The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-06-15

meeting the surprised question in her
sSes. 1T changed all my life. | found
cyself with my mother and widowed
sister to care for. left with barely
p!ttance. 1t was necessary | should
try at least TO carry on the old bust
ness at home. l came to bid YOU good
b. and yOn were out. And what could
l have said: You. beautiful. c0u-,sJ.
tie only child of an iuuU,geut father.
l merely one of tie many wh5 sur-
rounded You. How could l dream that
you would ever STARE me even
thought: SO l went away. resolved to
forget And then
Yes" quer!ed the girl as lie p:usad.
'and them" Her eyes were hidden.
but there was note il the soft voice
that aroused his courage.
q found ont that could not for
get" said the man. Yet what claim
had |! And then. yestcrLay-oh. how
can thank you pr0porly?' lie broke
Off earnestly. "Yesterday-the woman
you helped-she was my sister"-speak-
ing with steady tone Not long AGO
her child died. and. half mad from the
loss, she came to the city, resolved to
destroy herself here, where we would
not know of it. But when she reached
New York the commonplace, everyday
aspect of things seemed to calm her
mood, and her resolution faltered Yet
she had expended what money she had.
not even the price of ticket home
being left. Determining to put fate to
the test, she wandered about, seeking
a familiar face-my sister alone in this
great city, where she knew no one
resolved, should her plea for help be
refused, to put an end to her life. And
then she saw you"
For a moment the man was silent as
a shudder seized him at the thought of
what might have happened
ooh, if she had not met you-if- But
l dare not think of it. II have a pho
tOgraph of you. l bribed your maid for
it." he confessed shamef2cedly From
having seen it 50 often my sister felt
vaguely that here at last was a friend
although, of course, unwilling why.
And so she dared to ask" Miss Mallo-
ry, who was sobbing unrestrainedly,
lifted her face
ooh, the dear woman she eXclaim-
ed brokenly How glad l am! How
glad l am! And is she safe?'
"Quite safe" was the thankful an
swer. The shock, your kindness, some
thing, must have strengthened and
braced her. She returned last night.
And you can fancy what it meant to
us. But when she showed me the bless
ed card which told me who it was that
had saved her it seemed to me as if
also had been sent a message Was |
wrong, dear?" and the mans voice was
wonderfully tender. The girl, puzzled.
shook her head.
Il don't understand" she said faint
ly. Humason laid a visiting card in
her hand.
Look he said 1t was the card up
on which she had scrubbed her address.
Turn it over" as the girl seemed be-
wildered. a low cry broke from the red
lips.
"Oh," she stammered, while the color
flooded up to her pretty curly hair. "I-
l was in a hurry. l thought that it was
one of fathers. r. Her confusion in
creased pitiably. But the mans strong
clasp had again caught the fluttering
little hands.
Il thought that if you had cared
enough to carry a mans card in your
cardcase for three years that you must
have cared a little for the man him
SELF" he said eagerly. "Was l wrong,
sweetheart? Are you going to send me
away again?"
The girl, her eyes fixed on the betray-
ing bit of pasteb3ard whereon in fine
script ran the words, 'Mr. Roland HUI
mason" dropped her head.
mo" she answered shyly please
please stay"