The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-11-26

about her.
Tire summer term brought Adelina
again to the old red school-house, but
so changed outwardly that we hardly
knew her from the somber" black bird
of the previous winter. She fluttered
in one morning dressed in white, with
sash and shoulder-knoCs of cherry rib
bons-the loveliest creature l ever saw.
At noon she came to me, and said, very
gravely:
After to-day am not coming any
more"
"Whyp"
"I am going to the city to live; but
you were kind to me the first day
came, and l tell you for that reason,
and because you didn't mind untying
my hood for me-"
/ felt her going so keenly that could
not study, try as L would, and in conse-
quence my grammar lesson was de-
cided failure. / went home from school
her way that day, taking care that the
other scholars should not suspect my
motives. When | came in sight Of her
she was standing motiopless by the
roadside, attentively watching yellow
jacket buzzing for sweets in the downy
heart of white Canada thistle.
Years after, when miles and miles
away from that spot, | could shut my
eyes of hazy October afternoon, with
five o'clock sun dipping toward, the
tree tops, and see little girl, lovely as
the blush of the sunset, gazing pensively
at bee upon a common roadside
flower.
"Did it sting youP" l asked, assum-
ing a very sympathetic air.
mo; bees never sting me, and I've
watched them dance on the thistle
heads all summer"
~ did not know that you loved them.
Most girls are afraid of bees"
"Yes; but | am not"
She turned from the rank patch of
thistles, and slowly resumed her walk
homeward. When we came to the lane
where our paths separated, she put up
her little arms to be taken and kissed,
before leaving me, as she said, "to come
I back no more"
"Be good to yourself, Eddie; and next
winter, if any little lonely Adelinas
come cold and frightened to the old red
school-house yonder, be kind to them
as you were to me-"
Something choked in my throat, and
| could not say word; but kissed her
more than once: and after she had
| slipped from my arms and was twenty
rods away, | sat down and cried like II
baby, because was never to see Adelina
again.
1t was not long before the rumor was
rife in the neighborhood that Mrs. La
! grange had married a middle-aged city
| millionaire, and that the young widow
and her child had found a new protec-
tor in place of the one death had taken
from them.
Years Aitted by-I was twenty-four;
| I 4 Il, l,n
the army n private and came out of it a
captain, shattered in health and utterly
depleted in pocket, to find myself at
home again, ill and altogether distrust-
full of fortunes smile.
i In my frequent walks to the village
poStoflice / often passed by the old red
schoolhouse, and never without sigh
of regret for the many happy, care-free
days spent within its battered walls.
Among the letters handed to me one
morning was one postmarked New
York, which informed me of the agree
able fact that, through the instrumental
ity of friend of mine, whom he was
anxious to serve, the undersigned, Mr.,
Maxwell, had been induced to extend
to me a commercial opening at the lib
eral salary of two thousand a year, to
be increased if merited. There was for
| ONNHS~N
it with alacrity.
Mr.. Maxwell, a rich New York mer-
chant, from the first took lively inter
est in my advancement. The unknown
friend could not account for in an!
other way than by supposing it to b'
some soldier comrade whom l had be
friended in the past.
/ Within month / was fairly estab
; lished at my new post of duty, and sue
ceeded in pleasing Mr.. Maxwell so wei
that at the beginning of my second yea
he sent me to Europe in the interest o
| the house. When | returned, L wa
) given a weeks vacation, which l spen
Y among the breezy hills of my old countr
home, passing the. pleasant Septeinbe
days in tramping through the woods an
1 fields and by-ways that were the chose
e haunts of my boyhood,
i / was Just turning the curve in tn
road where the Canada thistles grew
: and $50 lost in.my walking reverie, that
v was almost opposite lady standing
: their midst before l was aware of h'
v Il am glad you still love the ol
scenes, Mr.. Durand," she said, withol
o expressing the least surprise.
J; | was astonished. Here was Lad
who, to the best of my knowledge, ha
n never seen before, addressing me
a familiarly as if we had known eaC
other all our lives.
"Names are treacherous things. al
" if I were ever so fortunate as to ha'
d known yours, am guilty of having 70
m gotten it," replied.
a. = Men forget easily, am told but
er had hoped to find you an exception
W the rule"
A very awkward silence on my pa
ensued. She took pity on my evide
embarrassment, and continued:
"Has your battle with the world e
nd tirely driven from your recollection
40 the old school facesp"
IT. Her voice dropped to its old swe
clear, winning cadence. thrilling 1
whole being with delight.
1t Adelinaw
= .,.-L4 \ -. bo,,5 ord Lafo,.o ly,,,