The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-12-19
A NIGHT IN THE MOUNTAINS.

Tom Sewer, finding that his wife
Betty did not recover health of boly or
mind after the death of her only child,
Lou, took her up to the mOuntaias. He
had strong, light wag IN, suited to the
dangerous roads in the gaps, and cou-
pie of stout Canadian ponies He him
self drove. DIR. Fred Keyes, Mrs.
Sewers cousin, went with them, partly
as companion for Betty. Tom Sewer
hardly felt that he could claim to he
called q companion or intimate friend Of
his wife, dear as they were TO each other.
You're younger than 1, Fred, he
said. "You read the same books as
Betty. You can fall into her ways OF
thinking, ehp I've always been busy
man in the couutry-fond of fishing, OF
caucuses, or dance, or anything that
brought folks together"
"But you've given that all mp since
you were marriedP" eying him keenly.
Tom pulled his scrubby beard.
" Yes, of course. 'Twasn't her way.
But it had coarsened me, no doubt.
Well, you'll look after Betty, Fred, oil
this journey? Try and cheer her up
bit?"
Nobody must think that this history
is to be a repitition of the old play of the
trusting husband betrayed by his wife
and friend. Fred Keyes was most sus
ceptible fellow, as far as plump, tender
young girls were concerned but he was
not likely t. medde with the affections
OF woman old enough to be his mother,
lean aud hungry-eyed to boot Tom
Sewer humored her like n spoiled child,
in way that disgusted his cousin. He
had, indeed, no patience with the habit
of indulging women as though they were
helpless babies. Fred had half a mind
to bring this one to her senses by a sharp
pull of common-sense. Yet he had .
strong curiosity to know the meaning OF
those hungry, demonstrating eyes OF
hers. 5 Sometimes he had caught an un-
guarded look III them that reused in him
an eager pity, AM gave her for moment
stronger power over him than the most
beautiful woman.
They left the low bottoms of the SIlu.
da RIVER where the Sewer plantations
lay, and, crossing the Nantahela Noun
talns, reached the high table-lands o.
North Carolina. For two or three weeks
they passed slowly through the mightiest
peaks OF the Appalachian chain now
going down into some fertile valley, Will
its solitary, dilapidated farmhouse now
into some vast canon or succession o.
gorges, fastnesses inhabited only by the
bear or wolf or up into the heights
while the clouds wrapped the base of th'
mountain Mt their feet.
Tom himself, as Keyes soon found
was an inc )mparable comrade with whom
fn no Ha MOO oil
GUS, full of practical good sense and in
formation. Whether it was politics
mica mining, bear batting, or q weed o
bird by the wayside that attracted Fred
Sewers knowledge of it was full and ac
curate. Fred spoke of this to his cousil
Betty one day.
She nodded indifferently.
"Mr. Sewer has been closer studen
than is usually supposed, she said, il
her thin, pleasant voice.
The sweetest. tempered man, too
that l ever knew" pursued Fred, watch
ing her jealously.
She nodded again, smiled civilly, an
turned her eyes again on the lofty peak
above her, the inexplicable questionin
look rising in her face slowly.
"You take very little interest in facts
Frcu pefblSJeu. ~ observe you beluOl
listen to Sewers explanations.
She did not answer for a moment.
"When 1 travelled over these mouI
tains before, other meanings were give
10 them than profitable timber-lands
or investments for capital in mining.
That afternoon Ere and Sewer wake
on ahead.
You brought Cousin Betty here o
your wedding ioumey?" Keyes askeC
"No. She never was in the mountain
before. 1t is all new TO her.
DIR. Keyes made a note of this poin
Here was chapter, and, he suspected,
chapter full of meaning, in Mrs. Sewer
life, of which her husband had been keI
in total Ignorance.
After this Fred used to watch wit
wrath and pity Sewers behavior to h
wife. Day and night his GUARDIANSHIP
was unceasing, anxious, deprecatinI
Tom was the most frank, hearty huma
q being in the world but with his wife
was never at ease a chill in body al
soul seemed to fall on him whenever 81
looked at him. Yet there were little i
eidents now and then which made Key
laugh to himself. There was somethil
absurd TO him in the spectacle OF a ms
Vehementy in love with his own VIII
aad she both middle-aged and homel
One night the men occupied the san