The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-10-03


| had encountered in the wood glide
into the room and take her place op-
posite, and this she did without notic-
ing me and although l had been raw.
enously hungry just before, somehow
her presence so affected me that l
made but poor breakfast.
AS we finished the poor girl rose
and glidod away again, shortly after
followed by her mother.
'Poor girlP / said, inyoluntarily,
and then / started, vexed at my indis-
erection, for the rector laid his hand
upon my arm, saying softly
Thank youP
He looked at me, as interpreter !
it, as if he would like to be question
ed, and l ventured TO say:
HAS she been always so z?
No, no, said the old man, sadly;
the flower was bright and vigorous
once, but blight came upon it, and
since then it has faded slowly till it
droops az you see it now. Thy king
dom come, Thy will be done
He said these last words in an OIL
most inaudible tone, but | caught two
or three, and | was able mentally to
| FIJI the rest.
i can hardly think it was that,
continued the old rector, but she has
faded away ever since this time three
years ago, when gentleman of about
your age was down here fishing
The old story said, bitterly.
No, my friend, no he was staying
at little farm close by. and asked
leave to fish, just as you have, aud |
showed him a trife of hospitality. l
believe him to have been a gentleman
in every sense of the word, and
at times | think he must have made a
strange impression on my poor child.
He was only here for three days, and
we have never seen him since. Per-
haps it is only fancy, and my poor
girls ailment may proceed from other
causes. But come, / will show you
the water
Leading the way, the old gentleman
took me across the sioping meadows,
and left me at last by as beautiful a
trout stream as ! ever saw.
There said he, Il won't stop, but
if there is no sign of rise, come and
have a bit of lunch. We shall dine
at two. so as to leave you.free for the
evening, when the trout are sure to
come on
Before / could utter word of pro.
test he had gone; a1d then, with that
delicious trout stream before me, my
tackle in hand, the May flies darting
up and down, l, an ardent fisherman,
forgot all and sat down upon a stump,
trying to bring up old memories IA
halfforgotten story told me by quaint
Ralph Darloy, my old friend and
companion, who had told me to go
and try this water; old Ralph, the
misogy mist, the dry, grumpy old fell
low, who had told me one night. in
his chambers in the Temple, in one OF
his rare bursts of confidence, as We
sat at the open window smoking, how
he had once seen a girl whom he
could have loved with all his heart
but poverty, dI cad Of refusal and NOR
raj coWardice had kept him back.
4 have got itr l exclaimed, sud
denly, after sitting there for fully an
hour; and jumping up, | looked al
my watch and the leaf Of time table
, Yes, could just do it-catch the train
up. But could | get by the rectory
, unseen
tried and found another way
across to the lane by which came
and making all ths haste | could,
t just painted up to the little station al
the up-train came in.
Two hours later | was in Ralph'i
room, whore he was poring over dry
5 brief
'HulloP he said, looking up, q
thought you were off fishing.
+. Yes said, putting on the gross
z deceiver. Il did run down to the place
8 you told me Of
2 Indeed 7 he said, looking interest
: ed, hut sinking back, half closing hi
t eyes, with sad smile upon his lips
e which seemed to me to say, 'Ah
that could have been =
It yes l replied, the trout are OF
It wonderfully, May flies in abundance
e l hadn't the heart to fish alone, and S,
It / came back to fetch you without wet
g ting line Come, let's start by tn
first train in the morning, You max
l. plenty of money now. Have a day
t, His eyes sparkled as he grasped m.
: hand.
This is kind of you, old fellow h
said. Il should enjoy it above al
g things, and-yes, | could spare a day
It But no-no, he said, sadly, 4 won
j CO. -.