The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-01-26

plan fixed ever since ! came home. [
promised Bill I'd take care Of her, and
| must DO it and how can / do it i'll
you don't let me have her for niece ?"
"Why not have her for wife ?"
asked Jack, quietly.
"Wife--mel Why, you young ras-
cal what do you meant Me-marry
Zounds! Do you think / am crazy2 /
am old enough to be her father"
"Only seventeen years, uncle. Just
enough to give you character as
husband"
"Silence, villain. Would you have
me make fool of myself, just as Lam
settling down for comfort and quiet
Don't you dare mention such thing
again. l shall go and see Susan to-
morrow, an ! shall tell her you will
have her. That's enough. / won't
hear any more. BY the big fish, I'll
keep my promise y
Jack knew it would be useless to
say any more at present, SO he held
his peace. William Garland has been
his uncle's first mate during the last
two voyages, and the Captain not only
liked him much, but also thought
much of Susan, having stopped at her
home while her husband was living.
When Captain Jerry came home with
the care of"the widow upon his shoul-
ders, be had hit upon the huppy ex-
pedient of making her his niece by
marriage, aud thus having the right
to care for her without exciting scau-
dal. Jack knew how his uncle had
cherished this plan, and he feared it
would be hard to thwart him. The
old fellow was as stubborn as he was
kind hearted, and where he felt he had
authority he would not yield.
Finally Jack retired TO ponder upon
the subject, and before dark he had
resolved to see the widow in advance
Of his uncle, and he went that very
evening.
Susan Garland was very pretty
woman, with plump form, and a
dimpled, cheerful face, over which the
sweet, genial smiles were continually
playing when she was happy. She
| had been alone about two years. She
welcomed Jack kindly. and after some
commonplace remarks the young man
came to the point. He related the
conversation which passed between
himself and his uncle that afternoon,
and expressed the hope that she would
help him.
Surely you would not wish to take
me from the being | love-" he said.
"Of course not" the widow replied,
with an earnest smile II should be
decidedly opposed to any such thing.
| know Lizzie we'll, aud l know, too,
that she will make you a good wife.
You may depend upon my assistance,
for I can tell your uncle that | won't,
and that will be the end of it.
They chat;ed a while longer, and
then Jack took his leave.
"He will be here tomorrow fore
noon," the young man said, as he
reached the door stone.
II shall be ready for him." was the
reply, and funny light twinkled in
the widows eyes as she said So
About II o'clock on the following
day Uncle Jerry called upon the wild
ow. She had left off her weeds, and
now appeared fresh and fair as a maid
of sixteen. She welcomed the cap
tain with one of her sweetest smiles,
and finally took a seat close beside
him. BY a dexterous turn she. got
him engaged in relating wonderful
stories of his adventures at sea, and
thus an hour slipped away. OF course
he must now stop to dinner.
"Oh, no, l must go home to dinner"
said he. "But before 60, have a
little business matter TO touch upon" !"
"Then you must wait sir" pro-
nounced the widow decisively. at is
my dinner hour, and must prepare it.
Wait and eat with me, and then I'll
listen"
And with this Susan drew out the
table, spread the snow-white table
cloth and soon had the dishes in their
places. She finally went away to the
kitchen, and soon the captain heard
the pots and kettles rafting, the meat
spluttering, and a brisk culinary
racket going on generally.
"Egad," the old fellow muttered to
himself 'she's a splendid craft. What
lean build If had come across
such woman years ago, believe l
should have made a fool Of myself"
In due time the dinner made its ap.
pearance, and the captain was invited
to partake of it.
"Now make yourself at home," the
widow said, with charming smile (;
''for / look upon you as one Of the