The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-03-05

is such a boy for his age. He won't
think of such a thing for years. The
man who loves me now will find me
an old woman when my boy goes
a-wooing. We are old lovers as it is
1 cannot bid him wait"
''He, your son, does not seem such
a boy to others as to you, perhaps?"
"You think that because you are
so young yourself, dear girl. And
how patient you have been to mel"
she said, coming back to her accus-
toned consideration for her compan-
ion. Sometimes 1 have fclt I must
speak, just once, or it would kill me
and now l have spoken. You will
respect my confidence, know"
"Yes," said the girl, yes" She
added as best she could the express
sion of her sympathy, hating herself
for the badness of her words, the
preoccupation she could not Danish
from her manner. But the other had
her own preOccupation, and seemed
to find nothing lacking.
These were the questions which
troubled her, filed her waking
thoughts, sent her restless to bed
was she justified in disregarding the
confidence repOsed in her by two peo-
pie for the sake of saving four lives
from sacrifice? If she decided to
trample on her own honor, at the des-
perate pleading of her own heart,
should she betray the mother to the
son, or the son to the mother? Was
there no other way of accomplishing
an end so keenly desired? 1t seemed
not; and so she waited on in indeci-
sion, although to wait was as hard
thing as she could do.
And while she still waited she be-
came the victim of yet another con-
fidence, this time from a man again,
but middle aged and iron-gray.
'You look a sensible little girl" he
began, abruptly. 'Are your"
81 hope SOL" She smiled.
"Then, although we don't know
much of each other, you'll forgive me
for asking you question or two
which may seem beyond my limit, be-
lieving that impertinence is the last
thing prompting me-"
Suddenly arrested in interest, the
girl nodded.
Then will you tell me if you ever
get below the surface, as it were, in
those long and seemingly confidential
talks you have with our young
curate?"
Have you right to ask?"
81 have, at any rate, large interest
at stake''
THAT sounds almost like the same
thing. [ am afraid of what may and
may not say; but L don't see, at this
moment, any reason why 1 should
not speak the truth"
Then you have?"
Sometimes" she admitted.
"Once in particular, perhaps?"
81 must not tell you"
"Never mind; that tells me, with
out your committing yourself, wtat'
l want to know" He smiled and
turned to her with greater show
of hopefulness. Honor me-" he said,
by listening a few minutes. | have
it from his mother that our young
curate is not likely to think of mar
rying for a long time. Now, 1 am
very anxious to marry his mother
myself, and it seems, unless he can
be hurried into matrimony-cleared
out of the way, in fact, and provided
with a woman to worship him-I
shall never carry out my wish. She
thinks she has disposed of me-she
is the best woman the world holds
but she evidently a little bit under
rates my power of perseverance.
When want a thing l generally wor-
ry around until [ get it. I told her
so; but [ fancy she took it as an
idle boast, eXcusable only because of
the speaker. Also l fancy she has
not watched you and our curate in
conversation. Now, l have
what are you going to do?"
gasped the girl
81 am going to tell our curate how
matters stand between his mother
and myself; he is between-and-'
'She didn't bind you to secrecy?"
81 have forgotten it if she did.
And if she did, she will forgive me
by results or 1 don't know her"
'And if there are no satisfactory
results, she won't know ANYTHING
about it?"
"Of course not. L thought you
could help me-"
She looked at the mans firm mouth.
his pleasant, kindly eyes. 81 want to
help you much more than I've helped
you at present" she said
But l can't get the woman want
unless | can secure bride for our
curate-clear him out of the way."
Don't talk of him like that" she
laughed.
"And a troublesome conscience
won't let me go to him after watch
ing him follow you about with his
eyes, unless | can hold out some sort
of hope that he would be successful
in yielding to my prompting pro-
posing to you, in fact, to-er-clear
the way-for me-"
Cant your" she blushed and
smiled
81 should not like to- Look here.
little girl, l am as safe as a house;