The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1870-12-20
Heard from Earnest lately ?" she

Askbu.
"Not very long since," replied Mrs.
Seacrest, carelessly, but with the faint
est shadaw of shade slipping across
her sunny face for an instant.
"That is it, said the visitor, inward
ly, nodding approvingly to herself
For it is not everybody who would
have had the skill to touch upon the
sore spot so soon.
But before she had decided on her
next question, Mrs. Seacrest spoke
again.
awe are expecting him home soon,
Mrs. Woodcock with his wife"
'sHis wifer cried Mrs. Woodcock.
Even with her discerning forethought.
she was not prepared for this announce
ment. Ernest Seacrest being yet
junior in the State University.
Miriam looked steadily upon her
work with flushing look Of painful
ANNOYANCE, but her mothers tone was
as blithe es ever.
eyes said she, ernest is young,
isn't he? But, after ALL he is as old
as l was when / married. Our chill
dren take us by surprise, coming to be
men and women so much sooner than
we expect"
"When do you look for him-them?"
faltered Mrs. Woodcock, too much
bewildered for her usual aptness of
questioning.
almost any time; 1 shall not be
surprised if they come to-day" answer
ed Mrs. Seacrest, not able to conceal
some nervous dread.
Not dread that the married pair
might arrive before Mrs. Woodcock
should go away, with her long eyes,
deep ears, and broad tongue Oh, no !
Mrs. Woodcoek would have scorned
herself with coutemptuous scorning if
such unworthy jealousy had crossed
her self-assured mind.
So she sat, and sat, and sat, and sat,
while Mrs. Seacrest sewed, and sewed,
and sewed, and sewed.
Miriam, evidently unable to bear
the slow torture, soon found an errand
to her chamber, and found no reason
] for returning.
Wasn't your sons marriage little
/ sudden to you ?" asked Mrs. Wood
cock, as soon as she had collected her
ideas.
al Somewhat But it is so much bet
] ter for young man to settle upon
e some one Young lady rather than fall
, into a habit of flr.ing," replied Mrs
. Seacrest, with cheerful catisfaction
"And / have always been in favor OF
8 early marriages. Where people want
till their habits are crystalized, it j;
much harder adapting themselves
q Mrs. Seacrest's sentence was brought
0 to an untimely end by the stopping
2 of carriage at the gate-ine doctor
' carriage, too, with the dector himseli
r to drive.
$50 it seems she kpew all the time
1 they we're coming Ais day, though she
n made it 40 vague And there / waa
q as nv good ,ature would have it
y in the midS of the home coming,
n said Mrs. Woodcock, afterwurd, in
n relating the story TO Mademoiselle
v Widgn.
Nademoisselle Widger was the mil
:. li.er who lived only three doors from
!. Woodcock, and said "mon Dieu," to
|, iappear like a Freich woman. She
!. was equally fond of cup of tea and
!. dish of gossip, and made all Mrs
:. Woodcock's bonnets FOR nothing.
$ 80 there sat and saw 1t ali,," rer
r sisted Mrs. Woodcock. "And what dc
4 YOU think Mademoiselle, but Ernes
n came in with lady on his arm oldel
4 than his mother" "My wife" said he
"and you might knocked me over will
one of your feather poppies. Ther'
g was never such surprise in Throck
a morton before"
"Mon dieup cried Mademoiselle
: with little foreign scream. "Did yo'
/ learn how it happenedY
;. "No more than the dead, +" replied
"a Mrs. Woodcock, soiemnly, "Mrs Sea
crest tried to pass it off with her smootl
n it away manner, but she couldn't de
n ceive me. / could see she had har'
IF work to keep her feelings in. Blu
there she poured the tea and passe'
/ the cake to that old thing as smilint
7 as the moon. She is such n hand t
n cover up. and make as though every
thing is just right that happens Z
=. her."
y, $50 you staid to lunch ?" querie
y Madenoselle, helping herself to thir
y cur of that beverage from Mrs. Wood
81 oock's round black pot as she spoke
"Yes, they asked me, and / didn
nt wait to be urged. I thought it woul
K. be a good chance to see the bride, ho'
er she looked, and how she appeared"
g "Well, how was it p asked the mi
d. liner between her sips of tea.
Is "She appeared we'll enough, far {
y that went, if she hadn't seemed oil
lr enough to be his grandmother. Yo
know Ernest is master young lookin
o. for his years and | don't suppose he
ed a day over twenty"
H. "Mon dieul But didn't you hay
as any sulmise how il happened to tax
or place." pursued. Maiemoiselle.
of "Well, suppose she must have bee
in vorth property" return Mrs. Woo
cock, who, like wise ganeral, nevt
a. acknowledged a defeat "But for a
that, don't commend it in him, and
X had as lief tell him so at his Dime
In table"