The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-07-21
CHERRY TIME.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

land meadows that sloped toward the
sun, and the air was full of vanilla
odors of new mowh hay, and the old
brown robin, whose nest was in the
maple boughs overhanging the old
Cliffdean house, was caroling his very
heart out in liquid rivulets of song.
Every created thing seemed drinking
in the full glory of the summer morn.
ing, and revelling in the mere fact of
existence.
That is, every created thing, save
and except little Cora Cliff-she
wasn't happy bit, for, as she came
round the densely honey.suokle path,
in sight of the front porch, her eyes
caught sight of two figures sitting en-
der the swinging trails of a rose bloom,
in a most absorbing tete-a-tete her
cousin, Georgia Carr and Mr.. Seymour
Olcott.
The rosy flush of color died out
around Cora's dimples-the long lashes
dropped and grew misty. There--it is
no use striving against that food Of
tears-Miss Cora sat down on the
grass and cried heartily,
81 hope they will be happyl" Sob
bed poor Cora "but, oh how / wish
Georgia had never come here. l was
SO happy in fancying that Seymour
liked me little, and now"
And Cora cried again.
The path to the giant cherry tree
was short and shaded, as Cora crept
through it, never once looking back
to the porch where Georgia and Sey-
mour were so happy together; and
the green loom, studded with the ruby
sparkle of innumerable ripe dewy
cherries, made her think of the "jew-
eled trees" she had read about in
childhood, when the Arabian Nights
seemed veritable truth, and the fairy
land an established fact.
81 wish / were a child again !'' sigh
ed Cora, her lips beginning to quiver.
"Didn't have nice times then, with
never lover to disturb them? Didn't
l climb up the old tree half dozen
times day, to see the blue eggs in
the brown thrush's nest? L wonder if
that nest is there now? / don't carel"
CALCULATED Cora; 81 don't care a single
bit if am eighteen, l mean to climb
up that old tree again, and fill my
basket. l want to feel the cool leaves
against my hot cheeks. 1 want to be all
alone with the blue air and the wind,
and the brown thrushes. l know
Rachel would scold dreadfully, but l
don't care"
Cora Cliff swung herself lightly in
to the gnarled fork of the old tree,
and climbed up its branches as easily
as if she had been bright eyed squir.
rel instead of a young lady. There
was considerable spice of the romp
about Miss Cora, and it must be con.
fessed that she was q great deal more
at home in the old cherry tree than
when she would be at her neglected
piano.
High up among the futter:ng leaves
she-sat, slowly gathering the ripe fruit
into her basket, and looking through
the quivering dimness of tears at the
reapers afar off on the sunny slopes,
thinking the while how very, very
miserable she was.
All at once the sound of voices
struck her ears; she parted the leaves
and looked down from her airy perch,
only to see Seymour Olcott and Geor-
gia Carr establishing themselves COM
fortably under this very cherry tree.
Poor little Cora--there was no es-
cape for her now. Prisoned among the
swaying branches, she must be an un-
willing auditor of the conversation of
the two below.
"Oh, how l wish they would go
away !" thought Cora, beginning to
tremble as she laid her throbbing fore
head against the friendly old tree.
81 cannot bear to hear him speak
ing words of love. to Georgia oh why
did | ever come herep'
Her thoughts were here cut short by
hearing Seymour Olcott's voice. He
was stripping the leaves from spray
of forget-me-not, in an absent.minded
sort of way and spoke as if in re-
sumption of some previous discussion.
"If you only knew, Georgia, how
much doubt and apprehension l feel
in approaching the subject of my
love P'
~ can easily imagine it," said
Georgia softly.
The pulses of poor Cora's heart
seemed to grow chill, and sickeuing
feeling came over her.
"If / dared suppose for moment"
went on Seymour, "that the treasure
of such heart could ever be mine"
"Why should you doubt it," replied
Georgia, smiling. "Remember, Mr..