The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-02-13

that remind me of my mothers mus
tard plasters that she used to put OH
me when | was yOunger-the longer it
stayed the warmer it grew perceived
before Miss Hammond got through
with me that had meddled with some
thing that | ought to have let alone.
She said incidentally that Mr.. Stone
was very kind; that she did not know
what she should have done without the
employment he had given her, and that
she was very happy in her work.
OF course, didn't say anything more
on the subject, but made up my mind
that Miss Hammond must have a re-
markably contented disposition. I'd
like to have one built on the same mod
ell, if there are any to spare.
He had a frozen way of talking to her
that used to stir me up when listened
to it Il good deal worse than when he
turned the conversational ice water on
to me. Many a time I've fingered a
paperweight on my desk, with an ach-
ing desire to throw it at Stone. He was
so deadly hard on her for every little
mistake that l should have thought it
would have taken all the life and spirit
out of her. And he had a way of leav-
ing her with Il lot of extra work to do
that he knew would take her till s
o'clock in the evening and never saying
word about being sorry. Sometimes,
when he would come back, forgetting
| something, | have seen her look at him
in way that fairly begged him to be
kind, aud she was so disappointed and
| so brave afterward that l would invent
work for the sake of staying to watch
her and to keep her company.
Stone had n hard time of it the first
day or two after he shaved off his mus
| tache. Business acquaintance would
come to the gate and see him sitting at
his own desk and yet not know who he
was. When they found out that it was
| he, they would look at him with that
| vague and curious horror which you
| see in the peoples faces as they watch
some poor fellow being carried off to
the station house by policeman.
| l could see that this made him rage
| inside, but he would shut those cold
| and sneering lips Of his together and
| pretend to be as calm as statue. Be
| fore very long, however, noticed that
| he had habit of taking something out
| of his pocket after one of these inter
| views and looking at 1t cautiously.
| discovered that it was a small, round
mirror and that he was studying his
own face. Now, there was no vanity in
Stone. He had never shown the small
! est sign of it, though, of course, he
couldn't help knowing that he was
handsome. He did not look at the mir
rOr to admire his own beauty, which
was spoiled anyhow, but with q studi-
Gus, half frightened air. I felt that If
he caught me watching him there
wouldn't be whole bone left in my
body, for he had the look at such times
Of one who is holding private CONVEX
! Bation with his own soul.
One day he said to Miss Hammond,
81 believe I'll let this thing grow
ngain."
| Hewas caressing his upper lip, which
hadn't been shaved for about forty
eight hours. If there'd been any
chance for it, think Grace would have
turned pale, but hard work in this hot
weather had taken all the color out of
| her face.
please DON'T she said.
She was in earnest, and he knew It,.
He wheeled his chair around suddenly
| to face her.
"Why not?" he demanded.
She didn't want to tell him, and he
had hard time persuading her. 1t was
the first time to my knowledge that
they had ever had what you might call
social conversation; the first time he
had ever treated her as if she were an
acquaintance Of his and not a machine
to write his letters. Understand me,
don't mean that he had ever been
rough or brutal with her or me or any
body. | never heard him say anything
that wasn't polite enough. He had
merely been perfectly hard and cold.