The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-06-23
ISigo1t's Ordca1s-


my French friend, Blaise Rigolt, be-
came enamored of the dowry of Miss
Ruth Cumleigh, and succeeded in in
Producing himself upon her attention.
This week he and | have been staying
at Conley Lodge, in Surrey, to honor
the pheasant preserves but we have
been doing something else besides
shoot, thanks to the ingenious spirit of
Miss Ruth.
You recollect being informed that
Mr.. Cumleigh had fallen into bad odor
among society, owing to Miss Ruth S
eccentric proceedings. Having a ro-
mantle mania for testing the personal
courage of he= adorers, this young la
dy had played upon certain well-con.
nected gentlemen-notably guards
man or two-and these pranks had re-
bounded more to Miss Ruth's perspica-
city than to the g,orifcation of her
victims. To revenge themselves, the
well-connected gentlemen who had
been made to show the white feather
had spread the report that Mr.. Cum.
leigh was digracefully bad from-a
person of whose antecedents nothing
was known, and must have made his
fortune by modes of which no right
thinking mind could approve. AS for
me, l only half believed this, but hav.
ing a great opinion of myself, like the
rest of you, | hesitated to accept Mr..
Cumleigh's invitation, and it was only
at the instant supplication of Rigolt
that at length condescended to accom-
pany him. When we arrived, Miss
Ruth thanked me with a demure lit
tie bow for the honor was doing her
fathers roof, and hoped that l should
not find the hospitality of it too hum
BILE.
This was nonsense, for less humble
place could not be found by adver-
tising. Cumleigh Lodge, is rich, lux.
urious, and yet tasteful for those who,
knowing little of the houses of city
plutocrats, prate of the ostentatious
vulgarity Of those abodes, forget that
men like Mr.. Cumleigh seldom consult
their own tastes in the matter of fur
niture, but appeal to artistic uphol-
sters. Before | had spent a clock
round at the lodge / could not help
wishing that the aristocracy, among
whom my acquaintance chiefly lie as
| think l was good enough to explain
to you before-would take leaf out
of this city mans book. The only
thing to complain of was that among
the other guests invited were too many
fellow city men strongly perfumed
with gold. But after all, gold is a
| good perfume.
The other morning, then, after sat
isfying breakfast of game pies, we OBJ
served that the sky was weeping, and
as sport was difficult under the circum-
stances, strolled into the billiard
room and began knocking the balls
about, waiting, for Rigolt to join me.
had scarcely been so engaged a min
ute when Ruth Cumleigh glided in
with the gravity of purpose on her
pretty face. She was adorably fresh
dressed in a buff costume or ecru lin
en-, with velvet band and large me.
dallion round her neck, velvet brace
lets around her wrist, and scarlet
rose stuck, as by the merest accident,
in her girdle. Laying a finger on her
| lips, she motioned me to follow her in
to the conservatory adjoining the bill
lard room, and there, when i had let
fall the door curtain, she said:
"Mr. Trefoil."
"Miss Cumleigh."
"Your French friend is making vic.
lent love to me-"
"I do not wonder at it,"
"It's a matter of taste; but should
be careful before marrying a French
man."
+ IAN authentic Viscount, / believe
40, foreign viscounts And then
have no faith in the courage of these
Frenchmen. They boast altogether
too much, and 1 would not give pin
for a man who boasted and had no
courage. He would be sure to tyran-
ize and make one wretehed and asham.
ed of him. What is your opinion OF
Monsieur RigoltH"
"Try him."
"That is what l mean to do if you
will help me. There is a ghost who is
said to haunt churchyard near here.
Do you think monsieur is afraid Of
ghosts ?"
81 have little taste for them myself,
but Frenchman may be above such
a prejudice"
sand do you think Monsieur Rigolt
would like to be awoke at night by
two armed burglars pointing revolvers
in his faceY asked Miss Ruth, fixing
her large eyes on me.