The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-10-29


were her avowked slaves, and the other
half showed symptoms of fyielding. One
and all, in greater or less degree, were
charmed with the fresh beauty of the
young English girl and expressed it in
their different ways, by action, or by
silence, which is sometimes as eloquent
thing as action.
Aimee enjoyed her honors modestly
and ''meekly. A little consciousness
crept gradually into the frank eyes, a
shade, of innocent coquotry, perhaps, into
the manner-that was all and no harm
either, pronounced DIR. Bracey, as he
watched this gradual unfolding of the
womanly instinct. He loved the girl,
and it pleased him to see her having
ga good time" after the fashion of her
age and sex. at will do her all sorts of
good" meditated this worldly-wise old
theologue, with n chuckle, and he
rubbed his hands approvingly.
Simple DIR. Bracey! The momentary
amusement of his protege was all he had
in his mind. 1t did not occur to him
that happiness, most happiness, has to
be paid for in one shape or another, and
that the settling day, when it comes, is
rarely pleasant one. Among the crowd
of admirers is always one who stands
pre-eminent in a girls fancy. In Aimee's
this one was Frank Chasuble. He was
the handsomest young fellow in the SEM
mary, for one thing. His views were
"high," but that was no objection to the
church-loving girl; and as the only son
of rich man, he had it in his power to
express and adorn these views with all
the ornamental touches with which
modern arts essays to decorate an aus
tere faith. Nobody wore such waist
coats as he; his bands were miracles of
fineness; the little cross at his button
hole was an antique gem. The secret
grief of his life was the wearing of the
inevitable students black gown; its con-
ISOLATION, the contemplation of drawer
full OF advanced garments, embroidered
stoles and the like, with which he pur-
posed to bedeck himself the moment
that ordination should set him free to
do as he liked. He was altogether n
fascinating ombination-enough to
kindle the fancy of any girl; and Aimee
was in the fair road for n heartache
when something happened, of which l
shall now proceed to tell you.
Among the little maids accomplish
ments was fair skill in water color
drawing, and it occurred to her some
weeks after her arrival to turn this to
account for the benefit of DR.. Bracey,
"the dear old doctor, who had been so
very, very kind to her." She had once
heard him express a wish for view of
the interior of his beloved little chapel,
and with some shyness she offered to
make one. The doctor was charmed
with the idea. and carried Aimee off at
once to decide on the point of view.
The students were absent for the brief
Thanksgiving vacation, so there was no
npo IN dictt1Yh 10 rair in th mir iY,o
alton and discussion of the building. A
view OF the east end, with the apse and
the tall lancet windows over the altar,
including glimpse of the carved stalls
on the right, was finally chosen; and as
the best place for the artist proved to
be the organ-loft, a small square space,
raised about five feet above the aisle, DR..
Bracey installed Aimee there, showing
her how conveniently she could set her.
self, and how she could regulate the
light at will by closing or opening the
curtains with which the loft was in
closed.
"And here is shelf for your things"
he added, exhibiting a ledge at the back
of the organ. You might leave them
there, if you like, and save the trouble
of carrying lthem to and fro. Nobody
will meddle with them. The organist
boy is blind, poor fellow" With this
he departed, leaving Aimee to her task.
She worked on through that quiet
afternoon and the next, and so success
fully that her work became absorbing
and full of interest. On Monday the
students returned. Frank Chasuble
walked home with them after even
song, was asked to tea by Mrs. Bracey,
and spent long evening with Aimee
over the piano. Never had he been so
charming, so devoted. Her thoughts
were fuller of him than of her drawing
as, early on Tuesday afternoon, she be-
took herself to her perch in the organ
loft, secure, as she supposed, of three
hours solitude before the tinkle of the
service bell at six should warn her to
flee.
She had just got we'll to work when
the opening door and the sound of foot
steps and voices startled her attention.
Peeping from between the closely drawn
curtains, she beheld, to her surprise, the
greater part of the senior class entering
the chapel. There were Arthur Burns,
Vedderbake, Bensen, Frank, of course,
that quiet Mr.. Challoner, who always
looked at her so much and said so little,
Gregory, Tom Esher and dozen others,
all of whom she knew by name at least,
and most of them personally. What
could they be doing here at this hourp
She had never happened to hear of what
the students called "practicing Tues
day." on which monthly occasion the
senior class met to rehearse and criticize
each others sermons. But the mystery
soon explained itself, for presently
Arthur Burns mounted into the pulpit
and began TO read from a manuscript,
while his classmates, grouped in various
unconventional attitudes, listened atten-
lively. The discourse lasted about
fifteen minutes. When he finished, the
others proceeded 10 comment.
"The ending was decidedly poor" :"
put in Frank Chasuble. You Just
stopped, that was all. There was no
finish"
"Well, what better can a fellow do
than stop when he's through" asked
the sneaker,