The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-07-31

HER FAITHFUL LOVER
BY J. A. TIFFANY.

The only fault that Hiram Lamson
had had to find with Mira in all the
thirty years of their happy welded life
was her unreasonable and utterly
groundless jealousy.
At supper Mira had announced her
intention of taking the old democrat
wagon and driving Dobbin to the city
to attend revival meeting Much to
Hiram's surprise and chagrin Mira had
declined his proffered escort.
After she had gone Hiram noticed
a piece of paper lying on the hall
floor He went forward and picked it
up.
What's this?" Hiram asked. "A let
ter, eh?-and torn in two. Why, now,
who can be a-writin' to 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
me this last prayer, my loved one, and
I will never trouble you again. Your
faithful lover, CLAUDE.
so this is the revival meetin' as
Mira's gone to? Oh, Mira, Mira! This
is why you've always pretended to be
so Jealous of me-you did it to cover
up your own wrongdoing.
'Ftalf-past eight o'clock, under the
blasted oak. l must get on my bike
and spin over there"
Lovers lane was the name given to
a well-worn path that ran through a
piece Of woods about five miles from
the Lamson farm. Hiram made long
detour so as to approach the TRUSTING
place from the back of the woods, in
stead of from the turnpike 1t still
lacked fifteen minutes of the appoint
ed time when he came within sight Of
the blasted elm.
In the gathering dusk Hiram espied
Mira, seated behind a tree some twen-
ty PAGES from the blasted elm, and he
heard the Whitney Of the faithful Dob
bin, tethered somewhere near at hand
Seems as if Claude wasn't in such
a hurry to keep his appointment as
Miranda was. Aye, lass, I could al
most find it in my heart to take and
lift We into the wagon and drive We
straight home before yet get a chance
of making fool Of yerself before my
eyes. I'd do it-and forget the whole
nights business-if it wasn't that I'm
bound to everlastingly knock the
nourishment out of this fine gentle
man Claude.
At last it seemed that Miras pa
thence had given out. Hiram looked
at his watch as she got up and started
for the by-road.
Just as Mira was about to step into
the wagon, Hiram, who had reached
her side unobserved, said:
Let me help you wife. I guess I'll
load my wheel into the wagon and
Wei drive home together"
Where have you been skulking.
Hiram Lamson?" Mira demanded,
wrathfully, and where's that Jezebel
as you come out here to meet?"
Now, Mira" said Hiram, quietly but
firmly, the jealousy racket doesn't go
in this family any longer. It's played
out. You're the only woman l came
here to see. But l was expecting q
man. Where's Claude Mira?"
Claude Miranda echoed in a dis
gusted tone Il don't know nothing
about no Claudes What | want to
know is-Where's Clementina, and
who is she?"
Il don't know what you're talking
about, Mira-I've no more idea than a
next years pumpkin. But I'd like to
lpnur iP chic &c hot otf
ing 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
Clementinas, Hiram Lamson, you
should be more careful than to drop
EN- around in the dairy. Now, read
that letter, and then tell me you never
heard of Clementina,"
Mira took piece OF paper from her
bosom and handed it to Hiram who
managed to read by the light of the
moon:
Dear Hi-You have broken my
heart, but l will go away and bear my
sorrow in silence You will never see
me again on earth, unless you come to
the blasted oak in Lovers lane at half
past eight tonight. Yours, though |
may not call you mine
"CLEMENTINA."
Hiram scratched his head for mo-
ment
Why. old girl" he said somebody's
| been fooling us both l got a letter
pretty much like that-signed with the
name Claude as eff it was intended
fer you Well, whoever it was, well
just fool them. Well get into the
wagon and drive home and never a
word to anybody to let folks know
what two old fools we've been to-
night"
Half an hour later, as they entered
the house and Hiram made a light,
Mira exclaimed:
Hiram Lamson, there's been thieves
here! Everything's turned upside
down"
Investigation revealed losses in
money, plate and jewelry to the
amount of 81 200.
BLESS me, if those robbers haven't
actually had the impudence to leave
their cards." exclaimed Hiram.
Lying face downward on the dining
room table were two calendars which
had been torn down from the wall. On
the back of each a name was printed
in pencil, in large, Informed charac-
ters:
CLAUDE"