The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1870-12-20


they were being carefully covered over
like the lost Babes in the Wood. 1t
was never the Seacrest fashion to
parade the family skeletons like fami-
ly jewels. So they ate, and drank and
tried to look at the elderly bride with
out shuddering.
But her age was not the worst of it.
She was h0mely. And her homliness
was not the worst, she was stiff and un-
attractive in manner as well as person.
And it was hardly the consolation that,
perhaps it should have been, to per-
ceive the unlimited fondness that the |
boy bridegroom had for his aged com
panion. For it is really a comfort,
though SMALL one, to see our friends
chafe under degradation. Accepting
slavery with contentment makes the
captive twice slave.
However, the less the family felt like
saying sweet things, the more they
pressed the sugared cake, the ice cream,
and the Strawberries upon their new
member. But all this time there was
something in the background waiting
tn be brought forward. and it was the
bride who had the courage first to
| touch it.
ernest" she began, with the domi.
nant air of an elderly aunt, san ex-
PLANTATION is due your father and moth
er-and sister," she added, glancing
sharply at Miriam, who was fairly sea
sick with disgust, and sorrow, and
modification.
"Yes, Lily, tell them," answered
Ernest, looking at her as though she
were sugar candy.
The idea of calling that old, black,
greasy thing Lilly"
"The truth is, then" said Lily, turn
| ing her withered face away from Ern-
est as though it cost her an effort, "by
the uncle from whom had my money,
unless | married before a certain date,
/ lost it all. And kinsman, who was
heir-at-law, was very anxious to in
herit it,
"The old cur wanted Lily himself"
interposed Ernest, land he thought, if
he got the property, he would be sure
to get her. At any rate, he was re-
solved to have that. This was why we
had to be so secret" Marian fairly
groaned and even fairy-hearted Mrs.
Seacrest dropped her napkin-ring on
the floor, and came up from STOPPING
for it with wet eyelashes. TO think
that Ernest had sold himself for this
woman's gold! So Mrs. Woodcock
down in the Hollow was right after
all.
, But, as though she suspected the ma
ture of their thoughts, Lily went on
Il had some trouble in persuading
Ernest" said she, looking at him fond.
J ly through her blue glasses, while she
f patted her gray curls and settled her
cap. ('I knew you had p calculated
, Miriam, inaudibly) "He had fool
ish notion it would be more heroic to
take me after had lost my property.
But | had right to it, and l wanted
to keep it."
ave had jolly time, though, dodg-
, ing old Drymar. He is about discov-
ering now, Lily, that he isn't so sharp
as he thought he was," said Ernest,
bursting into joyous laugh that no.
, body felt the heart to join in.
, Then he took from his pocket the
marriage certificate, dated that very
day. 1t seemed he had telepraghed %
his father to meet him and his wife at
the station not more than flNS uIinutes
, aIler eLo had become his wife.
t "We had to tu~n pretty sharp cor.
r ners to keep out of Drymar's way"
continued Ernest still chuckling. "He
! thought he had Lily safely locked in
Q her room while he went for justice,
: thinking he could frighten her INTO a
marriage with him, or at any rate, keep
}, her away from any other man till the
a day had gone by. But Lily was better
at picking locks than he thought; and
she came to me, roor thing, so out OF
: breath and frightened !"
h Ernest's voice grew tender and pitt
!. full at the thought, and he took Lily's
4 hand in his with oaressing gesture.
t II have loved her ever since | have
d been in college, and she knew il, but
g we had To keep it to ourselves on old
o Drymar's account. And | was dying
= to marry her; but | didn't like the idea
o of marrying for money exactly. How
ever, there wasn't any help for it then
d mother you see. DrYmar was her lie
d gal guardian until she married, or wal
l. of a certain age. So chum and | fixet
her up in bridal dress, and here W,
t are I"
d Upon that, the irrep-essible younl
" bridegroom got up and kissed his BRIDE
then led her from the room saying owe
l. his shoulder:
1--WE will be back directly"
IS When they were gone, sorrowfu
d sigh bubbled out of the mothers soul
u Poor boy| she said, "his heart /
g all right, and cannOt blame him."
is 81 blame him for falling in love Will
his grandmother in the first place,
'e said Marian, severely. "And he
&c having money makes it more horrible
1t seems 50 sorGid, even though we ma,
N know better"
l. Almost before she had done speakin,
sr they heard Ernest's step on the stair
II and his voice in such loving, happ,
| tones, that it sent fresh pain through
r the listeners.
Then he appeared with his brighf