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

ne looked uOWn on us own KlJn anu XIII
and ran away to sea, where all the scamps
go, when there aint no more money
to make way with. And it want no
great loss, neither" they declared,
"when he went down with all hands on
board, off the coast somewhere, and no.
body left to give the particklers
though he's gone to his account, and
we don't hev no wish to disparage the
dead"
All at once Lorrimer began to look at
himself as If he were somebody else,
and the view failed to satisfy his soul,
Crossing the brook that flowed through
the meadow, one evening, he met Mar
garet alone.
"Well met" said she, gaily, show
ing him a handful of water-lilies. "See;
L fished these out of the bottomless
pond, in an old, leaky wherry that was
rotting on the shore. Will you have
someP"
why didn't you ask me to get them
for you, Margaret? You might have
been at the bottom Of the pond by this
time"
cit is bottomless, you know"
"Why didn't you ask Mr.. Strathley
to get them for your" he added, as an
after thought"
The sudden color Redeemed upon Mar
garets cheek.
"Mr. Strathley has something else to
do"
"But 1 have nothing else to do that I
should like half as we'll, Margaret-we
used to be such friends-I used to think
but no matter what-you find Strath-
ley more to your mind, no doubt. 1
don't blame you, only we were such old
friendsl'
There was a look of trouble growing
in Margaret's eyes. eve are friends
still, hope" she said
care we? That fellow with his fine
airs and bold eyes has bewitched you;
we were happy enough before he came.
Do you know what they say in the viii
lager"
81 do not know what they say" she
replied, with growing color and tear
in her eyes that belied her words.
"What right have they to speak of me?
Why do you listen, you who pretend to
be my friendl"
"Pretend! That's an honest word
between you and me! If Strathley had
your good at heart"
"Take care, John; don't say anything
aga nst Mr.. Strathley. You might be
sorry for it some day. He is-he knew
my poor brother Ben-at school, or
somewhere. 1t does us good to hear
him talk of Benl" 1t was hard for
Margaret to dissemble, and she did it
with poor grace.
BLESSINGS brighten as they take their
flight" thought Lorrimer; "knew your
brother Ben, did he? and your grand
father listens?" The time had been
when Ben's name had been forbidden,
and the old farmer had sworn that Ben s
shadow should never darken his door.
"People ought to be careful how they
speak of their own flesh and blood, 7"
groaned the neighbors, when the Arc
turus was cast away, and the last chance
of forgiving Ben with it, But though
Grandfather Bevis had aged since then,
had begun to have hault in his step
and a stoop in his shoulders, and to
grow fresh crop of wrinkles, yet even
grim Death had failed to obliterate Ben 8
misdeeds-their impoverished condition
was q constant reminder. Mr.. Bevis
saw his more fortunate neighbors enjoy
ing the fruits of lands he had cleared
with the horny hand of toll, sitting down
to bounteously y-supplied tables, with a
good balance in the bank for rainy
weather, while he and his Jared scantily,
and hardly dared to look the future in
the face. Ben had been the apple of his
eye, aud to have suffered from his sell
fishness added another sting to poverty.
''When Mr.. Strathley first mentioned
Ben, grandfather just groaned and tod
died out of the room. The next time he
shut his eyes and made believe o sleep;
but now, do you know? he hangs upon
Mr.. Strathley's words, John, though he
never asks a squestion. But the day
will come when he will pardon poor Ben,
Iknow it will"
"And Strathley, having done mission
ary work, will demand his reward ?"
said John, bitterly. Margaret, do
you believe he means fairly by you a?
Isn't it Just a seasons amusement to
himP"
"I have no fears, ;" she answered.
But in spite of what folks might say,
Mr.. Strathley was at Ford, on and of,
all summer.
"The mill needs a sight of looking
AFTER" they shifted "It might run
away he had taken a mighty fancy to
Meg Bevis, and p'raps she expected to
be a fine lady, anon, and ride in her
carrilg and have servants under her
but there was many a hole in the
skinner. 'Twasn't likely but he'd
been used to women folks as could
play the pianny, and wear the fashions
as natural as their own skins. Old
Bevis ought to be ashamed to allow
such goings on under his eyes. High
time o'day, too, for Mr.. Strathley to
put BeVis in overseer at the mill, over
the heads of younger and smarter men,
with no end of wages and nothing to dc
but watch the gang saw That didn't
look queer, did it? And wasn't Strath.
ley's team stabbed in Bevis' barn
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