The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-10-23

She went down to breakfast the next
morning as calm and dignified as IL she
were not absolutely certain to find there
| curious stares or averted eyes.
l. She had dressed herself for her morn
ing walk, and she made charming pic
tuTe in her trim violet cashmere, with a
single white camelia fastened on the
collar Of the rich dark velvet waistcoat !;
but Miss Beth Hurst was beautiful al
ways, with her slim, stately flgure-her
oolerless, statuesque face, her proud,
crimson lips, her marvellous hazel eyes
and her abundant golden hair.
She had finished her meal, and stood
in d hall drawing on her delicate gray
GLOW when her landlady joined her.
- Miss Hurst" she began, rather re-
luctsntly, 81 do not mean to be meddle-
some or oficious, but 1 really think
OF at to know if you mean to be the
wife Of this Mr.. Wells, or not ?"
"And really think ought to know
| Why you ask me a question that posi-
t'Dly may not seem to you impertinent P"
retorted Beth, while her largo dark eyes
began to kindle with resentment and
scorn.
Hush Do not be angry or ex-
cited, returned her interlocuter with a
warning gesture toward the breakfast
room. l wish to know, Miss Hurst,
because / am interested in your vel
fare, because like you, and would like
to have you remain with me"
(Which means that if 1 am not TO
marry the man who called here yester-
day, you wish me to give up my room, 1"
interposed the young lady, dryly.
"Well, yes," confessed the other,
coloring beneath the unblenching eyes
turned squarely upon her. "You see,
my dear, the gentleman told me your
whole story but he nobly exonerated
you from any motive Of wrong, and he
loves you very much indeed. You had
best be his wife, think, and then, no
matter if you have been the least bit
fast or indiscreet, people will forget all
about it. But Of course, il you persist
in ignoring the wishes of your relatives.
you would not find it pleasant here
among people like my puuctilious
guests"
Thanks" smiled the yonng lady !;
but whether the smile was OF irony or
graf tude the adviser could not decide.
And while she was speculating rather
obviously upon the subject. Beth finish
ed an artistic arrangement of misty tulle
about her iaunty hat and golden braids,
Ind vanished into the street.
Beth was on orphan, and until the be-
lining Of the year that was nearly
pelst, had been dependent for home
upon a brother much older than herself,
and who had treated her kindly and gen.
erously until she refused the devotion
Of Hiram Wells, whom he favored.
Hiram is my dearest friend, Beth"
he had said to her, persuasively "ever
since we we're in college together, /
have dreamed that some time he might
be nearer and dearer still. Do you re-
Apber the time he saw you first ? 1t
vas a summer day, and you we're little
maid of twelve years. Your yellow hair
hung below your waist, and was gar
landed with blue violets. With your
whitenAAuslin. skirts gathered up from
your he limbs, you were wading
through the water after lilies. He loved
you then, Beth, and his love has in
creased with your years. He is wealthy
and handsome, and he wants you for
wife. l cannot understand why you
have refused him."
because dislike him." averred the
girl, "and since / refused him have
learned to despise him thoroughly. He
has shown himself revengeful and un-
manly"
In what way ;" inquired her brother,
incredulously.
"He has tried to part me from my
friends" asserted Beth Indignantly.
"I have seen the sneers and shrugs with
which he has tried to traduce me. He
is polished cheat, dissembler without
soul or conscience. All it is very easy
for him to smile away my good name
while my brother is blind to his hy-
pocrisy."
"Nonsepse, Beth /" exclaimed her
brother in anger. "Hiram has nev er
treated you with anything but respect. "
He has threatened me, went on the
girl, white with excitement; che says
that if l will not be his wife he will
make me in the sight OF men a creature
so despicable, that the lowest of them all
would scorn me. And for what he has
said or what he has limited, the one man
whom 1 love has left me without q
word.
"I suppose you refer TO that Clarke
| Elliot" sneered her brother.
"I refer to Mr.. Elliot" she answered.
"Well, the truth of the matter is,
Beth, he returned; "that your conduct
| has been censurable. Your association
with that Elliot was highly unbecoming
and indiscreet. When disagreeable COM
ments were made, Hiram always defend
ed you. Hiram was quite right if he
coaxed or coerced the fellow to leave
you and the place. Elliot sought you
and fattered you because you amused
him, 1 suppose. But he never thought
of marrying you. Never think, Beth,
that O man Of such aristocratic preten'
sions would ever choose for a bride 8
girl without money and social distinc
ton. Hiram has acted honorably, and
you are ungrateful, Beth. He has done
what many better men might not do tC