The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-06-19

I wouldn't have believed it possible
/ could have been such an ass as to feel
flattered by this familiarity of Blacks,
but found myself smirking and nod
ding with great complacency. Here
we're at least half dozen of the gentry
about me who lived in big houses in my
neighborhood, that I had been going up
and down to the city with for years, yet
scarcely knew them well enough for an
exchange of civilities, and here was Black
already hand in glove with the finest of
them. It makes me sick now when 1
remember that I turned my back on
poor old White, and went toadying on
with this aristocracy. White lived in
even q smaller house than mine, and
had hard enough work to pay for that.
He had failed in business some years
before, and 1 don't know what they
| would have done without their boy Bob.
He was with me in the city, and knew
that goodly portion of the lads earn
ingG were given over to the support OF
the house. It was rather hard for Bob,
but he bore his lot with great resigna-
tion. He came over pretty often to have
game of cribbage and talk over busi-
ness matters with me, and found him
sharp enough at both. Then he had q
pleasant way with the women. Our lit
! tie Rosalie was little more than child,
but Sally used to brighten up when Bob
came in, till she got into that kink
about the Blacks.
"You'll stay here with Rosalie, won't
you, Bob, till we come back ?" I said to
young White, and as 1 spoke felt
Sally give savage pinch to my arm.
No sooner were we outside the door than
she began about poor Bob.
"It you have no regard for your
daughters future, and choose to throw
her away on a poor miserable beggar
like Bob White" began Sally.
"Why, my DEAR" broke in, "Rosa-
lies mere child. Don't begin to plan
abont her future, beg of you. She's
scarcely left off her pinafores, and if
ever there was maiden meditation, fancy
free, any where it lies in the brown
eyes of our Rosalie."
By this time we had reached the i'm
posing portal of Blacks house, and we're
soon ushered into the presence of the
satin damask and ebony. Blacks chill
dren were none of them grown, but were
precocious enough to take the lead in
conversation; and we sat for whole
mortal hour and listened to the eldest
girl hammer out upon the piano what
Mrs. Black called "reverie." I was
glad when Black took me into his Ii
brary.
But n goodly quantity of poison was
infused into Sally's system and mine be-
fore we left the big luxurious house, and
we went home together as changed as if
touched by the rod of an enchanter.
Dear me !" said Sally, "what little
cubby-hole sthis is ! / declare it's
quite like baby house I"
"I'd like to have q library like
Blacks" said 1, taking mp the refrain.
'It's nice to have q room" !" continued,
to Bob White, "where a man can take
his friends. 1t would be far pleasanter,
for instance, if you and / could have our
game of cribbage without the continual
gabble of women in our ears"
ooh, don't think 80, said Bob-"I
don't think so at all. :"
The lad looked over at Rosalie and
blushed ingenuously. The color deep
ened in Rosalie's cheeks till it went far
! ahead of the crimson in Blacks satin
.. damask upholstery, and q shy CLEAN
shot from her brown eyes that sent @
food Of light into my obtuse Uranium.
r DeRdQ TO bLllQk b1hU OtIly WIS rlBub
{ Bob White was all very we'll in his way
but no sort of a match for my daughter
. Rosalie. She was my one eve lamb
the bonniest, best, and dearest little
/ girl the sun ever shone upon. And be-
sides all this, there was the secret con
sciousness that she could, if she wanted
y to, dress Gin silk attire, and siller hac
to spare" I hadn't lived in plain way
| LII 4.
about me began to realize that although
4 Brown lived in small house, he was
4 man of no inconsiderable means. Blacl
a had managed to convey this intelligence
4 to them, and found no fault with thi
!. friendliness on his part. Old Whit
never thought of such a thing as taking
|. the seat beside me now on our way dow
y in the train; it was generally filed b.
, more popular parties, and I began t
~ take quite an interest in the social an
II political points of discussion.
IS All this cost me considerable in th
10 way of time and money. My games c
" eribbage were few and far between, an
70 1 put my name to all the subscription
they chose to get up; but didn't min
d the money, and had long since deter
W mined that the less Rosalie saw of youn
d White the better. The color grew littl
N less vivid in her rounded cheeks, and til
le light less mischievous and joyous in he
to eyes, but Sarah said-I thought tn
N was really more suitable name for m
wife's years and dignity-that her beGut
7e was growing more and more refine
,u every day. It had even lately attracts
the attention of Mr.. Percival Green, IL
I Junior member of Blacks firm, al
lie Green was one of those live, active bus
re ness fellows who are sure to make h
of mark in the world. 1 told my wife
ad spare no expense for Rosalie's advanc
ib ment and happiness, but was sorry
ng see lack of spirit upon her part, and