The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-06-13

girls could remain longer; l am sure
it would be a great comfort to the
poor old lady"
Alice needed no persuasion. She
was kind.hearted, amiable girl, and
her sympathies had been enlisted for
this lonely, infrm old lady, her moth
er's aunt, who seemed so forgotten and
alone in the world. Her own mother
had been of very delicate health, and
the young girl, accustomed to attend
upon her, had learned many little
ways Of nursing and comforting the
sick, and making dainty little dishes
to tempt feeble appetite. Then she
could read to Aunt Curtis in the low,
sweet voice which had been such a
comfort TO her mother, and she felt
also what the old lady had said, that
"the very sight of a bright young face
in the silent house was as cheering as
ray Of sunshine on a cloudy day"
So Alice remained at Copelev Farm,
and her aunt aud cousin, rejoicing at
the success of their innocent little
scheme, returned to the city to vel.
come Charlie aud his friend.
1t was disappointment to fn1 that
Charlie had arrived without his friend
Mr.. Warrington. That gentleman, it
appeared, had had a previous engage
ment to spend few days with q rela-
tive, whom they found awaiting them
upon the arrival of the steamer but
he would make his appearance in
week or so, and meantime Mrs. SUIT
ton wrote to Alice that she could re.
main at Copeley until Charlie and Isa-
bel went up for her.
Alice had no objection. She was
greatly enjoying her visit to the Farm.
1t was the first of October, when the
country is most beautiful, with ling
ering of summer glory mingling with
the deepening lines of autumn.
She was an impassioned lover of ma
ture, and yet, city-bred, had never be-
fore seen nature in this glorious revel-
alton of autumnai beauty, and it dawn
ed upon her like the reading of some
new and beautiful poem.
Strange that people are content to
live in the city, when the country is so
beautiful" sho thought, one evening,
as standing knee-deep in ferns, be-
meath canopy of crimson and gold
foliage, she gazed in dreamy delight
over the lovely scene before her.
A rustling in the neighboring thick
ct startled her. There was a sudden
shot, a whirring past of brood Of par
tridges, and the next moment a dog
rushed forth, deliberately followed by
gentleman in gray shooting dress.
AS his eyes fell upon the young girl,
standing in graceful, half.startled
manner, he lifted his hat courteously.
81 hope | have not alarmed you," he
said. 81 would nct haYe fired if l had
known lady was near"
The dog bounded back with dead
partridge, which he laid at his master s
feet.
Alice took it up gently.
"Poor little thing! 1t was cruel to
kill it !" she sail pityingly, as she lift
ed her brown eyes, full of tender COM
passion, to the face of the stranger.
He smiled-a curious smile, in which
appeared interest and amusement.
"Then l am sorry that have killed
it, and, in penance, will not fire anoth-
er shot to-day"
81 have no right to require that sac
rifice Of you" she answered shylY, as
she turned away.
But he again addressed her:
"It appears that our pathways lie in
the same direction. If you are going
to Mrs. Curtis's, will you permit me to
accompany you? The lady is an old
friend Of mine, and | was ON my way
to see her. 1t was for her that l in
tended these birds"
81 am staying with my aunt Curtis,
she answered, "and in consideration Of
the motive, forgive you for shooting
the poor birds"
Thsy walked in the lingering sun.
set, slowly along the wood-path that
led to the farm house, pausing a mo-
ment Oh the brow Of the eminsnce
that overlooked it, as it lay like a
brown birds nest, embowered in trees,
in the meadows below.
"Time has forgotten this little nook,
remarked the gentleman. at is as uR'
changed now as l remember it fifteen
years ago"
"YOu do not reside in this neighbOr-
hood, then?"
"NO. My home is in the sunny
South. But when a boy used to be
frequent visitor to this neighbor-
hood. Perhaps l ought to introduce
myself. 1 am Philip Warrington, Of
B., and nephew of DR.. Gray"
DIR. Gray was her aunt Curtis's ply
sician, and resided on the next farm