The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-02-06

ing 10 be cut off in a moment in this
fashion? How could he have believed
her in earnest 1t was ridiculous. She
had meant to play the injured mistress
for several days, and make him abiect in
his efforts to reinstate himself with her.
She did not want climax reached with
this man. Her heart had told her that
it would leave q regret which she had
never known before. To avoid this now,
she would begin with raillery.
E" Really, Mr.. harrington, she said,
you must be hungry or over-tired, to
make such statement. A Widespread
table, steaming viands, comfort and q
wife, must have shot through your brain.
l can assure youa delightful supper now
awaits you"
"Miss Barron" he began, frowning,
without apparent notice Of her words,
and rising to his feet, "three weeks ago
/ did not know you; but in that time all
my life now seems to have become
crowded. L never stopped to question
your actions. It seemed as if there was
no need of asking for vows, they would
denote commencement of love. /
wanted it to be as if we had loved for
ever"
Every well, ," she said, J." let it be so;
no vows, no commencement. You see
l agree with you perfectly"
No, will not have it so, he cried,
trying to take her hand
AS you please" she laughed, shrug-
ging her shoulders. "I can pick my
way through this bog without help"
81 hope am not wanting in gentle
behavior, but before 1 OF you stir a step
further" he said, stepping in front of
her and barring the way, 81 want a
simple answer to a simple question
plain yes or no Do you love me,
Madge?"
" If cannot say yes, perhaps can
not say no. think friendship does
not justify an abrupt no. L"
81 don't want equivocation, he broke
in. eff you loved, eyes, lips, voice,
acts, all would blend into 'yes.' 1t
must be yes or no, I say"
Madge had never met any man so mas
terful. But she answered, nevertheless,
"Then, mo, since You force me to be
unladylike."
"I do not ask You to be unladylike.
1 do not say You are. l asked you for
your love. 1t was straightforward
question, 1 wanted straightforward
answer My arm, Miss Barron"
And thus walking, assisting her over
every trihing inequality of ground, they
went on to the villa.
Miss Barron was exceedingly gay that
evening. Lyndhurst loved her OF
course, she was not going into any prosy
engagement. She could not hedge her
self in by marriage. But they could
live the delightful life they had lived
this last three weeks always. He had
nothing in particular to do. Why could
he not, when they should return to Lon
don, visit her every day? She could, she
thought, firt all the same, when he was
not by and his attentions, therefore,
would be just so much gained. Her
life was not to he altered an iota. She
did not profess to love the man. He
must not, hewever, scatter his atten-
tions. He must concentrate all his adj
miration on her.
But toward the close of the evening,
when Madge found he had note sought
her once, a shadow of thought passed
through her mind that perhaps he was
not poodle-dog, after all, to be led
about in this way by string.
She had sung, thinking to bring him
to her side, but he had lounged away
q thing he had never done before
when she was ut the piano. She had
taken a garden stroll with rival, Mr..
Oakley, and Lyndhurst had careless
ly drawn up his outstretched legs, as he
sat lazily on the veranda steps, to let
them pass down, without other notice of
their presence. He had, she eaecided,
fairly i'll treated her. a lady, and she would
not tolerate rudeness. She would
teach him what was due to her.
But days passed. A week wore ON.
She found no possible chance to visit
her anger on him. He never joined
her. He was always civil and we'll
bred, but that was all. She was down
right perplexed.
She scarcely ever met him, even ut
table, much less of an evening. He
went fishing by sunrise, rode ON horse
back half the day, and at night asked
the gentlemen up to his chamber the
ladies, sitting lonely in the parlor, heard
through the open windows, laughter
ring out and gay songs being sung. 1t
was getting maddening.
One evening Madge curled herself up
on u sofa and looked at the matter
seriously. She must outgeneral him.
But how? She had tried hauteur, and
it had signally failed. Now she would
try II dash of "giving in, even though
it hurt her 80 to do. She would plant
herself on the old footing.
Just then Lyndhurst stepped into the
room, cautiously at first, as if fearing
her presence. She Immediately rose to
meet him. He did not start, but looked
her over from head to foot without a
word. She gayly said I;
"Don't you think your highness is
OVERRIDING things a trife?" Then she
lost control of herself, and showed her
vexation. "Sing to me-" she cried,
" walk with me, talk to me, do anything
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