The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-09-12


"Then it is to be hoped you are GO
ing on a visit" remarked Walter Matt
land, pleasantly; "for November days
are not the pleasantest for tourist"
81 am not going on a tour, SIR"
Tom besitated only n moment then
both Of his listeners were conscious Of
new earnestness in his voice r'I
should like to tell you, gentlemen, why
l want my holiday then. The Goth is
to be my wedding day"
Mr. Dart returned quietly to his
writing. Mr.. Maitland arose from his
seat aud moved to the fire, turning his
back to Tom. Before the eyes of both
the partners there hovered face which
had led them, too, to dream Of posi-
bic weddiug.day- dreams frou which
they had so lately been awakened.
1t would be hard, with these memo-
ries rising thick, to talk to their favor
ite clerk Of his good fortune yet it
was not in Walter Maitland's nature
to lot any selfish feeling prevent him.
"Indeed, Leslie !" he said, 81 am
surprised ; but very glad, of course, to
hear it. l prognosticate every happi-
ness for yeur wife. Of course l can
not do 80 for you until know who she
is"
"You know her we'll, gentlemen"
said Tom, flushing. "Her father, Col.
onel Conyngham, is my mothers cou.
sin. We have rarely visited them ex-
cept when they were alone, because
at my mothers cottage, Of course, we
could not entertain their guests. We
have always beeG-as old friends and
relatives should be; and have al
ways loved Isabel But it was neces.
sary for us to wait little. Though it
would be difficult for you to realize the
fact, gentlemen, marriage is an ex-
pense, and debt"
"You can go, Leslie" remarked Mr..
Dart, without raising his head.
"And the holiday, sir ?"
"Take your holiday whom you choose,
only don't make such fuss about it."
"And is there nothing more you in
tended to say to me, Mr.. Maitland ?"
inquired Tom.
81 should say" remarked Walter,
with an angry CLEAN in his eyes, ait is
an irreparable mistake you are max
ing, to marry on yo,w income, unless
you had chosen a wife in your own po-
sition and used to such life as your
mothers"
"My mothers life was such life as
Isabel's, at Isabel's age" said Tom, \
and for moment his face was really
handsome in It's flush of honest pri lie !;
"and Isabel has known what my moth
er's life is for many year past.
Would / marry her under any false
pretenses ?"
II presume, then, that Mics Conyng-
ham knows the extent of your in
come ?" asked Maitland with compress.
sed lips "or have you, in your foolery,
been representing yourself as partner
in the bank ? Her eyes are epeu to the
folly of what she is doing, eh ?"
"She knows everything, sir," rejoin.
ed Tom, his eyes much puzzled, and q
little angry, ''and she does not call it
folly"
"You can 60"
The clerk left the room, closing the
door quietly behind him.
"They must have been harassing let
ters," he said to himself, trying TO ac-
count for tAe partners impatience.
"They have a good deal of anxiety
which we subordinates are spared" -
And thinking this, he took seat and
wrote away more diligently than ever,
while his fellow-clerks wondered at his
mood.
Leslie ought to CO."
Those were the words which at last
broke the stiffness of the room which
Tom had left.
eyes"
Then the days work went on to q
close, and the partners, separating on
the bank steps, went their several
ways, each one thinking very long
ingly Of one to whom both had been
faithful. This was The first night for
many months which either had spent
without these bright, vague dreams of
what his home might be with Isabel at
its head and their hearts we're filled
with resentment against the winner Of
the prize which they had coveted.
"You knew this morning that she was
to marry some one else-why should
your thoughts be harder, now that you
know aoho has won her ?" So a voice
seemed arguing with them, but below
all the angry thoughts surged on.
For him to be the one to gain her
he, paid servant in the bank !"