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

wrote letter, tried a new embroidery
pattern, and found each equally dis
tasteful. When the sound of Kenard's
latchkey reached her ears her heart
began to beat so violently that she felt
kitchen, set the coffee pot on the stove,
and came softly back. She hardly
knew what she had expected, yet her
sensation of surprise was almost a
shock when she saw Kenard walk into
the front parlor, take his mothers picT
ture from the mantel and kiss it after
one long, appealing look that went to
his sisters heart. Patience went for
ward with a feeling of embarrassment
new and disconcerting.
you're late" she said, and then
thought despairingly that she could
have said nothing so unfortunate.
rs it late?" asked Kenard, with ex-
aggerated Indifference. He was pale
and his hand was unsteady, but his sisL
ter's alert senses could not detect the
fumes of liquor on his breath, nor did
he seem like one who had been drink
ing.
aren't you hungry?" questioned
Patience, making desperate effort to
speak naturally. I've just put on the
coffee pot. There's cold meat and
bread and butter, and you can have
some of the gingersnaps Mary made to-
day, but no pie at this time of
night
She knew that Kenard was staring at
her iR absolute amazement, and could
have laughed or cried equally well at
his effort to adopt her careless tone.
"Why, yes, l am hungry. l believe
coffee and gingersnaps would taste
first-rate."
When she had him in the dining
room under the brilliant gas light she
looked at him doubtfully, wondering
how to continue her work of investiga-
ton and reformation. As it happened
Kenard saved her the trouble.
81 feel as if I'd got mountain off my
shoulders tonight" he said, as he
stirred his coffee and took good-sized
bite of the bread cut in such tempting
ly thin slices, and buttered so gener-
ously.
why SOP" asked Patience, striving
to appear interested, though her in
ward anxiety made this difficult.
well, you know we've been doing a
very heavy business this month"; ex-
planned her brother, though this was
the first mention of the fact he had
made in her hearing. 1--WE been hur-
ried and I've had to work nights, and l
made a good many plumbers. My trial
balance was some thing over three dol
lars short, and l thought I'd never get
it Strengthened out. Last night |
worked till -, and found some of the
difficulties, and tonight l captured the
rest. And seeing to-morrow's the first
of the year, it was rather important to
do SOL
Kenard drew a deep breath in which
relief and WEAKNESS were mingled in
about equal proportions.
But Patience's sensations were pure
IL of relief. "Oh, why didn't you tell
me"' she cried. you've really been
working all these evenings when you
have come home so late! Why did you
let me think"
She stopped, coloring under the frank
wonder in Kenard's appraised eyes.
Il didn't know you were especially
interested in such things" he returned,
simply. Then looking at her more
closely, he added: you didn't think I
was plunging into dissipation, did
you? I'm not that kind, you know. l
told father what was keeping me out.
l might have mentioned it to you only
well, to speak frankly, your manner
for the last month hasn't invited conf
dences."
There was moments silence and
Kenard slipped his coffee.
Perhaps, to be quite honest" he
went on, Il ought to admit that when
l left the office tonight | came near
going into Larsen's saloon. l was cold
and tired, and l wanted something to
brace me up. l hardly know why l
didn't 60"
Patience looked al ner brothers pale,
boyish face with its lines of undue
WEAKNESS, and a great wave of joy
swept over her. She wa in time. then!
But all she said was: at was the mem
OiS VI hotHSI lldb hepJ you lTOIn
it,"
Perhaps" Kenard admitted. K
thought of mother" The tears started
to his eyes and he put up his hand
quickly to brush them away. I'm not
much better than baby tonight" he
said. Il guess I'm nearer than 1
thought to being tired out"
In the little hush that followed the
clock upon the mantel pealeI out 10
si.very strokes. Kenard looked at his
sister, who stood near him silent and
absorbed in her thoughts, and he
smiled.
81 wish you Happy New Year" he
said.
Patience started. then turned impul-
sively toward him. Like many another
brother and sister confident of the
warmth of their own love, and secure
in the knowledge that it was returned,
they had been reserved with each
other, seldom giving expression to
their affections by caresses or tender
words. But now she moved swiftly to
his side and drew his head against her