The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-07-30


were her only living relations. We
could hardly have expected her to re-
member us in her will, / suppose; but
the least she could have done, for the
CT iedit of the family, was to die without
one. Then we should have had it in the
course Of nature and law. But to go and
leave it all to this man"
"What manP" I ask, for, as l have
said, my thoughts have been wandering
while Nell talked.
81 don't know" Nell says, consulting
her letter again. Fanny does not men
ton his name; perhaps she did not
know it. They say that your Aunt,
Miss Rumsey, has, LETT all her money to
the son of a man HON she Tilted when
she was young. No doubt she flatteIed
herself that it was a touch of "poetic
justice" but must say think the plain
prosaic justice of leaving it to her rela-
tions would have been nearer the right
thing Of course it is all left to some
Cr9sus, to whom it will be but drop
in the bucket" says Nell. bitterly.
"That's the way things always go in
this world, while We Oh, Cyril, why
don't you say somethingp Isn't it too
bad, and isn't this an unlucky day?"
" l suppose it is" l say, moodily. 81
confess cannot see how we are to find
any good in this"
We spend our evening gloomily
enough, in spite of our efforts to cheer up
and forget. read little to Nell from
dear old Ella" and we try game of
cribbage, of which Nell soon tires. At
nine o'clock we bid each other good
night in sheer despair,
We are little more cheerful over the
breakfast table. Things cannot look
quite so bad by the mornings light as
they did in the evenings shadows. Nell
that to-day will not be quite such chain
of misadventures as yesterday proved,
and l forbear to rebuke her. Bridget is
bringing in the hot cakes in INSTALL
ments, and as she sets the plate contain
ing the third batch upon the table, we
notice that she is looking at us curiously.
Evidently she would fain speak, but
respect restrains her tongue.
"Whet is it, Bridget ?" Nell asks,
kindly.
Then the Irish tongue breaks bounds.
"Sure, MISS" she cries, "an' haven't
ycz heard ? An wasn't it a blissid thing
intirely that ye tore yer dress an cudn't
90 to this picnic-bad cess to it and its
like! The milkman was just afther
tellin' me all about it. livery wan O.
thim!-niver a wan saved-the purity
dears Och, wirra, wirrar
Bridget is on the point of breaking in
to genuine howl, but Nell's words,
quick and eager. nip it in the bud :
What do you mean, Bridget What is
it What have you heard P'
Bridget's tale is not easy to under
stand, diversified as it is by comments,
and embellished with interjections. By
90 c,,1 c1v Il
ings, however, we elicit the truth at
last. That truth concerns the picnic to
which but for Nell's accident we should
have gone. This picnic was gotten up
by small party of friends from our own
town. We were to have gone by rail to
| Il spot five miles distant, there pick up
DR.. CASTOR, and transfer ourselves to a
huge wagon which was to meet us. This
part ofthe'programme seems to have been
carried out, in spite of Nell's and my
detection. The excursion came to an
abrupt conclusion. however; for, barely
half mile from the station, the horses
took fright, ran violently down a steep
| hill and upset the wagon at the bottom.
Two of the occupants were killed out
right, so Bridget reports, but who they
were she cannot say. OF the rest not
one escaped without injuries more or
/ looked at Nell. She was white to
the lips, and her eyes looked big and
wild.
Another incident of your unlucky
day which turns out the best Of good
luck" l say, not haying as yet taken in
| the full sense of the catastrophe
Aren't you rather glad than other
wise now that you pulled down the
wardrObep"
"Cyril!" cries Nell in shrill voice,
which hardly recognize us hers. " How
can / be glad? Two were killed out
right, and Miles CASTOR was there"
/ pause in horror. Then / begin to
argue. The names of those who were
killed are not known. Surely rising
young physician like DR.. CASTOR would
be one of the first to be mentioned if he
were one of the victims. But even as l
speak my heart sinks, for 1 remember
that DR.. CASTOR and another young man
were the only two who were not from
our town, the two, therefore, whose
names We're least likely to be known.
| Nell seems frozen to a statue. She
scarcely moves, scarcely speaks. Only
| her dry lips whisper: You will go
and find out, will you not, Cyril, dearP"
Ofcourse l will go; but just as reach
! the door | meet DR.. CASTOR himself
rushing down the street from the station.
You hereP Thank Godm he cried.
But Nell--is she hurtP Is She" He
pauses, unable to articulate the last
word, but hasten to put him out of his
misery.
"Nellis here, all right. We didn't go
to the picnic. An accident prevented.
But youP"
II did not go either" says DIR. Gas
| ton. Il was called out Unexpectedly
for professional visit. 1t was criti-
cal case, and could not leave until too
late for the train. only heard of the
accident this morning, and came down
at once"
1t is good to see the rosy glow which
chases away Nell's pallor as usher DIR.
CASTOR into the dining-room. II is good
to see the light of love and gratitude
which shines from his eyes as he sees
l. Il IL L ,k,l,