The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-05-29

day and emblttered lie Tor MIN. de
dreaded to meet friend or foe for fear Of
hearing opinions which he could not
combat, and they all wondered that
he would not join in the general cavll.
Had not Margaret thrown him over for
a hashy fellow, about whom nobody
knew anything beyond what he chose to
tell Wasn't resentment the proper
attitude for. Tilted lover To be sure
he felt very hard toward the handsome,
well-to-do gentleman who had stepped
between him and happiness-who slipped
80 easily into the position for which
John had served twice seven years.
He could scarcely bear the sight OF
him dawdling about Bevis' farm-as
though to the manor born-but he was
obliged to own that Strathley showed
SURPRISING good nature, an indifference
to his rudeness that was provoking; and
that he was just as ready to be civil and
friendly to him afterward.
''Surely, this is hard world, thought
Lorrimer, " in which it is necessary to
love ones enemy, though he has
stolen the apple of ones eye." Wasn't
it requiring little too much of human
nature, or, at least, of Lorrimer's ma
ture Still, if he happened to meet
Strathley on the highway and Jared on
a piece with him, talking of the pros
poets of numbering the coming winter;
about provisioning the camp and engag-
ing men, and of that kind of rough-and.
ready life, Lorrimer could not deny but
he was pleasant, companionable fellow
enough, with deal of backbone, who
knew his work and the sort of people
with whom he had to deal.
"I mean to have taste of this camp
life myself this winter" he said, by the
way. "I want to know what it is like |;
to become brave enough not to heed
poor fate, hard couch, or bowling
wolves"
"You won't find it as easy as lying, 1
reckon" said Lorrimer ga little of
that kind of thing goes a great way"
81 dare say. Are you going to join
my gang2"
q chance to sell out. want to raise
some ready money and be off to Cali
fornia, where it grows faster than in this
soil"
"Ah, going to leave for good and all :?
Any disappointment ? She hasn't gone
back on you, eh9"
"Who do you mean ?" asked John,
fercely.
"T6e girl you are going to leave be-
hind you."
81 have no sweetheart" said John,
evasively.
"More's the pity-it's love that makes
the world go round.
"No, it isn't-it's money"
| ,,o,, xuopk YoO,1au NV hau lot mo
help you"
"You No, thank you, I want no
mans money"
Lorrimer did not find purchaser for
his farm before the winter set in, cold
and bitter, with angry storms and biting
frosts. He was still waiting for one
when Mr.. Strathley came from town on
dark December day, and meeting Lor-
rimer, begged he would pioneer him
through the woods to the camp.
"I suppose you know the woods as
well as your own face ?" he said.
eyes, ;" said Lorrimer "only, if it
should come on to storm as it threatens,
we may lose our reckoning. Hadn't you
better wait till the weather clears ?"
"How far do you call it ?"
"Near six miles; but it isn't like
walking on concrete pavement you
know"
"No. I'm inclined to push on to-day,
if you're willing"
They set out not long after Loon; the
sun came out and blinked at them; but
by the time they had struck into the
deep woods he had thought better of it
and retired behind a flaw of snow.
"This will all blow over, said Strath
ley, confidently.
"Or maybe we'll outstrip the storm
and reach the camp ahead ofit," agreed
l. LoIrimer.
But, though the storm seemed in no
hurry. it meant business; from slight
flaw, it grew into lazy tumult of snow
| flakes, obliterating landmarks, and max
ing the woods murky and bewildering.
"Six miles are soon travelled in the
worst weather" averred Strathley. "Its
getting confoundedly dark, though,
| Lorrimer; it seems to me we have walk
ed ten leagues already"
"I'll be blessed if it isn't the longest
six miles / ever footed" confessed Lor-
rimer. eve ought to be close upon
the camp, unless"
But Just then Strathley stumbled in
the notwithstanding darkness, and
fell, with groan over the ragged rem
nant of lightning blasted stump.
though luck" said Lorrimer, rub
bing his face with the new-fallen snow,
and chatting his hands; for Mr.. Strathley
was prone upon the ground in a dead
faint. "What if he never came to life
again? ?" Lorrimer asked himself What
would Margaret do? Would it be hap
pier for himself ?"
"Where have 1 been ?" asked Strath-
ley, suddenly, sitting upright and trying
TO look through the darkness.
"That's more than L can tell you,
answered Lorrimer. "You had a fall
that knocked the breath out of you q
spell. Do you feel better? Could you