The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-03-07

home to make peace with my father,
became dilapidated gentleman, and
here | am.
How strange. How wonderful!
How queer" exclaimed the widow as
she hitched around. IF any one had
told me that this would have ever
come to pass l should have called him
crazy. 1t was all a terrible mistake.
Arthur. The heavy man claimed to
have seen a notice of your death in the
papers, and as he was in love with
me at the same time l decided to mar
ry him. We did not elope, as was told
you, but the company busted and we
headed for New York over the railroad
ties. A thousand times have | thought
of you and always as sleeping in your
grave. Yes, l am the willowy Gwen
dolin of score of years ago. | am
the leading lady Of the play of ''Coon
Hollow
"Murmurs Of astonishment from my
self.
"Exclamations from the widows
daughter.
Melting looks from the widow her
self.
"Murderous clances from the hired
man.
81 was telling a fictitious anecdote,
Of course. Nothing of the sort or kind
had ever happened me, and to this day
| believe the widow was also in the
kidding business. Perhaps she wanted
to make the hired man jealous. At any
rate, she said must stay there for at
least month, and she pronounced my
name in tender accents. The hired man
got the green eye all right. 1t was an
nounced that l was to have the parlor
bedroom, but just before retiring he in
vited me to 20 to the barn with him to
see the thrashing machine He was it.
When we got out there he called me all
kinds of liars and thieves and gave ne
such walloping that I took to the
road and never stopped for the next
FIVE miles How he explained matters
to my willowy Gwendolin never
heard
The other coincidence have in
mind was pulled off in Connecticut
was hoeing corn for farmer for dol
lar a day and my board, and had work
ed for three days. when he said we'd
stop and rest our backs if I'd tell him Il
story. | agreed. and we dropped our
hoes and sat down. The tramp who
tells 4 farmer any story At all should
make it murder story to benefit 10y ii.
On this occasion | claimed to have muir
dered an Old couple in Arkansas for
their money. but was disappointed in
laying hand on any cash. | described
how | used AK. crowbar and knife and
how | hid in a swamp for four days
afterward, and he enjoyed the particu-
lars like a boiled dinner put him on
his oath not to give me away. and it
seemed to me, after the story had been
told, that he looked up to me with awe
and reverence.
Say, now. that was Il curious thing.
When we went to the house to supper
the farmer showed me an old neWspa-
per with an account of Just such Il
crime in it, 1t had occurred In the
same state the victims were an old
couple and the murderer had made
good his escape. | read it, but did not
worry. After | had gone to bed the
farmer drove six miles and got the
sheriff and two constables. and these
officers were within a quarter OF mile
Of the house when the good wife woke
me up and warned me TO fee She
said she always did have sneaking
sympathy for murderers. and she
hoped | would get away.
Get away l did, but was followed
for hundred miles and had to do Il
heap of lodging. don't know whether
the farmer felt sure that | was the
right party or not. You cant always
tell about those Nutmeg farmers. He
saved So by obliging me to take Il
skate, and l think that had a heap 10
do with his officiousness.
NJ QUAD.