The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-06-05

with the fear Of having been seen as he
hastily hid the shining bauble in his
bosom, he left his compliments and de-
parted.
Going directly to a jewelers., he pur-
chased small ring, with which he fast
ened the locket securely to his watch
chain, and then sauntered down the
street, in the hope of meeting Guy.
His wish was destined to be fulfilled:
for he was shortly gratifed by seeing
Guy approaching, with serene, con-
tented look ON his handsome face.
As they stopped to chat, Fred, as If
anxious to conceal something, placed
his hand carelessly on his watch chain /;
but Guy, as was intended, noticed the
action, and said, laughingly: "What
is 1t that you are so jealousy guarding,
Fred A. love-token from some fair
lady2
"Yes; but for fear that it might
blight your hopes in that direction, per
baps had better not show it you lust
at present." laughed false Fred, nerv-
ously.
"Oh, never fear for mei'' said Guy.
"for have already Gagged my bird, and
80 shall not prove dangerous rival to
your suit"
+" Well, then, beholdl" replied Fred,
removing his hand, and disclosing to
view the tiny locket.
Guy turned pale as death; but, mas
tering his emotion by q violent effort.
he playfully insisted upon knowing the
name of Fred's charmer.
Oh, come" said Fred, "you are
feignlng innocence; for surely you must
have often seen this trinket upon the
arm OF fair Nell the Irresistible, who
has this day bestowed it upon me as q
pledge of her true love-"
Guy had stood as if turned to stone
while this fiippant speech was being rat
tied out, and then, with few common
place words, passed en-; but his tread
was not as free and elastic as before he
met Fred, and his head which then had
been raised proudly, was now bent for
ward dejectedly; for a dark cloud had
suddenly arisen, which threatened to
overshadow forever the bright morning
Of his happiness.
Fred watched him pass on with sar-
ionic smile on his handsome yet sipis-
ter face, and thought to himself, "Ah,
my fne fellow, there's many a slip
'twixt the cup and the lip, as you may
dnd to your cost; and then you will
know the consequences of standing in
she way of Fred Acton II
That evening, in her luxurious home.
Nellie watched and listened in vain for
the familiar footsteps she had learned to
know so well; and she retired to rest at
last, sad and dispirited, and with dim
sense of impending trouble, that.was vet
too vague to sh ,pe itself into connected
thought.
The next morning, as the family we're
gathered around the breakfast table. q
servant entered the room with q note ad-
dressed to Miss Pomeroy." Grasping
t eagerly, spasmodically, Nellie tore it |
open, and with blanched face read the
ollowing laconic note
NELLIE All is over between us.
Phank God have discovered your |
oerfidy before it was too late. I had |
he fullest confidence in you, Nellie
,ut that is past now.
/ leave for France tomorrow, never.
trust to revisit this country which |
would now be but sad home for me.
Your 0nce-deVOted lover,
Guy HARTLEY.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pomeroy, occupied in |
heir own conversation, had not noticed |
he sudden paling of their daughters |
ace, as she hurriedly scanned the familiar |
writing, till, as she reached the fatal
her eyes closed, and with a |
ow moan of agony she sank to the floor
4 death-like swoon.
For five years Guy wandered through |
Europe; for five years he vainly stroVe |
o find forgetfulness and happiness in |
onstant excitement and change of scene;
'ut failing in this he had at last resolved |
o visit again the land of his birth, if |
My to mark the ravages which time had |
made among his old friends. So he re-
urned to London.
Not once had a suspicion of Fred Ac- |
on's treachery crossed his mind, for to
Suy he had always shown the better
part of his nature; besides the proof of |
Iellie's duplicity had seemed too con-
lusive to admit of any lingering doubt
is love might have suggested.
And Nellie? Thrown into a nervous
ever by the cruel note from Guy, she |
1avered long between life and death;
'ut finally her perfect constitution
aimed the victory. and she again min
led in the gay world of fashion; but a
ertaln sadness was perceptible in her
manner, and a weary lock in her blue |
yes showed that her heart was not in
crested in the gay scenes by which she
7as surrounded.
Vainly had Fred Acton sued for her
and. Feeling that he was in some
manner connected with Guys mysteri-
us behavior, she had only scorn to give
i'm. At first she had hoped that some
rival act of hers had displeased Guy
nd he would soon return, but as the
Eeeks rolled on and no word came from
he absent one, she finally ceased to ex-
,ect him.
Fred Acton, after repeated refusals
rom Nellie, had at last given up all
81 l. L.,