The Marshall republican., 1913-09-12
HER FAITHFUL LOVER
BY J. A. TIFFANY.

g~roundless jealousy.
At supper Mira had announced her
Y intention of taking the old democrat
wagon and driving Dobbin 10 the city
10 attend o revival meeting. Much 70
Hiram's surprise and chagrin Mira haze
declined his proffered escort.
After she had gone Hiram noticed
a piece of paper lying on the hall
floor. He went forward and picked II
up.
fn"What's thls?" Hiram asked. "A let
ter. eh?-and torn in two. Why. now.
who a be a-writln' 20 Mira like that
My darling Mira"
"My darling Mira-Meet me at half.
past eight o'clock tonight under the
blasted elm in Lovers walk. Grant
mo this last prayer, my loved one, and
] Will never trouble you again. Your
faithful lover. CLAUDE
so this Is the revival meetin' "a
Mira's gone to? oh. Mira, Mira! This
IS, Why you've always pretended to be
80 Jealous OF me-you did Il to cover
up your own w%rongdoing.
''11aItpast eight o'clock. under the
blasted oak. | must get on my bike
And spin over there
~ LoyarB' lane was the name given TO
n well.worn path that ran through n
piece Of woods about i've miles from
tho Lamson farm. Hiram made n long
detour 80 AZ to approach the trysting
place from the back OF the woods. In.
stend OF from the turnpike. II still
lacked fifteen minutes OF the appoint.
ed time when he came within sight OF
the blasted elm.
In the gathering dusk Hiram espicd
Mira. seated behind a tree some TWEEN.
~ PAGES from the blasted elm. and he
heard the Whitney OF the faithful Dob
bin. tsthored somewhere near at hand.
Seems as II Claude wasn't in such
n hurry TO keep his appointment rs
Miranda was. Aye, lass, | could nj.
most ind II In my heart TO take and
lift ye into the wagon and drive 30
straight home before yet get n chance
OF making n fool OF yerself before my
eyes. I'd do it-and forget the whole
nights business--if IL wasn't that I'm
bound 70 eycrlastipgly knock the
a%ourishment out OF this nne gentle
man Claude. 900 'I.
At last II seemed that Mira's pa.
thence had given out. Hiram looked
NJ his watch as shc got up and started
for the by.road.
Just as Mira was about TO step into
the wagon. Hiram. who had reached
her aide unohservcd. said:
Let me help you. wife. I guess I'll
load my wheel into the wagon and
w6ii0lrlve homc together"
"Nhero have you been skulking
Hiram Lamson?" Mira demanded,
~wrathfully. "and where's that Jezehel
"a you come out here 10 meet?"
Now. Mira" said Hiram. quietly but
firmly. "the Jealousy racket doesn't 20
IN this family any longer. It's played
out. You're tho ionly woman | came
here to- nee. But ] was expecting q
nan. Where's Claude, MlragI if,
w. 1claude!" Miranda, echoed In n dis
gusted tone. II don't know nothing
about no Claudes. What I want TO
know is-Whereis Clementina, and
who is she?
n ~ don't know what you're talking
about. Mlra-I've no nor idea than n
next years pumpkin. But I'd like TO
know II this is what you call attend
Ing q revival meeting. I'd also like To
know who Claude is?"
ITO the later bugs WI Claude!" was
Mira's impatient exclamation. "But
when you get love letters from your
~Ciementinas, Hiram Lamson. you
should be more careful than to drop
'em around In the dairy. Now, read
that letter. and then tell me you never
heard Of Clementina!"
Mira took a piece Of paper from heI
bosom and handed II TO Hiram. who
managed to read by the light Of the
moon: Ta
fdi'Dear Hi-You have broken m,
theart, but / will go away and bear m,
n sorrow In silence. You will never see
me again on earth. unless you come Il
the blasted oak In Lovers lane at half
past eight tonight. Yours, though
may not call you mine.
lanotiibbf "CLEMENTINA."
P'H Hiram scratched his head for O. mo
Fment sl9f'ud d.02 10 blsiyi q ,,hs-.
70 bwhy. old GIRL he said. somebody
been lfooling us both, I,got'a fette
sbprettyo much like that-signed with4th'
u name Claude as ef It Vas intended
fer you, Well. whoever Il was, wei
just fool them. Well get into tn
wagon and drive home and never
word to anybody TO let folks know
a that two old fools we've been to
Knight"
Half an hour later. as they entere'
1.-The house and Hiram made q iighi
!, Mira exclaimed:
VI" Hiram Lamson. there's been thieve
! here! Everythins's turned upsid
down" ~ 81
. q Investigation revealed losses !
money. plate and jewelry to tn
M amount Of $1,000.
,,'Bless me. II those robbers haven
actually had the i%mpudence to leav
their cards!" exclaimed Hiram.
Lying face downward on the dinin
"a Eroofn fable were two calendars whic