The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-01-25

up and sold. He scanned it in the
cold light Of day and was amazed to
find some good in it, a clever bit Of
characterization wasted. a touch of the
picturesque oddly out Of place, Il CLINT
of truth in a muddy mess of insinccri-
ty. There was even Il pleasant Jingle
in the language, married by diSsonanccs
unnatural and malicious, as if the very
devil had logged the authors elbow.
Kendall read and was affected with
pity of himself and with Il certain sym
patty, a sorrowing tenderness, for the
poor stuff that he had labored to pro-
duce, the misbegotten child of fair
abilities.
weak, uneven tapping at the door
"A knock that was as characteristic as
handwriting and revealed a fixed habit
Of ndecision-summone Kendall to
perform the sad rites of homeless hos
pitality. The aspect Of his visitor was
so clear in his imagination that he
scarce saw her better after the door
was open than before. She was fad
ed woman Of forty-fve in whose face
there lurked an astonishing prettiness,
Elusive and inappropriate to her years,
the ghost of girlhood
He gave her welcome from an honest
heart, but with a feigned good cheer.
Would she come in? No; she was upon
some errand and had merely stopped
at his door. Nevertheless as he con
tinued to stand waiting she entered
and sat down
Edith has had breakfast" said she
Il brought up a cup of coffee and an
orange. She seems to feel better this
morning"
There's nothing like good square
meal such as you MENTION" said he,
smiling sadly, ''to put a heart in one
May l go in by and by"
Yes; right away" she said, rising.
while her eyes wandered to the writ
ing table, IF it won't interrupt your
work. Edith wants to see you"
He escorted her to the head of the
stairs and then returned to his room.
where he paced back and forth for
some minutes, forcing himself to think
cheerful and brave thoughts and striv-
ing to bring his cOuntenance into ac-
cord with them. When this process
had accomplished all that could be
hoped Of it in the light Of his expert
ence Herewith he went ont into the
hall and saw Il big, sturdy man as
cending the stairs, which creaked loud
~ beneath him.
Good morning, doctor" said Ken
dali. MAY l ask if you are going to
see Miss Cameron?"
Eyes. l was on another call in the
house and met her mother, who sug-
gested that l should go up
"Will you look in upon me after you
have seen herr" said Kendall, turning
toward his room.
1t may have been half an hour later
when the doctor knocked and was adj
mitted. Kendall eyed him with OBJ
vious, aching anxiety.
"Convalescence is Il long business
sometimes" said the doctor Miss
Cameron had a serious illness, and
there is Il sense in which she has re-
covered from it, but complete resto-
ration to health may be very tedious
process"
"Do you see any improvements"
The doctor shook his head, and to the
next question, "a loss, perhaps?" he
answered with a guarded assent.
81 dread the winter" said Kendall.
"If she could have a change of scene,
if she could live an outdoor life in
healthful surroundings
81 understand that there is a pecun.
larry difficulty"
''Ihey have small property" re,
joined Kendall, "but 1t is not yielding
much income just now. I have looked