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


dy and silent. When he went up to
bis chamber he commenced to mutter
again; and be kept muttering and
ponderiug till he fell asleep. Finally
he began to dream. He dreamed that
Susan Garland became his wife, and
he held her to his bosom and wonder
ed that he could ever have thought of
such foolish thing as allowing Jack
to have her But as he held her thus,
who should appear in the nuptial
chamber, but Bill Garland, pale and
cold, with sea weed for hair, and dark
green ocean moss for raimentl And
the cadaverous presence said, "Give
me my wifew The dreamer awoke
With sharp cry of fear, and fonnd
the sunlight streaming into his room.
He arose and sat down by the window,
and finally he said, in deep, fervent
tone
"Thank God Bill Garland hasn't
come back -
For three whole days, Uncle Jerry
was like newly converted sinner He
could not eat, he could not read, he
could not sleep, and the burden Of his
remarks to Jack was:
"Clear out, you rascall2
On the evening of the third day the
captain made an extraordinary toilet,
and then went up to see Susan Gar.
land. She welcomed MIN with warm
greeting, and finally, at his particular
request, sat down by his side upon the
sofa, just as she sat before.
"Susan," said he-he spoke bluntly,
for his courage and determination had
been duly brought up to the sticking
point before he started-"you said the
other day that you should be very
happy to come and live with me. Did
you mean that you would be willing
to become my wife?"
There were a dozen t:esses upon
that white shoulder now, and they
shook like aspens.
That's curious question, sir" she
replied.
"But tell me plainly, did you, mean
that ?"
"If l mistook your meaning, sir,
you have no right to question mine"
"But, Lord bless me! suppose I
should ask you to become my wife?
Answer me that"
"You never did ask me, SIR"
"Then by the car of old Neptune,
ask you now. Susan Garland, will
you be my wife,"
"Jerry Pleman-I will !"
"Whatw cried the captain, starting
back, and gazing into her blushing,
tear-wet face, "do you mean that you
can love an old man like me-that
you can love me alwaysl"
"You are not old, and as for loving
you, / have loved you for a long
while; and if you take me for wife,
I'll love and bless you to my dying
| hourw
"Then come here Come here, ssu-
san! Come right here; and if l ever
cease to love you, to cherish you, and
to be true to you, may-may-that sea
weed ghost comev back y
About ten minutes after this Uncle
Jerry made the following very sensi-
BILE remark:
"Why, bless my soul! we are acting
like two fools!"
The widow only smiled and said:
"Two very happy ones, amt we2"
And Jerry said:
"Bless my soul--we are"
On the following day Jack happen
ed to pass near the widows house, aud
he dropped in. In few moments he
was the happiest fellow imaginable.
"But," said Susan, earnestly, don't
misunderstood me, | have loved your
unole-loved him well and truly, and
l believe he loved me, but dared not
say so. Had it not been thus. could
not have done this. / would have
helped you all the same, by simply
and fatty refusing you, but | could
not,have toyed or trifed with him.
He is a good man, Jack-a good
man"
$50 he is" said Jack. And then
Jack went home.
The youth found his uncle in the
library, reading a book-said book
being bottom end up. He sat down
and peeped wickedly out of his eyes,
while an ill-mannered smile kept play
ing around the corners of his mouth.
"What are you winking and blink
ing, and squirting aud grinning at,
you young dogS" asked the old cap
tain, with tremendous ferocity.
az was thinking of story / read
once" replied Jack. quietly,
"a story, chr What is it, you scape-
grace?
"T'U tell Won. uncle" said the