The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-05-23
What Became Of Her.
nne. lWT1

gregation gathered together one Sun
day to hear the old minister preach
one of his old sermons. Every pew
held people we'll known to each other,
and who we'll knew each others bust
ness. Nobody there but had heard
that Thomas Bepton had courted An
ME Redwood, and how all was going
on we'll, when the two grandfathers
quarfelled about an acre of ground in
a stony unpreductive spot, and a fam
ilv feud commenced, and they we're
separated. Annie was six.and-twenty
now, and had never had another suit
or-and Thomas had left home for
good. And there the obstinate old
grandfathers, sat, not caring a whit
for all the trouble they had caused,
and never forgiving each others tres
passes, despite the fact that they re-
poated the Lords prayer together ev-
cry Sunday
Sometimes in summer there would
be strange boarders from the city in
church: but now it was winter, and
every one wondered to see u tall old
woman in a great plaid, old-world-
looking cloak, and fur hood and a
deep cap border, come into church,
and scat herself in back pew Who
she was no one could guess, and why
she came to church with such a cold
as she. seemed to have, was q wonder
to all. She coughcd lnud and long
interruPting- theRermon and the pray
ers, and at last was solzed with such q
fit of choking, that every head was
turned. She seemed to try to rise, but
found herself unablc TO DO SO. Then
Annie Redwood, leaning toward her
mother, whispered: Y s
"It's shame. People onght to be
more Christian-like IN their conduct.
I'll go and help her out"
Then she arose and went softly down
the aisle, and beut over the old lady
and whispered something, on which
the poor old soul arose and took her
arm, and they went out of church TO-.
gether. The coughing was heard out.
side for q moment or two, but the SER
vices went on as before, ana no one
Wondered that Annie Redwood did not
return.
The family expected to find her when
they reached home, of course; but she
was not there. She did not come in to
dinner, nor did she come TO tea. BY
evening much alarm was felt, and iii
guries were made, bat without avail.
No one had seen the girl since she left
the church doors.
There was a Sunday train to a large
city, and man kept watch at the sta.
tien all the day. He, seeing fewer pas.
sengers on Sunday than at any other
time, had noticed them all.
The old woman in the plaid cloak
had cone to the station, but Miss Red
wood was not with her.
A young man spoke to the old lady
may, she had his arm but he might
have been a stranger who was assist.
ling her. No one could tell. .t
The old lady could not be traced
after that, and nothing more WAS heard
of Annie Redwood.
Many thought the old woman was
some dreadful person in disguise, who
had murdered the handsome Annie for
the watch ana ring she wore. Then
too. she had quite little sum in her
pocket; for she had money left hel
by her aunt, aud was not dependent
ON her fathers gifts Of pocket money
as the ether girls were.
The woods were searched, the ponds
| dragged, but in vain; and the poor girI
was at last given up for lost.
The old people had been very crue.
to her about Thomas; now they shed
bitter and unavailing tears. How
much better would it have been to lei
Annie marry and have her still Will
them
The old grandfathers- shook handi
for the first time for years. The fami
lies were reconciled; but Annie wa!
gone, and Thomas was gone, and wha
was the use
"If only l knew what became of my
| girl" sighed Mrs. Redwood,
"Ah, yes, and if knew my boy wa
alive" said Mrs. Benton.
They were all very sad, but gooC
country people never stay away from
church for that.
Sunday after Sunday they met witt
their sad faces, and the black garment
they had put on.
And a year passed aud it was th
day Annie had disappeared and the
had all gone as usual, and were goini
homeward.
Mrs. Redwood was ip tears.
81 think of Annie all day to-day,
she said. "Oh it is moro than ca
bear. Who was that cid woman