The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-03-03

ACAC NAu .Ou NOA1C AC
manded the girl, noting with observ-
ant eyes that Dick needed a shave
badly.
Prom upstairs" answered Dick.
the light going out of his face. Its
an awful hole, Kate. Wish you could
see it."
"Oh, let me see it," she exclaimed,
impulsively. Tie thought almost took
Esr breath away. Dick stared at her.
he bit his lip hard.
See here, Kate, he said. 81 don't
mean to hurt you-you know, but-oh,
pshaw-you know what l mean.
can't do it. that's all"
Now, Dick" she said, coaxingly.
Nobody will ever know. I'll just peep
in. Didn't we agree was to be your
L1otheT?"
Not this trip" said Dick, with
cheerfulness rising at the sense of
duty done, as it will in men at times.
Mother or not, you're going home,
young lady, and I'm going to take
you. Come on
81 believe you're ashamed of your
new home" rallied the girl. Anyway
if you don't care to take me 1t don't
make any difference" The furs were
given a suggestive shrug. Dick had
swung beside her and they were walk
ing along the white sidewalk.
"Dick!"
'Well," answered Dick, briefly.
cts awful, l know, but, Dick, I
won't go in, truly l won't. Anyway,
you're a newspaper man, and it's like
an artists studio"
YES" said Dick, land living room
and kitchen and bedroom. See here,
Kate" He stopped and paved the
hard snow. You know just as we'll
as you're standing there I'd do any
thing on earth for you. You know it.
But that See here-I think too
much of you to let you do it."
The girl drew her wrap about her
and silently they resumed their trudg-
ing, Dick taking the rough snow and
the girl daintily treading lie beaten
path. Suddenly she stopped again.
Dick" she said, ''if l get Walter
to go with us will it be all right?"
They had reached the house by this
time. Dick considered
"Well," he said, with a sigh, 81
guess even a nine-yearold brother will
do. Get him and come along. But
I'll tell you now, Kate, you'll never
speak to me again after you see that
place"
walter didn't want to go much. 1t
was cold; besides, wonderful to re-
late, he had his lessons to get. A
quarter? Well, yes, he didn't mind
going so very much"
Dick Wortham!" exclaimed the
girl. aren't you ashamed-to bride
him?"
WELL" said Dick, spreading his cold
hands before the fire, you wanted
to go. And you can't go unless he
does"
Even the chaperonage of Walter did
not make Dick feel comfortable as
they assembled the bleak stairs. He felt
like a sneak and said as much-in
whisper.
How dark it is" said Kate. II
SdD dlllOol ICCl ILC boIo anu llilSO'
Dick, looking apprehensively at the
bottom of the stairway, mentally
blessed the janitor for forgetting to
light the gas, and resolved to tip him.
He did not breathe easy until the
stout door had closed behind the three.
ooh, Dick" said the girl. That was
all. Walter had discovered in the
o1o - IN of In
terest.
ooh, you poor, poor boy" she said,
softly, How badly you do a
mother"
81 don't" said Dick, making a saw
age effort to keep his eyes dry in the
face of the exposure. II need you,
Kate-you. Am l a baby, that l
need
Hush" said the girl, her eyes full
of tears, pointing to the figure of Wal
ter revealed in the swaying of the
curtain, after that?" And in few
minutes as they waited for car Dick
fancied he could still feel the swift
touch of the warm fur on his face, as
her head was pressed against his
shoulder He wanted to let loose the
old college yell, and said so.
do it," said Kate, radiant, 81 feel
that way, too"
Say, that WIS bully" commented
Walter, approvingly.
The policeman on the opposite cor
ner started, then he shrugged his fat
shoulders. "Ev'rybody's looney bout
Crismus time he commented, sagely.
Little Advice.
You may be extremely clever
Educated, and all that,
remember Won Sho111d never