The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-06-25

cities. So this year, when "H. NJ. S.
Pinafore" sailed jauntily, with colors
flying, into American waters, many of
the inhabitants of Rockdale rocked not
of it, and this simple fact brought con-
sternation to the house of Hill. The
saucy ship found its way to l.,
anchored there long enough to set a few
enthusiasts to singing Little Butter
cup" and 1.-THE Merry Maiden and the
Tar" Incorrectly, of course), and not
finding quite so warm welcome as in
some of the larger cities, soon set sail
again for n more congenial haven. But
the mania for quoting the libretto-
especially the hardly ever " epidemic
spread in that region, as it did every
where.
Our friend Jack Arnold went to see
the performance, and of course he
thought of Sallie all the evening, and
envied young Hill, whose lady-love was
in the party. The two young men were
meditating brief visit to Rockdale, and
hence it was, perhaps, that Jacks
thoughts were too far away to allow of
his giving full appreciation to the incom-
parable little opera. All the tender
music filed him with thoughts of love,
from which the irresistible jingle of the
merry choruses beguiled him only for
the moment. Therefore, when the day
came for the journey to Rockdale, and
he found himself at last in the presence
of his beloved, his mind was quite alb
sorbed by the joy of it, and he had no
leisure for such trihing matters as the
discussion of a pretty new opera. So
Sallie was left still in her benighted ig-
norance; she knew nothing of "Pina-
| fore"
They began to talk of mundane mat
! ters, however, on the second evening,
when they were all seated together.
That poor Laura Beamis!" said
Auntie Trib, compassionately. "Did
you know she'd got back, FreeP"
Laura Beamis!" uttered Free, with q
laugh, and glancing at Jack, who looked
a trihe conscious. you had f1irt--"
Yes" interrupted his mother; "and
they do say she's been Tilted by some
town young man to degree that's
made her a poor, broken-hearted con-
sumptive."
Dear mel" exclaimed Free. Heart
and lungs gone at one fell swoop! That
is going into the dying business whole
sale"
This irreverent comment was received
| by Auntie Trib with much reproachful
indignation but Sallie sat mute, with n
wildly-beating heart. Gossip had car
ried to her ears the tale that Laura
| Beamis had claimed former acquaint-
anceship with Jack Arnold. The un-
fortunate girl had gone to live with her
aunt in L, and had returned in
serious ill-health, the result, it was said,
of "a disappointment in love. Frees look
was peculiar. Could it be-
MY grief it's an awful thing" con-
| tinued Auntie Trib. "She was engaged
| 30 hin, I tl;uly on1 la want o0r Co,.,o
| where's and came back engaged to some
other girl. Ny! the poor thing looks as
if she had one foot in the grave already.
It's really dretful, amt it, JohnP P"-with
n sudden appeal to the silent listener.
Very-very, indeed" said Arnold.
IL knew her."
"You didp Well, want to known
said Auntie Trib. "Why didn't you
say 50 before? Wasn't she pretty, poor
thing. before she got so lows spirited?"
"Who was the manp" asked Sallie,
suddenly.
Very pretty, I think" said Jack,
answering Mrs. Hills question. He
did not mean to ignore SalIie's, but Free
broke in with torrent of lively non
sense, and the conversation drifted away
from Laura Beamis and her troubles
| Ssllie was slightly uncomfortable, but
she had confidence in her lover, and did
not allow herself to indulge, as yet, in
causelcss suspicion. Auntie Trib, how
ever, recurred to the former subject,
which had distressed her simple, senti-
mental old heart She exclaimed, medi-
tatiYely:
"My! amt it dishonorable for a man
to behave sol"
"IfI knew him." said Sallie, looking
like a youthful prophecies, in her sweet
austerity, Il would never touch his
hand again--no, not if he had been my
best friend"
"What! so severe?" asked Jack, with
half-amused remonstrance.
"Whew! Look out, Jack" cried
Free. "You never did anything dis
honorable, did youm
-" Never" answered Jack, readily and
| quietly enough.
! This was irresistible.
"'What! neverP'" asked Free, with
intense significance.
"Well, hardly ever, " returned Jack,
nervously rubbing his chin, apparently
the very embodiment of guilty con-
fusion. Then they both uttered cold
little evasive laughs, and Free changed
the subject.
The, truth was, they had both heard
the joke so often that it could no longer
AelSO ANA ~ AAuSH' anu UhOJ uAN hOI
reflect that the quotation was entirely
new to their hearers. They talked on,
ignorant Of the overwhelming effect
which their words had produced For
Auntie Trib was seriously alarmed, and
began to think that she ought to have
inquired more closely. into the young
mans antecedents. She resolved to
question Free at the earliest opportunity
but how could this be accomplished,
since the two friends intended to leave
Rockville at an early hour on the follow
ing morningP She decided to write a
most urgent letter, and sift the matter tc
the bottom. But how was it with
SallieP The little incident was, to he1
narrow and innocent mind, ICON
firmation strong as proofs of Molly writ. >
Jack was evidently ashamed of some.
thing in the past; he had been confused