The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-06-05


with the fear of having been seen as he
hastily hid the shining bauble in his
bosom, he left his compliments and de-
parted.
Going directly to q jewelers., he pur-
chased a small ring, with which he fast
ened the locket securely to his watch
chain, and then sauntered down the
street, in the hope of meeting Guy.
His wish was destined to be fulfilled;
for he was shortly gratified by seeing
Guy approaching, with q serene, con-
tented look on his handsome face.
As they stopped to chat, Fred, as if
anxious to conceal something, placed
his hand carelessly on his watch chain;
but Guy, as was intended, noticed the
action, and said, laughingly: "What
is it that you are 80 jealously guarding,
Fred? A love-token from some fair
lady ?"
" Yes; but for fear that it might
blight your hopes in that direction, per-
haps had better not show it you Just
at present." laughed false Fred, nerv-
ously.
"Oh, never fear for mel' said Guy,
"for 1 have already Gagged my bird, and
80 shall not prove dangerous rival to
your suit"
"Well, then, beholdl" replied Fred,
removing his hand, and disclosing to
view the tiny locket.
Guy turned pale as death; but, mas
tering his emotion by a violent effort,
he playfully insisted upon knowing the
name of Fred's charmer.
"Oh, come" said Fred, "you are
feignlng innocence; for surely you must
have often seen this trinket upon the
arm of fair Nell the Irresistible, who
has this day bestowed it upon me as a
pledge of her true love-"
Guy had stood as if turned to stone
while this fiippant speech was being rat
tied out, and then, with few common
place words, passed en-; but his tread
was not as free and elastic as before he
met Fred, and his head, which then had
been raised proudly, was now bent for
ward dejectedly; for dark cloud had
suddenly arisen, which threatened to
overshadow forever the bright morning
of his happiness.
Fred watched him pass on with a sar-
Ionic smile on his handsome yet siDis-
ter face, and thought to himself, "Ah,
my fine fellow, there's many a slip
'twixt the cup and the lip, as you may
ind to your cost; and then you will
know the consequences of standing i'll
The way of Fred Acton !"
That evening, in her luxurious home,
| Nellie watched and listened in vain for
the familiar footsteps she had learned to
know so well; and she retired to rest at
la st, sad and dispirited, and with dim
sense of impending trouble, that'was yet
too vague to sh pe itself into connected
thought.
The next morning, as the family we're
gathered around the breakfast table, a
servant entered the room with a note ad
dressed to &" Miss Pomeroy." Graspipg
it eagerly, spasmodically, Nellie tore it
open, and with blanched face read the
following laconic note:
NELLIE All is over between us.
Thank God 1 have discovered your
perfidy before it was too late. 1 had
the fullest confidence in you, Nellie
but that is past now.
/ leave for France tomorrow, never
I trust to revisit this country which
would now be but sad home for me.
Your once-devoted lover,
Guy HARTLEY.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pomeroy, occupied in
their own conversation, had not noticed
the sudden paling of their daughters
face, as she hurriedly scanned the familiar
writing, till, as she reached the fatal
termination, her eyes closed, and with q
low moan of agony she sank to the floor
in death-like swoon.
For five years Guy wandered through
| Gov Axya hn
to find forgetfulness and happiness in
constant excitement and change of scene;
but failing in this he had at last resolved
to visit again the land of his birth, if
only to mark the ravages which time had
made among his old friends. So he re-
turned to London.
Not once had a suspicion of Fred Ac-
toms treachery crossed his mind, for to
Guy he had always shown the better
part of his nature; besides the proof OF
Nellie's duplicity had seemed too con-
elusive to admit of any lingering doubt
his love might have suggested.
And Nellie? Thrown into a nervous
fever by the cruel note from Guy, she
wavered long between life and death
but finally her perfect constitution
gained the victory. and she again min
gled in the gay world OF fashion; but
certain sadness was perceptible in hel
manner, and weary look in her blue
eyes showed that her heart was not in
terested in the gay scenes by which she
was surrounded.
Vainly had Fred Acton sued for hel
hand. Feeling that he was in some
manner connected with Guys mysteri'
GUS behavior, she had only scorn to give
him. At first she had hoped that some
trivial act of hers had displeased Guy
, and he would soon return, but as thu
weeks rolled on and no word came from
) the absent one, she finally ceased to ex
pect him.
Fred Acton, after repeated refusal