The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-12-19

from his breast Fred, as he handed il
to him, saw that it had belonged to his
dead child
eyes," stammered Tom, 81 try to
keep little Lou near me. It's horribly
empty world since she went, Keyes."
You have Betty"
Betty She died to me years ago !"
he said, passionately. There was an
awkward silence. Even Fred, curious
as he was, was sorry for this outbreak.
Tom came to him the next morning.
"L must explain what / said to you
last night, Mr.. Keyes." "
"No, not word. I.shall never think
OF it again"
"But prefer to set you right. The
trouble is but a trifle, after all. The
truth is, Betty and / were married hasti-
ly. / had been waiting on her a long
time, but with no hope and she sud
denly changed her mind and married
me. She is very fond of me. 1 don't
want you to think, Keyes, that she is
not fond of me--the mostamiable, care
full wife-and a capital housekeeper ;
there's not duty she has neglected.
But there is not that sympathy between
us, in taste or opinion, which / could
wish. have fried, too, to accommo-
date myself to her I've tried ever since
the day we were married. But l can {
i can't hit the keynote, somehow. /
shall some day, though, please God"
They had gradually assembled range
after range, until the vast spurs of the
Blue Ridge and Nantahela swept down.
ward from them, and the clonds lay bill
lowed like sea at the base of the
heights which they had reached. Late
one October afternoon they came to the
little village of Waynesville, n drowsy
hamlet hung upon the edge of lofty
summit, shadowy peaks ramparting it
the sky, as it seemed, threatening to
sink down upon it at every moment.
During the last two days Mrs. Seviel
Lad grown more and more silent. Natural
ly,she had keen eye for odd phases OF
character, and shrewd little turn OF
humor which had brought out every
ludicrous point of the journey, greatly tc
Freds amusement. She had ceased to
notice anything now, and moved ano
spoke like woman III n dream. Hel
eyes were contracted, her features set
tied in dark lines.
Mr:Sevier watched her anxiously, ant
vaiuly brought out one little vial of
homeopathic pills after another.
"rhe evil spirit of the mountains has
laid his hold upon you," said Keyes
laughingly, to her, as they entered the
little inn. "She has been here before,
lie said to himself, nodding sagaciously
"Whatever ghost it is she sees i'll thest
mountains, is more real to her than poor
Tom or all the long years he has givel
her."
The tiny inn, with porches as large n
the interior, was wrapped in mist as the,
opened the outer door. The hostess,
gaunt, friendly-eyed woman, sat besid,
a roaring fire with Que or two cronies
She led Mrs. Sewer mp stairs, while Ton
and Fred went ont to the stable.
"We're powerful full of company to
day." she said "rhere's two gentlemel
from Georgia hyah, a,huntin'. But II
give you uns the big room. Oh, you'v
bin hyah before" rs Mrs. Sewer hsstil,
passed before her and opened the dool
"Jes' make yersels at home then"
Mrs. Server stopped, looking slowl
, about her. She stood in n small, squar
, room, the floor covered with faded ra
carpet; dirty patches of blue wal
{ paper with gigantic flowers clinging t
! the delicately- grained walls of popla
planks. A log smouldered on tn
q hearth. Outside of the little windo
opened spectral country of drivin
mists and dizzy heights. An ordinar
> apartment enough in these mountain-rt
: gions; but some secret presence in
seemed to grasp and hold the woma
who had entered it with power. He
:. chin began to culver; she closed ht
eyes, rs ifto shut out a sight that paine
!. them.
u She was neither weak nor ba
woman, and the force of this OLD passiu
which had laid hold on her since sh
{ came into the mountains shocked an
n alarmed her. What was it to her thi
in this very room, years ago, her lii
!. had risen TO heights which it coul
/ never touch again Was she not To
Sewers wife? She told herself, to-
d that she had been a faithful, affection
8 ate wife to him. She had never bee
e able to make companion of hin
perhaps becaue she was forced to con
!" pare him continually with a man
n much higher type. But that was NJ
her fault.
This old memory should not NAL
l. her less faithful
n Course the gun -
> There was crash, as if the weapC
" had heen dashed to the ground.
Il At the first sound of the voice, Mr.
Sewer shivered as if she had been struc
III and stood motionless.
/. The rooms were separated by TIA
Is partition of Planks, and the door b
tween was unlatched. Two men we
t. cleaning their rifles after the day
a hunting. The elder, with an oat
3 gave his a kick as it lay on the floor.
ot 81 shouldn't let bad days luck p
me out of temper, colonel, " the 9th
il dragged out, lazily.
is 81 never had any but accursed luz
ip in this place. 1 told you 1 did not wa