The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-03-19


station near her. There was something
glacial and tremendous in her general
style that night that provoked and
amused Mrs. Mornington. But. she
was beautiful, too-more beautiful than
overland 80 her aunt forgave her.
Among Mrs. Groves guests that night
was a rather grand-looking man, who
certainly was no longer young. Having
lost one wife. he was now looking for
another When he was presented to
Viola, she was barely civil. Mr.. Nicol-
son seemed to like il.
Frank Thorpe had ceased being frozen.
To tell the truth, Viola made the ad-
vances. There was O shade more of
languor in his manner, and his sad gray
eyes had an added shadow, but he sought
no explanation.
Restored to sunshine. he accepted
that, too, with no particular demonstra-
tion, but he seemed to enjoy it. To
outside lookers-on, the matter seemed
to lie between him and Mr.. Nicolson,
whose attentions we're perfectly straight
forward and business-like.
One frosty, sparkling morning Viola
had been out for a walk. On the way
she had met Frank Thorpe, as she was
very apt to do.
He accompanied her home, and en-
tered the house with her. There, Viola,
feeling unusually bright herself, began
lecturing him on his purposeless life. +"
"If were a man - emphatically.
"Thank heaven you are not How
ever. go on.
"You put me out. Mr.. Thorpe, why
don't you do somethinR~
"DO something's Don't II I am
your devoted attendant three-fourths of
my waking life."
eyes; and get yourself and me talked
about by everybody Not that care,
certainly" hurriedly, to cover her
blunder. "I shall choose my friends
where please !" making matters worse,
of course.
He sat up with sudden energy.
"Miss Viola, if were q woman -
"Thank heaven You are not"
Exactly. However, If were, 1 GER
taiply would not firt with that antedilu-
Wan relic, Mr.. Nicolson."
Mr.. Thorpe, Isdon't."
" Miss Viola, beg your pardon, you
certainly do"
She looked at him with an astonished
red in her cheeks and light in her eyes
Then she laughed frankly and good
naturedly.
"You see, leaning forward and
lsying his hand confdentially on her
arm" can't bear to see clear-heart-
ed, honest girl lowering herself to the
ways of these artificial, brainless girls,
who have been bred up al their lives
10 the business of catching husband.
You don't need any such paltry ambi-
tion. Wait till you fud a man worth
falling in love with, and then marry him.
Wait forever, if you don't find him l''
Viola sat motionless with astonish-
men'. Ii any dumb thing had found q
voice, she could not have been more
amazed. And she had felt so fully
called to administer advice.
While she sat, his hand still on her
arm, and her eyes still on his face, the
door opened, and John Ellsworth was
ushered in.
Viola swept toward him, with eager,
outstretched hands.
"Why, John ! Why, John - was all
she could say.
And Frank Thorpe, being disturbed
by this new conner, who was called John
and received with such an outbreak oI
enthusiasm, gathered himself up and
lounged away.
John Ellsworth was in town for fort
/ night. Mrs. Mornington treated him
with great politeness, and was always in
: the way in the most natural manner in
the world, when he came. Viola always
accepted his invitations, and when the
! time came for their ful6llment, there
( was some unavoidable obstacle in the
; way. Meantime, Mr.. Nicholson s atten-
tions grew more pointed, and Frank
2 Thorpe kept out of the way.
| Then Lent came, and there was q sud
? den cessation of gayety. John was call
ed away by his fathers illness, an6
Viola felt the inevitable reaction. And
3 she did not know that she would live
3 through 1t, and be ready and eager
4 for another season when the time came
1t was alike everywhere. IN the mar
I row circle out of which she had come
1 there were jealousies, and heartburn
3 ings, and petty scheming-no better anG
no worse than she had come to know il
? the past weeks, though possibly less
/ disguised by smooth, conventional polisL
of manner. Wait till she met a man she
, loved She might wait till she wal
BAay hhNl D11uus 1uOIo uhu ubV6I HD
4 peared one to whom she would give
second thought. unless it were-well
, perhaps, John Ellsworth, il the life thai
| would'iollow with him were not too mar
, row to breathe in; or Frank Thorpe, il
he were not too lazy to speak. AND
I then, by contrast, there came vision oI
Mr.. Nicolson, and all his wealth.
r If she had shown the first symptom oi
her moods TO Mr.. Nicolson, he would
have desisted from his attentions al
I once. Here was youth and beauty in 6
statuesque state of perfection. That was
/ what he wanted-the statuesqueness
and everybody considered it settled
( affair.
I think Viola began to consider it her
3 self. She had just one letter from JohI