The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-02-05

wear an air of comfortable serenity.
Mollie soothed the fear and fuster of
her mamma, altered her old black silk
to the newest style, coaxed and bullied
Jack into q semi-recognition of the in
evitable, and everything went merry as a
marriage bell. Aunt Cinqbar was aston
ishingly generous, for one of her eau.
tious proclivities; and other relatives,
who had hitherto been as adamant to
the calls for relief, became plastic as
putty in the face of this joyful ex-
tremity.
Mollie's wedding trousseau far ex
ceeded her widest ambition; and as she
had considerable versatility of soul,
these smooth expanses Of silk and velvet
took some such q shape to her as the
lump OF rough marble to the sculptor,
or nicely y-stretched canvas to an artist.
Her eyes began to glow before the scis.
sors shipped into the material; and when
the whole ideal conception was realized,
and particularly as the train hung well,
and she was fitted to a nicely, she was
wildly happy.
Only once was there an open allusion
TO Dolph. When it was proposed that
the bridal couple should kneel during
the benediction, No, no, cried Mollie;
"men never kneel gracefully, at least
there are very few-only one; but never
mind"
Two or three hours after, her mother
came upon her unawares, and found
her with her face bowed upon her
hands. When it was lifted, it was wet
with tears but she would bear no
caressing, and only said she was tired,
| kI.a
Mr. Fithian from coming down. In
truth, it was q day in which no man,
beast or reptile would care to be abroad.
Heavy black clouds hung over Babble-
ton the wind swept wildly through the
deserted streets, increasing at night.
fall to hurricane, bowling and shrek
ing like an unloosed demon about the
dwellings of that hapless suburb, tear
ing ruthlesely the gImcracks OF fiimsy
architecture from roofs and balconies,
up roofing trees and shrubs, rocking
Mollie's bedstead like q cradle, and at
last sending brick with direful accu-
racy straight down Mrs. Muldoon's
blocking up the damper, and frustrating
: Mollie had made for supper.
L
cain fell and such rain A bucket
| full at drop, Jack said, when he came
} home from town. He was wet to the
J knees, and declared that, two blocks be-
low, raft was plying from corner to
} corner the boys were gettiug out their
} ,oats, and If the storm continued, the
c.ty of Venice would be nothing to Bab
| bleton. AS the kitchen fire had gone
/ ont, Jacks clothes weie put to dry in
, the dining-room; the meat pie was still
{ in it's dough casing, but the coffee was
warm; and there was plenty of cold ham
in the larder. "And with ham and
pickles" said Jack, eve can defy the
elements"
: So they all sat iown to supper, Mollie's
hair in one braid down her back, and
; the bib of her kitchen apron still tucked
; was ring at the bell.
| elf that's Mr.. Fithian," said Mollie,
I " shall die. Do run up and see, Jack. "
Then Mrs. Muldoon and Mollie waited
I in breathless silence, and, as the house
; was small, aud its acoustic properties
accommodating, the smoothly modu-
= lateo tones of Mr.. Fithian came distinct
} ly to their ears. 8" Is Miss Mollle in ?''
? OdCh IhbuCI bilOuBlD blO WdpA OlOs
] Then the parlor door opened and shut,
/ and Jack came below.
D "He's more like Mephistopheles than
i ever to night" said Jack. "He's al
ways tall and lean and cadaverous, but
he's specter now; and 'his eyes have
8 all the cleaning of a demon in theil
4 dreaming"
( " Is he very wet, Jack P''
yHokl Hatu 1nOUypaI puk hoe nj
Q polite as q mounseer; he's holding TIVE
I quarts of water at this present minute
? in his high hat, and smiling blandly
8 while the rain drops over his marble
{ brow"
Mollie went bravely up into the par
r lor. Now there is this about the grace
. of youth, that it is invincible; and Mr.
FithiRn had never found Mollie 81
d charming as when she stood there be
fore him with her kitchen bib on, anC
n her hair in one braid down her back
) but, on the other hand, a gentleman o
9 Mr.. Fithians physique and style anC
s age can be awfully brought to grief b,
q two hours wading in tempest. Hi
Y devotion was supreme, and merited
a better acknowledgment at the hauds o
n Mollie but we all know the weakness
'r and ingratitude of human nature. Hi
'e overcoat and high hat and overshoe
were thrown together in wet mass upo
}" the rack; Molhe saw them as she passe
W through the hall, and her heart san
v within her. Did he expecy to remain
Of With the kitchen fire out, and the bac
le area filed with water, and nothing i
IN the house but ham and pickles, did thi
as alien and stranger expect to be asked t
a share their humble hospitality II
,e stood there, pretending to look at boo
g. upon the marble table, while the wate
to fell from his coat-tails in a pool
RS "You-you are so wet I" said Mo,
IS lie.
gs ST know it" he said. "Can't 6
ou somewhere and get dry? Let me 8