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

"Renie," Miss Laura said, "you
will oblige me if you will eat my lunch
con for me. My head aches, and / am
going to lie down"
1 drank the milk, but was not hum
cry, and took the tray back to the kitch-
en-. fancied that even the under-serv-
aints looked at me suspiciously, and hur-
r ed back to my room.
It was quite late when Miss Laur a
rose-almost dinner-time, in fact. I
dressed her hair, and was Just putting
on the finishing touches when she spoke
abruptly:
Don't you think my cousin fine
looking2"
"He is handsome, Miss Laura"
said. "The handsomest man 1 ever
saw"
"That's the general verdict" she re-
pied.
"But," 1 added, eagerly, ct don't
like his face; there are beautiful faces,
L suppose, one can't like. Now, Mr..
Walderon-"
"You surely don't call him hand
some ?" she said, with soft laugh, that
1 did not quite like; then, in an under
tone: Handsome is that handsome
does. Well, poor fellow poor Philip -
she added, with sigh that I could not
help resenting, and fell into fit of mus
ing. Just before the bell rang for din
ner a servant came in with note and
great armful of water-lilies. How lovely
they wereI Their fragrance filed the
room.
In an instant Miss Laura's eyes were
sparkling. She tore open the note with
eager fingers, read it once, twice
smiled, then came a burst like sunshine
over her face.
"Oh, the sweet, sweet things I" she
cried, in an ecstasy. I am 30 fond of
them Poor Philip poor" Her
voice sank to a murmur. How could I
think otherwise than that note and how-
ers came from her handsome cousin, as
she placed the lilies in basin of water,
where, with their lustrous leaves and
long, coiling stems, they formed beau
tiful pictureP
Philip came after dinner on the follow
ing day. A bright, well-dressed, ele-
CANT and iubilant young gentleman
the change was great from Philip-in o
slouched hat to Philip in all the glory
of fashionable suit. His ease of man
ner, grace, beauty of form, Fud merry
laugh, made him almost irresistible. I
sat in the little alcove leading from the
general sitting-room, busy with some
old lace I had been mending for Miss
Laura, and could see them both by in
clining my head a little. They were a
glorious pair, but it seemed to me that
Philip had no right there-he was tax
ing Mr.. Walderon's place, and sudden
jealously sprang up i'll my heart, which
changed almost to terror when the door
opened and the rector of st. Paul's stood
on the threshold.
That same light that had come into
her face when she received the lilies,
flashed over it again, for in the interim 1
caught one glance of her as she rose to
meet Mr.. Walderon. Ifancied there was,
also, O timid, beseeching look in her soft
ewes as she came forward, with out
stretched hand, to meet him, but the
rector advanced slowly. and greeted
Philip to whom he was presented, cour-
teously but coldly, while Miss Laura
divided her attentions between the two,
and Philip addressed her with more
than cousinly freedom.
As for myself, I tried to think of mani
fold excuses for my mistress. would
not allow that the sweet girl at whose
shrine worshipped was a coquette; and
still-at least so it seemed to me, who sat
there under protest-her manner grew
colder and yet more distant toward the
rector. He seemed to notice the grad
ual alteration, for An hour had scarcely
elapsed before he took his leave.
$50 that is Mr.. Walderon, the famous
rector of old st. Paul's9" 1 heard
Philip say when, he had gone.
"Yes; how do you like him ?" Miss
Laura asked with something like eager
ness.
she must look imposing in his dra-
peries," Philip replied. well, there's
no accounting for tastes"
The speech seemed to sting her, for
she replied, in an altered voice:
"That's what 1 thought yesterday. y
ooh, come, now, Laura," he said,
don't be hard on me. If you could
have seen Celeste in her tropical home,
in her feecy white muslins, her cheeks
tinted with the rich glow of health, you'd
alter your opinion. She is not looking
at all like herself; in fact, this base clim-
ate is killing her. Besides, her face de-
pends upon expression for its beauty.
Such horrible chills would make the best
complexion sallow."
was all ears. Celeste who was Ce
lesteP Should I listen unwittingly tC
some secret? Was forgotten in my
corner Had better go? 1 felt re-
luctant to face them, having heard Sc
much.
"Oh. I didn't mean to depreciate her
Philip"
"Only to punish me for not appreciat
ing your rector-was that ?" inter
rupted Philip, with a laugh. g Blu
what does a man want of beauty?" anC
1 could see his conscious face, and reaC
the vanity even in his voice.
"Surely-but Celeste is pretty, o