The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-06-25
Winnie's Mistake.

In an arbor formed by two giant
oaks, and canopied by their interlac-
ing branches, sat beautiful Winnie
Godfrey, and by her side was Maurice
West, his dark eyes fixed on the vel
vet turf, and seemingly intent only on
the utter destruction of the rosetree
beside him.
An exclamation fromWinnie reused
him from his reverie.
"Maurice. What are you thinking
of? You have not uttered word for
the last half-hour. If the demolition
of rosetrees is more agreeable than
my society, will go back to the
house."
"Do not 60, Winnie" he said, 81
have something to tell YOU" And
there was a pause, during which the
rosetrees was nearly denuded.
II received letter from the senior
partner this morning. He says it is
necessary for one of us to go to Brazil
Immediately, to look after our inter-
ests there. He wishes me to make
the voyage. Winnie, shall go?"
"Dear mel" she exclaimed, "What
a question. You must consult your
own pleasure. 1 am not the one to
decide"
"You are, Winnie, you are" he said
eagerly, searching the fair face of the
little coquette with his dark eyes, as
if to find there the comfort which her
words denied him. "Upon your de-
cision rests mine. Tell me, shall /
go or stay
"You will do as you please" was
the calm reply.
"Then it makes no difference to
you."
"Indeed it does not"
He turned away, very quietly for a
rejected lover, Winnie thought, but
she did not see his face, and could
not know the bitter disappointment
written there.
Winnie" she looked up in sur
prise at the cool, firm tones. at is
getting damp. 1t is not safe for you
to be out longer. Let me take you to
the house."
She took his proAered arm, and as
they passed up the avenue of stately
elms, she wondered at his manner, so
quiet and self possessed, so different
from the eager, ardent lover of an
hour ago, and alone in her room she
regretted her hasty words, words that
her heart denied, even while they
were being spoken.
"But he will forgive me-" she
told herself. "He will come to me
again"
The morrow came but brought no
pleading lover. Instead there came
the tidngs that Maurice West had
started for the city the evening of
their interview. Still she could not
believe that he was lost to her, fer in
the depths of her coquettish heart,
Winnie loved Maurice West with all
the strength Of a fiirt's affection.
She watched and waited for some tok =
en- Of forgiven remembrance, but the
days and weeks came and went, bring
ing no message from the absent one
till over a year had flown. A year
passed by; Winnie Geofrey in alter
nate hope and disappointment.
"Well Winnie, have some news
for you," said Mr.. Geofrey, on enter
ing the breakfast room one morning.
Winnie glanced up from her paper
and asked, "What is it, papa?"
Maurice West has returned. Why!
What ails you girl?" for Winnie had
turned white as marble, and the paper
ratified to the floor.
Nothing papa, only l am not we'll
this morning. Did you say that Maui
rice West had returned ?"
eyes, Squire Willis was telling me.
His uncle you know; Squire says he's
married to a very beautiful woman,
too. Met her off there at Para-Para,
what is the name of that place where
he's been? She is not of South Amer
ican birth, however Squire's seen
her and says she is intelligent, highly
educated, and all that. l used TO
think, before Maurice went away,
that you and he liked each other pret-
ty we'll. But was mistaken it seems.
Hey, Winnie ?"
at was a mistake" faltered Win
ME, as she hastily left the breakfast
room, for her fathers talk Of Maurice
and his bride was more than she
could bear.
at was a mistake, my mistake"
she told herself in after years of her
secluded life, when she saw the happi-
ness Of Maurice and his gentle wife.
"Tommy, my son, what are you 60.
,po. 10 10 ,,;tl 4l,,4 LII