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

wear an air of comfortable serenity.
Mollie soothed the fear and huster of
her mamma, altered her old black silk
to the newest style, coaxed and bullied
Jack into q semi-recognition of the in
evitsble, and everything went merry as a
marriage bell. Aunt Cinqbar was aston
ishingly generous, for one of her eau.
tious proclivities; and other relatives,
who had hitherto been as adamant to
the calls for relief, became plastic as
putty in the face of this joyful ex-
tremity.
Mollie's wedding trousseau far ex
ceeded her widest ambition; and as she
had considerable versatility of soul,
these smooth expanses of silk and velvet
took some such a shape to her as the
lump of rough marble to the sculptor,
or nicely stretched canvas to an artist.
Her eyes began to glow before the scis-
sors shipped into the material; and when
! the whole ideal conception was realized,
and particularly as the train hung well,
and she was fitted to a nicely, she was
wildly happy.
Only once was there an open allusion
to Dolph. When it was proposed that
the bridal couple should kneel during
the benediction, " No, no, cried Mollie;
"men never kneel gracefully, at least
there are very few-only one; but never
mind"
Two or three hours after, her mother
came upon her unawares, and found
| her with her face bowed upon her
hands. When it was lifted, it was wet
with tears ; but she would bear no
caressing, and only said she was tired,
aud 80 glad the storm would prevent
Mr.. Fithian from coming down. In
truth, it was q day in which no man,
beast or reptile would care to be abroad.
| Heavy black clouds hung over Babble-
ton the wind swept wildly through the
deserted streets, increasing at night.
fall to hurricane, bowling and shrek
ing like an unloosei demon about the
dwellings of that hapless suburb, tear
ing Tuthlessly the glmcracks of fimsy
architecture from roofs and balconies,
up.rooting trees and shrubs, rocking
Mollie's bedstead like a cradle, and at
last sending brick with direful accu-
racy straight down Mrs. Muldoon's
chimney through the kitchen stovepipe
blocking up the damper, and frustrating
he baking of a lovely meat pie that
|
Then the heavens opened, and the
cain fell and such rain A bucket
full at drop, Jack said, when he came
home from town. He was wet to the
knees, and declared that, two blocks be-
low, raft was plying from corner to
corner the boys were getting out their
,oats, and if the storm continued, the
city of Venice would be nothing to Bah
Dleton. AS the kitchen fire had gone
ont, Jacks clothes we've put to dry in
the dining-room; the meat pie was still
IN its dough casing, but the coffee was
warm; and there was plenty of cold ham
in the larder. "And with ham and
pickles, said Jack, "we can defy the
elements"
So they all sat down to supper, Mollie's
hair in one braid down her back, and
the bib of her kitchen apron still tucked
under her chin, when suddenly there
was a ring at the bell.
"lf that's Mr.. Fithian," said Mollie,
" shall die. Do run up and see, Jack. "
Then Mrs. Muldoon and Mollie waited
in breathless silence, and, as the house
was small, and its acoustic properties
accommodating the smoothly modu-
latea tones of Mr.. Fithian came distinct
ly to their ears. els Miss Mollle in p
Jack rather thought she wasn't out.
Then the parlor door opened and shut,
and Jack came below.
"He's more like Mephistopheles than
ever tonight" said Jack. "He's al
ways tall and lean and cadaverous, but
he's specter now; and 'his eyes have
all the cleaning of a demon in THEN
dreaming"
els he very wet, Jack P'
"Wet He's drowned. But he's as
polite as q mounseer; he's holding twL
quarts of water at this present minute
in his high hat, and smiling blandly
while the rain drops over his marble
brow"
Mollie went bravely up into the par
lor. Now there is this about the grace
of youth, that it is invincible; and Mr.
Fithian had never found Mollie sc
charming as when she stood there be
fore him with her kitchen bib on, anC
her hair in one braid down her back
but, on the other hand, a gentleman o
Mr.. Fithian's physique and style ant
age can be awfully brought to grief BY
two hours wading in a tempest. Hi
devotion was supreme, and merited {
better acknowledgment at the hauds o
Mollie; but we all know the weakness
and ingratitude of human nature. Hi
overcoat and high hat and overshoe
were thrown together in a wet mass upol
the rack; Mollie saw them as she passe,
, through the hall, and her heart SAM
within her. Did he expecg to remain
With the kitchen fire out, and the bacl
2 area filed with water, and nothing il
4 the house but ham and pickles, did thi
3 alien and stranger expect to be asked t
/ share their humble hospitality7 Il
3 stood there, pretending to lookat boo
= upon the marble table, while the waite
D fell from his ooat-tails in a pool.
8 You-you are 80 wet r. said Mol
s lie.
s ST know it," he said. "Can't g
a somewhere and get dry? Let me g