The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-04-30

| binations of tint an artist would have |
! raved, But there was no artists at the |
! Hollow, and none in the little church |
! at Hollow End, where Azalea sat on |
| Sundays by her mothers side ina square |
old-fashioned pew. The Greers of the |
Hollow were Episcopalians, the Sum-
nit Greers rigid Calvinists-another |
point ofdivergence between the families.
Philip Greer was two years older than
his unknown second cousin at the Hol
low. No Greer before him had received
n college education, nor would he, in al
probability, had his father lived to di-
rect the matter. To be taken out of the
rut of family traditions and jealousies
was in every way advantageous to him.
Contact with the world liberalized and
widened, absence from home gave the
natural generosity of his nature fair play,
and he developed into really fine fell
low, high-spirited, frank and popular.
OF the "feud and it's progress he was
of course aware, but it held so little place
in his thoughts that when, toward the
end of his second college year, he &C
cepted the invitation ofhis chum, Robert
Ashe, for Saturday and Sunday at
Hollow End, it never occurred to him
that by doing so he brought himself into
the close neighborhood of the hostile
family Of Greers whom his father had
disliked so much.
"By George! this is pleasant" he ex-
claimed, as they drove over from the
three mile away railroad station.
"What an air 1t never seems worth
while to breathe in Boston. | could
almost think was smelling flowers but
there can't be any up yet, supposePn
"Not hereabouts. We are very late
with our springs" replied his friend.
But that's all stuff about Boston air,
60, ,,- I
good as need he; and as for flowers,
haven't you noticed the crocuses in the
Public Garden, and the grass on the
Common-green as JuneP Give me the
city,
born on a farm, and hope always to
live on one"
And / was born on farm, and hope
never to live on one," retorted Robert.
The good-humored wrangle only
ended with their arrival at the Ashc
homestead. 1t was more than an ordi-
nary afarmhouse; it was substantial
! old mansion, square, paneled, low-ceiled,
such as still exist here and there in out
of-the-way places, unreached as yet by
the ruthless hand of Improvement"
Inside were many comforts, and an air
of old-fashioned refinement, which Mrs.
Ashe, woman of superior taste and ed
, ucation, had known how to value and
{ preserve
l Whats going on motherg" de-
manded Robert, after greetings and sup
per were over, and the travellers, warmed
f and refreshed, were enjoying an unchid-
den cigar by the fireside. " / say, Phil,
= isn't it jolly to have mother who don't
e object to smokingP"
5 "It would be odd if I did, after the
t breaking in | have had" replied his
: mother. "a pipe-loving father and
r five smoking brothers to begin with,
= then husband with a cigar in his
4 mouth, and three boys just as bad. |
e ought to be used to it by this time, GER
f tainly. What did you ask me, Robbie?
, Nothing ever goes on here, you know.
, Except the confirmation tomorrow.
j That is something. 1t is Easter-Sun-
= day, you'll recollect. Mrs. Allen and
v have been at the church all the after
G noon arranging flowers"
e "Where did you get flowers? Has
! any one set up greenhouse since went
awayP"
n mo; but almost everybody keeps pot
b plants, and they are all glad to lend them
e for the purpose. My large pittesporum
n is in bloom. / sent that over, with q
;, Gala or two and n pink azalea, and quite
d number of geraniums. Mrs. Allen
r had roses and hyacinths and some pots
e of oxalis; and there were a number Of
a other things-enough to make quite
n pretty effect. Miss Greer brought
IT beautiful Easter lily, with at least &
l. dozen flowers on it. l can't imagine
IS how she contrived to make it blossom
r just at the right time. By the way, tha
IL Is your name too, Mr.. Greer. Are they
= connections of yours. these Greers of th'
i Hollow"
,r distant ones" replied Phil stiffly
he Then he child himself as absurd, ant
Of went on, frankly: "That is to say
id we are second cousins, / believe; bu
m there was some quarrel in my grand
a fathers time, and we have had nothing
Of to do with each other since. | dom
a. know the rights and wrongs of the mat
j. ter exactly. Are there many of them?
of "Only one daughter-this pretty littl
le Azalea."
be "Azalea! Ye gods. what name!
p, put in Robert.
is " Yes, it is an odd name. Old Nh
rt Greer was dreadfully disappointed not
yn have a son, have heard. He is bedrid
s den now and a paralytic, and fear thing
IL are not going well with them. There
es no one to manage the farm but an inefl
As cent hired man, you see, and it has III
in down badly. | am sorry for AZalC
~ Greer. She is a nice girl, and ii is a lon'
Y ly life for her; but there seems no hell
he ing it.
fe, The morning dawned as Easter morl
,r- ing should-fair, cloudless and smiling
nd Ii was early April, and the trees we
ad leahess still, but the rising sap tintC
mt their boughs with lovely shades
ep orange, pink and rosy brown, and all Il
n, woods were full of sweet prophetic scent
ch caught from sun warmed mold and j
lot visible buds. Catkins swung their pea
of gray tassels from the willows branche
cy a sense of hope, of expectation, filled Il
Ied air. The sunshine sifted down in a fiji
pss rain of gold, and winter and all wint
ite things seemed in moment to slip avn
he and be forgotten.