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

might have been his inclination toward
the feminine generation in general, it
was plainly evident that to Molle in
particular his whole heart and SOU went
out in fond emotion. His face was of
the same mobile tendency as Mollie's,
and love, admiration, devotion, idolatry,
benme1 in every line of it.
It's shame to part them, " said the
romantic lookers-on.
Its ruinous to have them 80 much
together" said the prudent; but Mollie
and Dolph went gliding on, their hands
locked together, their glad hearts caring
no more for fate than for the freezing
wind.
"Dolph is bang-up skater" said
Jack that night at supper. "That
pltch in his left boot loosened his skate,
or he'd have been the top of the heap.
If he could only get pair of shoes -
"Do you mean to say" said Mollie,
the morsel upon her fork suddenly be.
coming distasteful to her-"do you
mean to say that Dolph Dacre can't get
as many shoes.as he wants ?"
"Wby, sis, il it comes to that, can II
Can you? Poverty is blamed uncom-
Portable thing; but I hope it's no dis
grrce."
1t is disgrace. It is q hideous,
heinous, unbearable crime |" said Mol
lie, and pushed her chair away, and
went up stairs to cry her pretty eyes
out.
Her mother found her with her head
buried in the pillow, her whole little
body quivering with excitement.
Why, Mollie, my child began
poor placid Mrs. Muldoon; and then the
young termagant turned upon her.
cts your business" she cfied, "to
put an end to this madness between
Dolph and me. Do you think it's a
very nice thing to have your daughter
papa's daughter-engaged to be married
to man that can't afford to buy himself
a pair of shoes ?"
ga little temporary embarrassment,
ny child"
"a little temporary fiddlestick |"
roke in Mollie. "It's forever and
yer, and hopeless, and 1 wish 1 was
lead T. Here she began to sob again.
"What can 1 doP' said poor Mrs.
Muldoon.
"You can break off the engagement
forbid him to enter your doors-in-
suit him-tell him you won't give your
laughter to q pauper- make him so mad
he'll never look at me again.
"IIl do nothing of the kind" said
the poor lady, her cheeks beginning to
burn. ~ admire and respect the young
nan I'd much to cause him any unneces
'ary suffering; but I'll tell him to give
'ou up, for his own sake as well as
yours"
Poor Dolph met Mrs. Muldoan half
vay. He confessed it was the merest
presumption upon his part to aspire to
the hand of creature so fair and sweet
and supremely perfect; he owned that
his pecuniary prospects were hopeless.
and his future blank season of despair.
d" can get him back again" said Mol
lie ; but she found this not so easy, after
all. Dolph had pride of his own that
had long battled impotently against his
love. He came no more to the house !;
the skating pond missed it's champion !;
the main street lost its most graceful
promenader no more little billets-doux
went into the vest pocket nearest his
heart, or lay in the perfumed reeesses of
Mollie's battered writing-desk. The
brokers' Office where Dolph was employ
ed opened late and closed early, for there
was very little business doing in those
times of commercial depression, bnt he
haunted the busy streets of the financial
center with so haggard and distracted
an air that he passed for youth who
had ventured his all upon some rotten
security and lost it. Which, indeed,
was the truth in more ways than one.
Mollie, who had not looked for this
irmness of resolve upon his part, began
to grow pale and listless ;she also forsook
the familiar haunts that love had made
so delightful, and busted herself more
than ever with patching up the outward
appearances of her toilet and the shabby
surroundings at home. She grew lees
plump, less rosy faint lines of thought
traced her fair white brow her eyes
took a shade of melancholy in their
depth that made them a deeper, softer,
darker blue.
"She's losing her health" sighed
poor Mrs. Muldoon.
1t was midsummer, and Babbleton
was at it's loveliest and best, and it be-
came necessary for fashionable people
to leave it at once. Among the arrivals
at popular watering place might have
|
and her niece Miss Mollie Muldoon, and
within monGh letters began to reach
Babbleton that made the heart of poor
Mrs. Muldoon beat with alternate hope
and fear.
"Mollie behaves like an angel,
wrote Mrs. Oinqbar; "and if you show
the least discretion and sense in follow
ing up this providential opportunity o.
hers, it will be the luckiest thing in the
world for you all. Mr.. Fithian is maj
of distinction and influence as we'll a
wealth, and will be able to give Jack 9
push in life. We should all of us bt
exceedingly grateful for Mollie's sue
cess; and L do hope you'll manage Il
get that moldy dining room of your
repapered and painted before Mollie'
return. Jack might help in these thing
during his holidays, and I'll see that yol
| harya Al hIa 1sv,av, IL, s., 4,