The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-10-29


popped into her head, and she began
penciling sentences down on her draw
ing-paper. She would learn few by
heart, she decided, and quote them as If
accidentally in the course of conversa-
tion. How amazed they would look,
and what fun it would BET
"Well, how was it?" asked Frank,
rather vaingloriously, as he returned.
"Very well written" said that auiet
young Challoner, "but nothing to it,
Frank. Words, just words" That de-
sirable quality, frankness, was certainly
prevalent at the Bracey.
What do you meanp" demanded
Frank, flushing angrily. "How is a
discourse to be expressed except in
words, should like to knowP"
1t is well to have something behind
them" began Challoner, but his voice
was drowned in acclamations from a
chorus of Franks special cronies.
1t was tirst-rate. 1t was capital.
No one could take exception to a sylla-
BILE in it "-and Aimee, unseen in her
gallery, clinched a small fist and shook
it vindictively at Challoner. 1t was out
rageous that her hero should be thus at
tackled. How did he dareP"
The two hours sped by, the last SER
mon was preached, and the class dis
p0lsou' lew uHSeTeu On GnelF way
out to discuss the events of the vacation.
Aimee, who had been glad to see the
move, shrank back into her shelter
again. She felt more than ever how
awkward her position would be were it
discovered that she had been there all
the time.
"We had most gorgeous service on
Sunday at st. Aliens" said frank Chas-
uble, who had perched himself on the
back of bench directly below the or
gan-loft. II went with the Dixons
Miss Dixon is a raving beauty, l can
tell you"
Was that the reason you didn't come
back Saturday, ehP l heard you tell
Miss Trenchard you would"
Il dare say may have said so in a
weak moment; but there was metal
more attractive where / was. my boy"
All can say lis that Miss Dixon, or
Miss Anybody else, has got to get up
early in the morning if she wants to beat
Miss Trenchard," declared Tom Esher.
She's the prettiest girl / ever saw in
my life. / declare, in that blue dress
she wore to mathis to-day, she's stun
ming"
That's just all you know about it,"
responded Frank, indolently, "She's
well enough as country girls 60 has got
she can no mole hold "a candle to Nettie
Dixon than she can fly. No English
girl ever born ever did compare, or ever
will, with a tip-top New Yorker.
There's a total lack Of style, you see.
They don't know how to put on there
clothes, or to show'em off after they got
'em on. That blue thingumy Aimee
wears on her head would be laughed at
on Fifth avenue; assure you it
would" On. B.-Frank had no more
than once praised said "thingumy.")
''She's nice, soft little girl enough,
Aimee Trenchard is, but she doesn't
could name. AS for Netty Dixon, she's
a real ripper"
Poor Aimee! The blood tingled in
her cheeks as if she had received sharp,
sudden blow, as these words fell upon
her ears. She was too stunned to move,
and sat perfectly motionless ins1er seat
as the conversation went on.
"Well, if that's your opinion of Miss
Trenchard, think you'd better leave off
hanging about her as you do. You
might give another fellow the chance if
you don't want it," remarked Tom
Esher.
"My dear fellow" responded Frank
ChasSble, in an indolent tone, you're
quite welcome. / can't help it if
pretty girl-the only pretty girl who
happens to be on handS too-likes me
better than she does thel rest of you
1t shows good taste on her part, but
really it's not my fault. / don't give
myself any particular trouble to please
the little thing, and 1 don't see that
you are called on to take up arIAs in
her behalf"
"And 1 think" put in quiet voice,
''that you are speaking in a very i'm
proper tone about a lady. Miss Tren-
chard is the loveliest girl l ever saw,
and the sweetest. She is a thorough
bound to respect her name as much as
we should herself were she present."
1t was Ralph Challoner who spoke.
He looked straight into Frank Chas-
uble's eyes, and that worthy quailed
under the glance.
"I'm sure meant nothing" he
muttered, uncomfortably. "NO one
admires Miss Trenchard more than L
do. l don't know what you mean,
Challoner."
"Yes, you do" retorted Ralph, with
the same quiet decision; You know
perfectly well what l mean
But Frank did not seem inclined to
take up the gauntlet. There was a
moment of silence; then the young men
moved away. IfRalph Cha1loner could
have seen the look in Aimee's ewes as
she peeped out at his retreating back, he
would have been a very happy man,
think.
But with all the glow of gratitude, the
soothing which had come to her morti-
fed spirits with his chivalrous words,
calmness was impossible now that the
moment of reaction was come, and for
half an hour Aimee wept as bitterly as
q girl can weep. 1t was for the ship
wreck of shallow ideal that she wept, as
would have gone deeper; but, as a re-
cent writer has told us, there is such a
thing as imagination-ache," and the
| suffering il causes. though not vital. is