The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-08-07

'"Thank you; you are so kind and
thoughtful / knew you would like the
poor little wife. Sometimes I reproach
myself sadly for bringing her here, but
what could do-starve? And we came
pretty near it."
go PhilipP' said Miss Laura, with
shuddering voice, $50 poor as that 2"
1 held my breath. Philip was mar
ried, then. 1t was his wife Miss Laura
had been to see that morning. No need
to fear for the rector's happiness now
my suspense and suspicion had been
both foolish and groundles.
"Poor, indeedl" he repeated, most
savagely. 'Do you know if it had not
been for that fifty dollars you lent me,
she would have suffered for the neces-
saries of life? And when went 10 my
uncle, and told him had lost my money
coming over, and almost my life, he made
me an allowance of ten dollars week.
What would he say if he knew had
married woman not worth one penny
It would be total ruin to me If he knew
of it; but I am sure, dear cousin, that
you will never, by look or word, to your
| dearest friend whisper the intelligence.
1 would have kept It a secret, even from
you-:ndeed would-but that feared
the poor little creature would die if she
did not see some friend. Above all,
don't whisper it to the priest, he whis-
gered; "I'm afraid of him, and L fancied
he drew nearer her.
"You need not be; he is the soul of
honor" and there was slight shade of
contempt in her voice.
"But you have promised" he said,
eagerly.
"And / know how to keep my word"
she answered, proudly.
After that he was very gay, but 1
think his manner Jared upon her mood.
She proposed that he should go up
stairs and see her mother, who had
asked for him, and together they left
the room, It did not take long for me
to gain my own room, where sat down
to revolve things in my mind, coolly and
dispassionately.
Mr.. Waldron had sent her the lilies,
and the accompanying note-of that 1
did not doubt. There had probably been
some misunderstanding the evening be-
fore. and the gift was offering.
The lovers quarrel, if it had taken so
serious complexion, had been caused in
some way by this handsome cousin, who
had burdened Miss Laura with his Sc
cret. The rector had evidently learned
of her former attachment to Philip, and
perhaps, being but mortal, was jealous.
His brief visit in the afternoon had con-
firmed me in my opinion, as he gener-
ally staid to tea.
"Now, Philip should certainly keep
away" said Reason and Common-sense.
" His place is beside his poor young
wife, especially if she is sick; and Miss
Laura ought to tell him so.
But Philip chose to come, often-at
all hours. Philip chose to attend st.
Pauls, and show his beautiful Greek
profile in Miss Laura's own pew, and I
fancied that Mr.. Walderon grew uneasy,
for certainly Laura's cousin did not act
like q Benedict. 1 am sorry that he
gave me occasion to suspect, sometimes,
that he was quite mean enough to pique
the rector by his lover-like ways toward
his cousin.
One evening I came down the wide
staircase on an errand for Miss Knox.
Only the moonlight shone in the hall.
Miss Laura stood by the door of en-
trance, her back toward me, and the
words she said came distinctly to my
ear.
eff you cannot trust me, if you cannot
take my simple word, Mr.. Walderon.
there can be no more between us. If
you cannot trust me wholly" and
there her voice broke. A low murmur
came in response, and he was gone.
| / was back in Miss Laura's room some
time before she came up. oh, how pale
she was, and her eyes wore such a
strained, hard look
"Renie," she said, "are you here ?"
"Why, Miss Laura, don't you see
me ?" 1 asked, frightened at her pallOr
and the way she moved her hands.
"No; my head is giddy; it is all
dark; it is-all over. Where are you ?"
caught and led her to the chair, but,
as I put her down, she tainted quite
away. That was the commencement of
a serious illness. For nearly ive weeks
sat beside her, listening to her wild,
delirious talk, and there learned how
devotedly she had loved the rector of
st. Pauls, and that some of the med
ding people of his congregation had
told him of her clandestine meetings
with her cousin. This, with other in
formation of a like nature, and the fool
ish freedom of her cousin himself, had
led to a total disruption. In her grief
and anger at his want of confidence in
her, she had forbidden him the house.
Night and day did not leave her bed
side, till, quite through accident, ]
learned that Mr.. Walderon had been
sick also, and was on the eve of jour
ney to England.
"He looks dreadfully; you'd hardly
know him for the same man" said my
informant; and 1 knew by her manner
that the blame was all laid at Miss Lau-
ra's door. I inquired the particulars.
If my informant was right, he was tc
start that very afternoon.
/ My resolution was taken on the in