The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-08-21

AN Echo. "But, Aunt Sophia, you
wished to come"
The VoIoE (after q pause). $50 did
wish to come. What Of that ? 1 did not
expect to stay forever, though. Oh,
these Latin races | They will always en-
Joy idle poverty as long as there is a
fiesta to be kept, and we shall continue
to pity them as children of the sunny
south to the end of the chapter"
A silence ensued, and Mr.. Chambers,
with guilty sensation, not unmingled
with embarrassment, rang the bell.
For reply, the hammers tapped, with
saw accompaniment, the parrot clamor-
ed, and the cook trolled his song, clash
ing dishes about
"Oonfound It'll 1 will try the bell
once more, and go away" he thought.
just then he fell over stove-pipe,
and was unexpectedly precipitated into
an apartment. 1t represented tempor-
ary chaos; chairs and tables were hud-
died in corners, stand of flowers leaned
against the wall, a trowel and some
mortar occupied the center OF the floor.
Two masons stood, with their hands on
their hips, in attitudes of repose, watch
ing the movements of third, who, with
his feet still resting on a chair, had
thrust the whole upper portion OF his
body into q square hole cut in the wall
for the purpose of investigating the
chimney. The somewhat unidentified
advent of Mr.. Chambers over the recum-
bent stove-pipe did not surprise the
masons in the least. His visit was
clearly none of their affair; but he sue
ceeded in eliciting from them that the
signora was to be found further on, be-
fore the man up the chimney concluded
to come down, and began to attack that
ori6ce with the stove-pip much as old
prints represent the assault of batter
lng-rams on walled cities.
The situation was Becoming ludicrous.
Mr.. Chambers smiled somewhat grimly,
aud crossed an anteroom toward the
Voice, prepared to bow profoundly on
the next thre shold.
The VOICE. "This Agatha is clever
creetur, and does not understand one
word utter. What is che laughing at
now, wonder? Look, Agatha, this
picture is horse"
Here was the owner Of the Voice at
last. She was an elderly lady, wearing
spectacles, and at the present moment
her costume consisted of a Balmoral
petticoat, linen sacque, and a white
night-cap placed over her gray curls,
somewhat askew, to protect them from
the mortar dust in the dining-room.
"Ahem 1 havej called, madam
began Mr.. Chambers, hat in hand, and
paused.
"EhP Gracious ! who is thatP" she
exclaimed, and fed.
Mr.. Chambers put his hat firmly on
his head, found his way back to the
corridor, and was about to stalk away
through the still open main door, when
a circumstance occurred which not only
altered his intention, but the course of
his whole subsequent life.
A door further along the passage was
suddenly burst open, stifed feminine
scream reached his ears, and volume
of smoke poured forth into the corridor.
Good Heavens was the house on fire ?
He rushed to the spot, and found him
self in a large salon, already rendered
densely Opaque by smoke, and as he did
80, a woman, young and fair, despite
the obscurity of that atmosphere, COM
ing toward him, paused, recoiled, then
held out both hands in glad recognition.
Paul !" she said, in low, tremulous
voice.
"Annei"
There they stood, with hands clasped,
gazing at each other, the smoke wreaths
gathering and billowing about them.
lit REKINDLEs AN OLD FLAME.
The man and woman thus brought un-
expectedly face to face continued to look
into each others eyes in silence for a
space of time which seemed long, so
fraught was it with deep emotion, but
which in reality was scarcely moments
duration. A wave of color swept over
the sensitive, mobile features of Paul
Chambers, and was reflected in those of
his companion, succeeded by pallor in
both, only while her lips trembled, he
compressed his own firmly.
"Why are you here9" he finally de-
manded harshly.
"I have lived in Florence during the
past year, she replied, with forced COM
posure, tears suffusing her eyes.
Another question rose to his lips; he
checked it, and released her hands. She
uttered little sob, and hid her face in
her handkerchief.
Paul Chambers became aware that the
chimney was belching forth smoke, that
the masons stood in group in the door,
with Agatha, and the cook, in his white
cap, skirmishing in the rear; and that
Aunt Sophia, owner OF the Voice, was
advancing to the front, hastily adjusting
cashmere robe, and lace cap on hel
head.
"What are we to do nowP" she ex
claimed in accents of despair, and wal
answered by chOros of sneezes anC
coughs from the assembled company.
"Open the window" suggested Pau
Chambers, promptly, and himself threw
wide the easement.
"To be sure" assented Aunt Sophia
in admiration and establishment, 90
really like to meet a man who know