The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-03-06

j
"Would you have thought he would
have grown so strong-looking and hand
some, Grace r.
OF leading strings. never believed he
was in decline any more than / was"
He's coming home to visit u.s." said
Irene, with the least little flush on her
fair cheek. "He says he has sent this
picture as forerunner."
shouldn't wonder il you fell in
love with him when he comes" said
Grace, mischievously. "You're half in
love with that picture now, and 1 could
see that he liked you before he went
away. He must be intended for you, for
you've given all your beaux the mitten,
which / guess you must be doing to
leave the coast clear for him."
4" have loved you, Irene, ever since
you and Grace visited me at the old
farm, after mothers death"
/" liked and pitied You then," said
Irene, "but never thought of love, at
least don't think did,"
:" I don't know as I should, indeed 1
don't think / should, have been living
now only for violent shock I received
while you we're there"
What was it ?" questioned Irene,
eagerly.
"Do you remember talk you aud
Grace had on Valentine eve about trying
experiments to find out who was your
true lover2"
"I think / do-about walking down
cellar at dead of night with looking
glass. We were sitting by the freight.
Yes, that evening is distinct in ray
memory"
"Well, you know how morbid and
fanciful was, / thought it over after
you went to bed, and at midnight took
lamp and glass and went down cellar. I
expected to see my coffin, What de You
think L saw instead ?"
"What ?" asked Irene, breathlessly.
"Your face looked over my shoulder
in the glass. 1t was so unexpected that
it frightened me SO had Just strength
enough left to get back to my room.
Why, that was singular, Paul said
Irene, with her blue eyes fixed on his
handsome face. "Of course I was in
bed asleep. 1t seems foolish to attribute
such things to any cause but our own
imaginations, and yet belief in the
supernatural clings to me. though Grace
is always laughing at me about it.
just III time to explain that mys-
terious supernatural affair."" said the
lovely Grace, walking in upon them
through the folding doors of the porlor.
"I've just been an unintentional Estner
to your thrilling account of your mid
night exploit four years ago.
Why, what do you know about it ?"
both asked.
You saw your lovely cousins face in
the glass and thought it was her spirit |
which your influence had called away
from her body" said Grace in tone Of |
playful banter. "Well, I'm sorry to |
spoil your spiritual theories, but the |
truth is, Irene was in the habit of walk |
in her sleep occasionally, and on that |
night she chose the cellar as the scene |
of her pedestrian feat"
"Why, Grace, you never told me
that" said Irene in surprised tone.
" You said 1 was in the sitting-room,
but 1 never dreamed"
'I did not intend you should, inter-
rupted Grace. 81 knew it would fright |
en- you half to death, it was such large, |
caveruous, horribly suggestive old cell |
lar, and you were always SO afraid |
of doing something dreadful in your |
walking fits. woke and missed you. |
1 concluded you were at your usual |
tricks. L couldn't find the lamp, so sup |
posed you had taken it to light your |
path. stole down stairs softly. What |
was my surprise when / opened the |
chamber door into the kitchen to see our |
invalid cousin hurrying from the direc- |
tion of the cellar door like one pursued |
He dropped the glass in hishaste, which |
Mary found the next morning and told |
us about in a stage whisper. AS soon
as he went out of sight opened the cell |
lar door. You, Irene, were Just ascend
ing the steps serenely with the lamp in |
your hand. 1 did not speak, but made
way for you and you passed up stairs.
followed. 1 supposed that Paul had
seen you and been half frightened TO
death, butSEhen he began to improve
so fast il seemed that his fright had |
operated benedcially."
Well" said Irene, "to think you
never told me of this before I"
81 bided my time. Don't you ever
say, Paul, that a woman cannot keep a
secret. / always thought you were made |
for each other. When you began to |
correspond L knew pretty well how it
would end" Then the comical aspect
OF the affair presented itself to the fertile
fancy of Grace, and she laughed hearth
ly. The others joined her, too happy
b. feel anything but amused over it.
Then il seems, Irene, that the pleas
ant little fancy OF mine which / have
cherished 80 long has been rudely swept
away by this terribly matter-Of-faet
cousin Of ours, said Paul.
YES. said she, "and feel sort of
sorry.
- M glad the illusion lasted till now.
II doesn't alter the fact that we were
made for each other, said Paul, drawing
her fondly toward him and kissing her.
That night began TO live, and you
were the unconscious instrument Of my