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

Being December, there were no flowers
to assist sentiment; no nothing much,
except bare brown hills and leaAess,
! gaunt trees.
The sheep were in the fold; the COWS
gone home;" even the birds gone to
roost. But she would not be baked.
"Pll try my fortune" she said; and,
looking around to see that no one is
nera, she stops before a large tree. AS
one of Frances gifted writer's had done
before her, she takes a heavy stone and
draws very near.
If | hit the tree" she says, it shall
! be sign that before the month is out l
! find true love. If not-then not"
Like the French philosopher, Rous-
seau, she plumps the tree, and expert
ences the same feeling Of relief and ex-
ultation.
CHAPTER II.
Just to think! I'm really startingr'
cries Polly, ecstatically, bobbing up and
down before the squatty mirror to get a
good look at her belongings. "Look
out, Kitty, and see If the carriage is at
the door"
Merciful heavens! what is the
matterp" they cry, as a shrek from their
mother reaches them, and confused
sound of trampling feet.
They rush down, and find poor Dick
lying, white and still, on his mothers
bed.
81 knew it." groaned Mrs. Lyons.
i've always said he'd be killed by
horses or guns, or be drownedl And
now he'll believe his poor mother"
Dick, who had insisted upon driving
the ponies, had gotten himself tangled
up with the reins under the horses
heels, as boy best knows how to do it.
Here is q broken arm" says John
Cary, the doctor, land he is good
deal bruised; but We'll get him around,
| hope. Who will help me with this
armP l want steady hand-no finch
ing"
Mrs. Lyons was so weak she could
barely stand, Patsy trembling, and
Kitty had cried till she could scarcely
see.
Here, Dot. take these things up
stairs;n and Polly tosses off the spruce
hat and gloves with an irrepressible
sigh.
Poor Dick stood the operation like
man. That dreadful stretching and
pulling. and grating together of the
roken bones.
Polly, like a woman, exactly, held the
iuivering limb firmly and gently, helped
lin the last bandage, saw the color COM
'ng back to Dicks freckled face, and then
gave n little sigh herself, and didn't know
low she got up stairs to her room.
There she was hidden to lie down, COM
losc herself, even take a nap. You know
ONE people pin their faith to taking
laps." and would advise one to "take
nap" even though the house had just
burned down.
When they were all out, Polly takes of
her "good Clothes" her new button
1oots, the new travelling dress and all
putting on her old alapaca) for tears
make ugly spots), she cries all sorts Of
enrs-tears of sorrow for Dick, of veXa-
ion with him; but most of all tears of
disappointment and pity for herself.
When she had wept out all her little
wceps," she went down. John Cary
was gone, saying he would return in the
evening.
He was well-looking, well-to-do,
bashful man of thirty. or thereabouts,
and esteemed quite "catch " in the
neighborhood. Indeed, it was tho talk
Of the neighborhood how those bold
DodsOn girls had thrown. themselves at
his head.
Patsy and Kitty acknowledged in sor-
row their unsuccessful efforts TO attract
more than a passing glance, and began
advising Polly, as soon as she came
down, to "try her hand and air her new
lincry for his benefit"
AS Doctor Cary had left Dick feeling
quite comfortable, the Lyons family
seemed in lined tu celebrate this uncom-
mon event of having an invalid in the
house with considerable energy.
The younger members of the house
mold, Tootcms and Dot, crawled around
the bed in fever of curiosity to see
chow Dicks arm was mended;" Kitty
and Patsy, having recovered from their
fright, wanted to amuse the patient, and
see him laugh, and Mrs. Lyons was MAX
ing some jelly and cake for "the poor
dear"
Only Polly was as glum as an oyster.
She knew well that a small imp was at
work within her, but could not make up
her mind to drive him out; so she sat
with red eyes and sulky face, gloomily
knitting. She didn't laugh "A bit over the
girls jokes, and Dick didn't see any point
to them either.
"Oh, Dick, you Just ought to have
been looking when Polly tainted. Doc
tor John didn't even stop to look at her.
Why, if it hadn't been for Patsy and me,
she'd have tumbled on the floor. He
only said, Sprinkle her face and went
on punching you about the ribs"
"He's a slow old COACH" chimed in
Patsy. "Polly hasn't made much of
start yet; shouldn't wonder if a Dod-
son gets him yet. They are so persever-
ing"
"Oh, I'm dying of love for him, says
Polly, sarcastically; land, of course, /
shall cry my eyes out for him."
Dick was doing, but these words of
Polly's caught his ear, and he kept re-
peating them to himself. He could see
her eyes were very red, and that she
seemed very sad.
Doctor Cary shook his head when he
found the family party assembled round
Dicks bed and the boy with a high
fever.
TOO many nurses entirely. Who
will take the responsibility of keeping
him nnietP Miss PollY. will Won attend