Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-08-05
Stlett Storp.
FOURTH Of JUlYAT T0lMAR'S
RUN.
ny ;. ANNIE FROST.

Hes a coward. Fan, mean. con
tempuble coward :"
Fannie Germsine made no reply
though the man TINS stigmatized was hei
own promised husband, and one hour be-
fore she believed had won the enlile love
OF her young heart. There were nc
especial points for commen, in the en-.
gagement Of Gardiner Forsythe and
Fannie Germaine; but the history Of
their courtship may be briefly summed
up.
NT. GermAine. Fannie's father, WAS
one Of prosperous mining company
owning large property in the coal regions
near Pittsburg. His interest lay in dis.
trict called Tollman's Run. though no
living man could say who rollmAn was,
OF whether there had ever been any Run
near the place. TOllman's Run, however.
was name that covered an immense
tract of coal country. and included the
village populated by the miners and their
families. and the few more pretentious
houses where the members of the com
pany resided.
Gardiner FOrsythe owned one OF these
latter dwelling places. and was also one
OF the company mining Tollman's Run.
but being bachelor. the young man
boarded at the small but comfortable
hotel at l.. the nearest railway sta.
lion. an easy horseback ride morning and
evening from the Office where the CON-
pany transacted business.
1t will be readily understood that the
advantages OF social intercourse were
limited At Tollman'S Run. being. in point
Of TACT. confined strictly 10 the inter-
change Of courtesies amongst the families
Of the company. In this small circle
Fannie Gsrmaine was quite a belle. not
only on account of her fathers promi.
nence and wealth, but because lhe young
lady herself was pretty and winning.
Her slender. graceful figure was carried
with an easy dignity. ths. suited well tho
beauty of her oval face. with its perfect,
delicate features, raven hair. and large
soft eyes. She was we'll educated, and
had that peculiar power common To
American girls-of adapting the best Oi
what she had read and studied. Her
musical power WAS very great. and had
been well cultivated. With her beauty,
her tasteful dress. and her accomplish
ments, Fannie was queen in her own
little circle, and when Gardiner Forsythe
wooed and won her. the rest Of the clique
agreed that the match was a suitable one
in all respects. For Gardiner Forsythe,
in his way. was as prominent a member
OF the Tollman's Run ariiItocracy as
Fannie in hers. His share in the mining
stock entitled him to a plscs amongst
wealthy men, and he was considered
rather a philanthropist amongst the
miners.
lie was tall. powerfully built man,
whose face was pleasing, fro n its frank,
bright expression, without being regular
in feature. His eyes were th0 best OF it
large and rather prominent, and blue as
childs. His hair was light-ill natured
folks said red-Fannie declared golden
and he wore side whiskers crt in English
fashion. But his face was open to Il Ger.
:ain amount of criticism. the same could
not be said of his figure. Fully six feet
in height. he was so perfectly proportion
ed that he never appeared tall until he
stood beside other men. In every manly
athletic exercise lie had so perfected and
developed his natural advantages OF
physical strength. that there were lew
men around Tolman's Run who would
not have turned away from any scuffle ol
trial of muscle with Gardiner Forsythe,
Yet. as man can scarcely live in this
wide world without enemies, whether he
marches forward in manly independence
or wriggles in and out OF fliculties, SO