The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1874-10-07


celebrate her recovery. She looked |
the very picture of happiness and
beauty, and was, of course, attended
by her three lovers.
Towards the close Of the entertain
ment the trio, by appointment, met in
secluded spot, having decided to
come to some determination regarding |
their hopes OF becoming the husband
of jeanette.
"This must end," said Pierre, "for
| we all love the girl"
"True," responded Claude.
Jean was silent and sad.
"Have you nothing to say ?"
"Yes, replied Jean; Il have a
proposition to make"
\ ~"WAat is it ?"
jeanette, you know, can marry but
one of us"
"No one will be fool enough.to dis
pute that fact" said Claude.
There are two too many in the
field let us fight, and whoever is vic.
torious shall claim her as fairly his"
IL have something else to suggest, :
said Pierre. "Let ms play for her, r,and
the game decide her choice. Are you
both willing?"
"The result will be the same to me,
no matter what we do" replied
Boileau; Gas, no matter what course is
taken, / must lose. l, however, prefer
fight, because l have the chance of
being killed, which is preferable to
life without the woman love-"
"Well, let us draw; fate shall de-
cide," replied Claude.
A cent was thrown into the air, and
the decision made that they should
fight.
The following day the three rivals
met in the cemetry, the place appoint
ed for the combat. The proper pre-
liminaries were observed, and the bat
tie about to commence in good earn
est, when jeanette suddenly appeared.
Her cheeks were pale and stained with
tears. 81 know ALL" she said, "and
there must be an end to this strife"
"And so there will be, if you will
let lis alone for about an hour" ex-
claimed Pierre, provoked at the inter-
ruption.
"Hold your tongue. When choose
to have the matter end it will do so,
and not until them" responded jean
ette. "How could you give me so
! much trouble? So you were going to
fight, and perhaps kill each other, in
: order to gain my favor? Foolish fel.
lows, not to remember that had one of
you been spared, he would have been
hateful to me, owing to the loss of the
others"
81 did not think of that" said
Pierre.
}. "Woman-like, / would have dearly
loved the dead or wounded" continued
Jeanette, "and your trouble, if victo'
rious, would have been for nothing
y but frown."
Jean sighed, and regretted silently
not to be either dead or wounded.
i "The matter can be amicably set.
d tled," added the young girl; but frs
: l must receive your promise to do just
t as 1 bid you"
IS A unanimous promise was instantly
given, and jeanette resumed:
e II love YOU all now as though yor
y were nv brothers; but the day in al
probability will come, when l viii
?. choose one of you for my husband. Ii
d order to decide the question, you mus
!; each leave the village and remair
|. away three years. On your return
/. yoa will tell me in what manner yol
e occupied your time during your alb
d sence. He who loves me best ant
h merits me the most, l will accept-wil
It marry. Now let us shake hands anC
le part"
is Aud so it was arranged. The un
r derstanding being concluded, the thre
,r faithful subjects conducted their queel
s, to her cottage, and there bade fare
n we'll.
i 1t was a bright summer mornin
when the friends set out on their jour
h ney, determined to abide by the prom
d ise faithfully pledged.
r The curate, who had known then
from their birth. celebrated mass 70
le the benefit of their souls and th
s. whole village bade them God.speed
i. After the departure Of the tire
young men, jeanette lived as she ha
" always done, rising with the sun, sing
d ing with the birds, gathering the swee
" est flowers, doing good to all, particr
Iy larly the poor, and toiling faithful
st to add to her little store. At time
e. the shadow of a faint cloud woul
at gather upon her fresh young face, an
s. she seemed absorbed by some secrt
n thought. sr,-, ..o-..~,
W "She is thinking Of Pierre" mul
re INJURED old Father Simon, her neigt