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

MOIiD dS DlhCu uS llCt OlhhOls
"But it is so" she continued doubt.
fully, "Really and truly, Orson? ?
Now speak the truth, just Exactly as
it is"
Orson had as much idea of truth as
he had of geology.
"Yes'm," said he, getting bolder,
"The doctor said to me, Orson Larely,"
said he, II wouldn't have this damage
ment done to my vintonage, not if you
had offered me five hundred dollar
bill right in my hand" And then he
looked as sober as anything, and walk
ed straight into the house. ] saw
Mrs. Seacrest through the open win
dow, and she was crying like fury
You ought to take look at it your
self, Aunt Prissy, if you don't believe
me-" he continued, in an aggrieved
tone.
Mrs. Woodcock did not believe him
entirely, to be sure, but there might be
something worth seeing; so, after
little reflection, she decided that it
would be handy to have a dose Of
salts and senna in the house, and she
might as well step up to the doctors,
and get it then as any time.
There was no need for the grass to
dry, for Mrs. Woodcock's chocolate
I and the white calico, guiltless of a
panier and innocent of trail, did not
even brush the broad plantain leaves
and the fairy speed-well blossoms bor-
dering the well-trodden foot-path that
led from her doorstep right into the
world and her heavy calf-skin shoes
squeaked to scorn the idea Of "wetting
through"
So she tied on her log cabin sunbon-
net that had pert calico bow pros
pecting from the top, took her crook
ed handle umbrella, to act the double
part of supporter and protector, and
set out--not to seek her fortune, but
to seek somebody's misfortune.
The way to DR.. Seacrest's was across
, the green, away from the black cotton
mills, down by the river away from
the street ofstiff white cottages, where
: the mill operators lived away from
t the common place, two story dwelling:
, clustering around the church, the store
the blacksmith's shop, and the pos
office; to u bit of level slightly re
| moved from "The Hollow" by slop
: ing hill. Here were scattered grouI
of houses where the doctor, the mil
. owner, the minister, and two or thre,
} prosperous farmers lived. Lived, sc
the Hollow people said, "stuck up
e and apart from their neighbors.
( But this aristocratic isolation wa'
t all the work of the Hollow, for as Mrs
e Woodcock often said
s "Folks can choose their own plac
r in the world. If they have mind t.
hold up their heads and be something
$ and somebody they can be, or the
can be nobody and nothing. Eithe
e one."
j Accordingly she held up her hea'
: and made herself somebody, equally j
i the kitchen of Mary Duffy, tn
e the Irish laundress, in Speck Lane, g
: the lowest dip of the Hollow, and i
the parlor of the spacious mansio
p that crowned the brow of the "Qualit
e Hill.'
l. So now she went up the wide, flow
g er-bordered walk leading to DIR. Ses
N crest's stately doorway, with the o.
8 surance of welcome guest; and zap
6 ping confidently on the open door
: stepped in with little nod and coul
: tesy, as much of respect to herself a
,r of Difference to Mrs. Seacrest and he
y daughter Miriam, sitting sewing AM
looking tranquil as though no storm
1t had ever passed over either vineyar'
le or spirit.
IF "Dear me Is it you, Mrs. Wood
'g cock? How you startled me! Com
y in. We were speaking of you not
J. half an hour ago" cred Mrs. Seacrest
who was a lively cordial woman, a
t. round and flushed IS a poppy; and a
d ways sitting in ths sunshine, no maj
ter what clouds here might be in til
~ sky.
e. Mrs. Woodoock came in. "Quite
ID shower we hare had" said she, drol
" plug upon velvet sofa with an air
I'd being very much at home on velvet
- II uUtice-i, as oame alnnP, Mr. Hu
re bert's oats are beaten fat, and
r shouldn't wonder if a good deal Of il
jury had been done by the hail"
r Every likely" replied Mrs. Seacres
es' serenely. "The hailstones were vel
'k large. But it has come OF beautiful
) now, and the air seems so much pur'
u for the storm"
~, Some people might have felt Pl
e' aside at this bDt not Mrs. Woodcoc
y She perceivedthat something lay und
~ ~ this placid surface, and never bein
- troubled BY excess of delicacy, procee
lQ at onceIo send out her blood-hound
al "HSw was it here ?" said she, boldl
10 Anything damaged about yo'
90 grounds"
30 I"The dahlias, some of them are br
a;r yken off'-didn't father say ?" responds
-, Mrs. Seacrest, appealing to her daug
Il, ter. "And, | think, some glass "
90 90 broken in the hot house. The d0ct
aO ~ has lust ordered a different style
m. sash, so these ale out the way just
in time"
las Everything was always fish th
came 20 Mrs. Seabrest's nest.
3D. "Tisn't that" said Mrs WoodoC
-, ! 10 baraalf GtSOnnat hin0 haa auioy 1hg