The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-07-02

untimely end of his brightest hopes; but
he was determined that Gertrude should
never know how dear she had been to
him. Fearing that she might detect a
trace of the feelings that agitated his
breast, he had refrained from visiting
her since he had heard of her engage
ment; but the incidents of the previous
night had induced him to seek her pres
ence to convey to her the intelligence
that might save her from becoming the
wife of a man whom he now knew to be
| unworthy of her.
Gertrude watched him as he proceeded
TO the store, bitterly regretting her un-
kind words; for she had observed the
| expression of sorrow on his face and
knew he felt hurt. So much had her
feeling toward him changed that tear
| trickled down her face as she thought
how much happier she would be were
she engaged to him, whose love she had
never doubted, than to Harold, whom
she now believed to be drunkard and
probably only courted her for her
money. Had she known that weeks
must intervene ere she should behold
Edwards face again she would doubt
less have wept bitterly; but she did not
understand his last remark to her, and
when, an hour afterward, he was ON
posed him to be in the store attending to
his duties.
After vain attempt to Console her
mind by reading, she went into the
| library and wrote Edward letter, beg
! ging pardon for what she had said.
| When her father arose to return to the
store, after supper that evening, she gave
| him the letter. He read the address and
returned it to her, saying, " He is not
there"
"Where is hep" asked Gertrude, in
surprise, dreading to hear the answer.
"IIe has gone to Philadelphia on
business for the firm, and, as he passes
near his fathers, he intends to stop on
his return and spend two or three weeks
with his relatives. 1t is a busy time to
let him go, but he has not been at home
for nearly a year and l could not well
| deny his request. l am sorry you did
not use more courtesy toward the noble
fellow when he came to bid you good
bye. 1t would"
when he came to bid me good-bye?"
interrupted astonished Gertrude.
I" Yes, and you treated him so indiffer-
| emily that he returned to the store very
much grieved."
But, father, he never bid me good
bye"
II only know that he said he would
| run up and see you before leaving, and
| that when he came back lie was very
much agitated." And Mr.. Moor has
l-tened away, leaving Gertrude to her own
| reflections.
Before closing her eyes in sleep that
night she resolved to free herself from
| her engagement to Harold at their next
| meeting, for she was sure that what Ed
ward had told her was true, and she
could never become the wife of a man
who was guilty of such conduct. She
arose very early on the following morn
ing and wrote Edward n letter, telling
him how bitterly she regretted her cruel
words and asking his pardon. She also
| told him of her intention to free herself
| from her engagement to Harold. Hav-
ing sealed the letter in neat white en-
velope on which she had previously
written his address, she took it to the
| postoffice. Dead stiffness reigned over
the town, and she had thought to
| get back to her room without being OBJ
| served; but as she was returning she
met Harold Fulton, his haggard coun-
tenance and unsteady gait betraying the
effects of debauchery. She passed by
him without seeming to know him and
| hurried home. She did not relate her
meeting with Harold to her parents, but
when at breakfast her father spoke of
engaging him as clerk until Edwards s
%eturn, she protested against it. He
was, however, that day employed. He
called on Gertrude in the evening and
requested her not to tell her father OF
their meeting that morning. She told
him that she would comply with his re-
quest, and also that he must consider
their engage mcnt as ended, as she could
never marry him.
This did not please him, and he went
away very angry.
The Methodist church stood in a
beautiful grove on n small eminence
overlooking the town. Thither on the
| following day, which was Sunda", Ger
trude, accompanied by her parents, went
to hear the Rev. Reuben Homes deliver
his sermon ON intemperance. He illus
trated the folly of intemperance, showed
how strongly its guilt is denounced,
traced its effects on its victims, and
wound up by showing the drunkard's
doom. In tracing its effects on its vic
timss he gave an account of his visit to
the saloons, describing vividly what he
saw there. Gertrude was inspired with
new courage in her resolution never tO
marry a drunkard. At the close ol
meeting Harold asked permission to ac-
company her home, which she politely
refused. She observed his sullen brow
and reVengeful look. but needed them
not.
A week passed away and then there
came letter from Edward, a letter o.
passionate love and devotion, winding
up with a proposal of marriage. Ger.
trude, exultant in her new love, immedi.
ately answered, accepting his proposal
and beOOin0 him IN hasten tn her
Harold soon heard of her engagement
and forthwith left town. On the day
I after his departure Gertrude received
letter from him, in which he told hel
that as she had refused to be his wife, ht
had sworn that she should never b,
Edwards. He warned her at the peri
of Edwards life to tell no one the con
tents of his letter. After consideration
she determined to send it to Edward