The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-07-14

must get away's fast's they can and it's
| too bad to turn you out but l don't
see no other way 10 tx it and if you
don't mind Elkins next door has a
room free every bit like the one you're
in now and Almiry shall carry over
your things and you'll be every bit as
comfortable and ! hope you'll have 10
hard feelings about it," All this in
breath, and without audible punotua-
ton.
John comforted the good dame,
whose face was full of trouble. After
all, what matter? "Almiry" lent a
hand, and in two hours he was seated
in Mrs. Elkins' front-room, "everv
whit as comfortable" as he had been
in his old quarters.
Going down to dinner, the red.
brown eyes which he had noticed on
the beach confronted him.
"It's the Miss Whitemores, Mr.
don't recall your name," remarked
Mrs. Elkins, spooning out her steam
ing chowder. And in this unceremo-
nious way their introduction was effect
ed.
lntimacies ripen fast under such cir
cumstances. Reading, sailing and
walkicg together, spending whole days
and day after day in company, it was
10 wonder that before long the three
so lately strangers should become as
old friends. 1t was easy to know the
Misses Whittemore, they were so frank
and simple, so pleasantly well-bred.
Alice, the eldest, a gentle, womanly
creature, quiet in speech and manner,
and full Of a certain sweet common
serse, was evidently the object Of fond
est care to the brown-eyed Marion.
John had never known any girls like
them. 1t was a revelation Of the pleas
ant possibilities Of life to be in such
contact. Still his shyness and old
habit Of distrust hampered and held
him back. "What man ever under"
stood woman ?" he asked himself. az
don't pretend to. 'Flossy' indeed l
did have real glimpse Of her in that
blessed little book Now if some fai-
ry would just open door and let me
see the inside of Marion's heart in the
same way, then should know where
| was"
Marion Yes, the imaginary Flossy
was dethroned the real Marion reign
ed in her stead. John, however, was
still unconscious of his subjugation,
and how long the thing might have
halted no one can tell, had not Fate,
as she often does, taken the matter into
her own hands.
"My brother is coming down for
Sunday said Alice one morning.
Have you brother ?"
"Oh, yes. Have we never told you
about him Poor boy It's his first
vacation this summer. We have wish
ed for him so often, and now at last he
can come"
John watched the sisters curiously
as they made ready for their walk to
the depot that afternoon, but he did
not offer to accompany them. Lucky
fellow p he muttered, with sigh, and
fell to gnawing his moustache, a sure
sign of uneasiness and emotion,
BY and by they came back, each
holding an arm of broad.shouldered,
merry.faced youth, who walked be-
tween with fac$ of entire content
ment.
"My brother, Mr.. Singleton" said
Alice, in her gentle voice, as John rose
to greet them.
"Happy'to know you," said the new.
conner, shaking hands cordially. "The
girls have written about you till feel
as if we were acquainted. l say, what
a beach Can't we have a sail this ev-
ening, Flossy ?"
John started as if shot.
81 thought your name was Marion"
he said confusedly, staring like one in
q dream.
"Yes, so it is" she answered care
lessly "but my middle name is Flor
ence, and Tom called me Floss always
when we were little. He does now
sometimes"
"You really must leave it off" said
Alice. "Flossy is absurd for a grown
up person"
"Tm rather fond of it," remarked
Marion; at doesn't sound absurd to
me at ALL"
"Its beautiful !" jerked out John,
still absorbed in the suddenness of his
surprise. Marion looked at him, as
tonished. He felt himself blush under
her gaze, but offered no explanation,
and the subject was dropped.
The real and the ideal rarely COM
bine in life. When they do, only one
conclusion seems possible. Events
flew rapidly after this ecLairissement.
The course of true love has intervals of
smooth running, for all the poets may
- a. A., as.,,t,o,,, Tho hrirht hunf