The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-10-28

eV~~~V~~V0%0@%t 90 49,
Abr Kitly's face became eager
with excitement. Now you have put
your finger on the mystery that is
bothering US all. Not one of US has
seen her or knows her name. She has
not rehearsed with us and will not till
we reach Naples, where We rest
week. When we speak of her the
manager smiles and says nothing and
as none of US has seen the hacker Mr..
Worth THINKS that she herself is the
prima donna aud hacker in one We
think that she is some rich young wo-
man who wishes to exploit her voice
There's a lot of them in the world
wish knew her. Little has been said
about the venture in the papers. and
I'm glad. We may prove a perfect
tizzle, and the less said the better As
we can't walk back, l must learn to
swim. Lunch is ready, every onew
The mummerS and the outsiders
tiocked into the small dining room.
There was plenty to eat; beer, soda,
whisky and two magnums Of cham
payne, Merrihew's contribution to the
feast. HiIlard listened with increaS-
ing amusement to the shop talk. Ii
was after ! when they returned to the
sitting room. where the piano stood
The wine was now opened. and toasts
were drunk. OMaliy told inimitable
stories. There was something exceed
ingly droll in that expressive Irish
face of his.
Worth did not drink. but Hillard did
not like his handsome face any the
more for this virtue He sang re-
markably well. however. and with a
willingness HilIard had not believed
he possessed. He wondered vaguely
why he disliked the man. Otherwise
Hillard enjoyed himself vastly.
MIR. Merrihew has been telling me
all about you" said Kitty.
You mean. of course, my good quail
ties" replied HillIrd.
ITO hear him talk one would think
that you possessed nothing else But
l am sure that you have glaring
faults such as a muu might pass over
and woman go round"
Il believed that Merrihew had a Sc
rious fault till tonight he said
She looked at him quickly and col
ored
Has the foolish boy been telling
you that l refused TO marry him: |
like him very much she added grave
ly, but | shall never marry any man
till | have ceased to love the stage
am not a whit less eXtravagant than
he is. How could the two Of us live
on an income which he himself admits
that he cannot live within? month
after am gone he will forget all
about me"
'Merrihew is the most loyal man /
know" Hillard declared
"Of course he is loyal. And he is
always in earnest-fOr the moment"
And then they hoth laughed.
it was OutrageOuSly late. nearly A.
when the reveIers took leave Merri-
hew was happy with that evanescent
happiness which goes hand in glove
with late suppers and magnums.
Isn't she a little wonder. JackT"
Yes. she is. Dan. 1t might be a good
thing for you to marry a sensible little
woman like that But she won't have
you"
NO. she won't" Merrihew reached
for his watch -Four a. m"
Say, what do you think of that man
WORTH"
Very good voice, but he's too hand
some"
"Oh. go on! You're as fine a looking
chap as there is in New York. But this
man Worth has the looks Of a lady
killer. He's heen eying Kitty. but it
doesn't go. Hang it, | can't see why
she won't marry me now"
You must have patience"
"Or more money. Can't O'Mally ten
"a good story, thought
Yes, but | should hate to turn him
loose in my wine cellars. Imagine
he will praise anything good to drink
but water"
Merrihew roared.
well, here's your station, Dan.
Shall see you tomorrow
'Eight-thirty in the park. Nothing
like horse for q headache"
Hillard arrived home tired and
sleepy, but as he saw letter on the
stand in the hall his drowsiness passed
quickly There was no other blue en-.
velope like it. She now had his house
address, she was interested enough to
look it up. She did not follow his lead
and write in Italian; she wrote in Eng
lish--crisp English too. Again there
was neither beginning nor ending Blu
this was letter There was something
here Of the woman, something 10 read
and read again:
/ had told the maid to burn your letter
but she left it Oh the floor where / had
thrown II, and came across II this
morning. II looked rather pathetic. so
l am writing sou against my better judg
ment. Yes. | know your name. / Il! J
-|-' well acquainted with people