The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-08-20

tree; and brave "Sfr Launcelot," who
tumbled knights over like so many ten
pins.
They had been reading Elaine" the
sad tale of the "Lily-maid of Astolat, Z"
who loved so well and loved in vain,
1t is often these rattling, rollicking
boys who have the tenderest feelings,
and at the conclusion Dick was quietly
snuffling and bowling the tears out of
his eyes with his knuckles. Polly had
slipped out to hide her own.
"Doctor," says Dick, brokenly, would
you let girl die because she was loving
you SOP"
Never, Dick, never But / am not
the slashing kind of fellow girls die
over" says Doctor Cary, laughing rather
sadly.
Doctor" b" said Dick, in hoarse whis-
per, lone of ems doing it. She cries,
and droops over her work just like the
Lily Maid did; and she's loving you. !
heard her say So"
"Oh, no, Dick, you are mistaken!'
cries the doctor, blushing furiously.
" Not bit. I'll tell you who she is.
It's my favorite one of 'em. It's Polly,
that's who it is; and she can skate as
well as boy, and make good traps, and
such taffy! Doctor, would it hurt me to
eat taffy nowP"
AS have said, the doctor took in new
ideas slowly, but when they once made
an entrance into his head, they came to
stay.
For the first time in his recollection
sleep failed to visit him at his usual hour.
He lay tossing and tumbling, thinking.
Polly's pale face IN | wistful eyes haunt
ed him, and Dicks fearful words: Gone
of ems doing it, she loves you So"
1t may have been that he loved Polly
long time unconsciously. At any rate, it
seemed to him now that he had loved her
q very long time.
He could stand it no longer The beau
tiful girl pining away for him. He
sprang up and wrote her an offer of
marriage in the dead of night. He handed
this letter to Polly himself as he bade her
" Goodbye" after his next visit, pre-
tendedly to Dick.
Polly took it quietly without opening
it, thinking it to be a new prescription
for Dick, who, with his arm in a sling,
now roamed at large.
She sauntered into the sitting-room
where they all were.
"Does Doctor John always direct
them,to you, PollyP" asked Kitty, open
ing it. The next moment she screamed
outright, Patsy, come here! Dick,
what do you thinkP Doctor John wants
to marry our Polly. Did you ever in
your born daysp"
The excitementswas intense.
$50 there's to be wedding in the
Lyons family at lastP" cries Patsy.
Mercy! the Dodsons will turn green
with base envy. What luck! Tell us
how you managed it, Polly-do, Oh,
you clever PollyW
And Mrs. Lyons came hurrying in, and
smiled so blandly, and crowed so trium-
phantly over those "scheming Dodson
girls" that Polly was perfectly confused
letter till it had been handed around the
room. Even Dick tried to spell it out
before she could lay hands on it. He
considered he had more right to it than
any one else, and chuckled quietly to
himself at the unwonted success of his
"Why, Polly will scarcely have to get
any wedding Clothes" cries one of the
girls; the tinery up stairs will come in
exactly"
There could certainly be no objection
to the match, as Polly was eighteen, and
Doctor John was plenty old enough to
take care of her. Polly preferred wait
ing herself, but 1.-THE girls" would not
hear of such thing. So when Polly
made another start to the city, it was on
a little bridal tour, instead of beau-catch- |
ing.
CHAPTER III.
What boy could ever hold his tongue
when he ought to, or keep a secretp
"Polly, must tell you," says Dick, |
after she had her bonnet on, ready to |
start. "Come off here-it is a secret. | |
caught the doctor for you, miss; told |
him how you were crying your eyes out |
about him, and how you were dying |
after him. l heard you say so. Oh, / |
this matter nicely. Now, |
thank me for it, miss"
Polly was stunned. If she did not care |
about j ohm Cary herself. she |
at least imagined him to be greatly in
love with her. 1t was too cruel to destroy |
the pleasant illusion.
And Dick stood hopping first on one
leg, then on the other, waiting to be
thanked. She could have boxed him.
A moment more and the farewells
were over, and Polly and her husband |
were rolling side by side to the station.
"Polly, dear" says her husband, |
"we've been in such a stir and hustle, |
and-and even our courtship in such |
confusion, that I'm glad Wen have a
chance to get acquainted with each
other. You'll call me John, won't you,
dearp"
"Oh, yes" she answers, coldly. ANY
thing will do"
And you'll kiss me, now, won't you,
PollyP Do you know you have never
kissed me a single time yet?n
"Some people are coming, and they |
will laugh to see us such geese" says |
Polly, hurriedly. pulling her veil over /
her face.
"You scarcely feel that you know me,
do you, PollyP"
She was crying so she could not an
swer. and Doctor John sighed rather
sadly to himself
Il don't know much about womens
ways, / am afraid"
mot this year, nor the next one,
either.n Dicks words seemed prophetic. |