Something must be-by Jove.
Where is that paper? Let me have
it for awhile, will you? l have an
idea"
He took the paper and went off in
search of the widow. whom he pres
emily found sitting alone. She liked
attentions from young men, and
Grandin was a delightful talker.
A second letter from "A. G. w."
which arrived a day or two later,
conveyed to the colonel some informal
ton about Mr.. Grandin that caused
him to open wIue his eyes and wills
tie softly to himself. The colonel was
not exactly a worshiper of wealth,
but he found it easy to respect a man
who was worth several times as much
money as he was, and he started out
Immediately to apologize, and make
amends. In his search he came upon
the widow, bonneted and cloaked and
accompanied by her maid.
"Good-by," she cried, airily; 81 am
off"
OFF" exclaimed the colonel. in as
constituent. He had seen but little
of her during the last few days. but
had supposed that was due to acct
dent.
Eyes. to the Pizarro and then back
east" she said. Thank you and your
dear daughter and sister for being so
kind to me-" Her manner was pat
ronizing. not to say contemptuous.
and the colonel, who had grown ac-
customed to her soft, confding WAYS.
was too astounded to do anything ex-
cept stare at her as she vanished
down the corridor.
Mr.. Grandin would listen to no
apologies or explanations, but erasped
the colonel's hand and shook it
warmly. Then they had brandy and
soda together.
That newspaper story" said the
colonel, was a fake. | did not lose
anything in the Blue Elephant"
You didn't?" cried Mr.. Grandin:
and he laughed.
NO said the colonel; and he ex-
planned how and why he had Sc.