The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-07-16

again."
She stopped for sheer lack of breath, and
l said, feeling a sort of scorn for a man who
could so speak of woman: "Miss Carew
may be all you say, but until know more
about it / shall treat her as always have.
And as for Miss Payne, she is low, gos-
siping woman to repeat such tale"
She stared at me in amaze.
az had no idea you were so fond of her."
she said. ado you know they say she is
called very fascinating? l have rather
pitied her because she was so plain"
What became of Mr.. Skidmore's
brotherW
ooh, l believe he married somebody else
But | must go now. You are not offended,
Miss ArdenW
"No," L said, laughing; "not with such
a giddy tomboy as you are"
/ was greatly surprised by what May had
told me. For the first time | suspected
there was another nature in Annie Carew
than the indolent, careless one we saw.
There might dangerous fires sleep under
those soft, brown eyes. There might be
hidden depths under that cold exterior.
And, now | thought OF it, she wasn't so very
plain. She had beautiful eyes, brown and
clear-looking; delicate eyebrows, full red
lips, and masses of SOFT dusky hair. If her
face was dark and thin, it was also full of
character. Certainly she was not to be
pitied.
/ was rather fearful as to how she would
treat MAY, but at teatime she came in
smiling, and apologizing for being so late.
There was not trace of any unpleasantness
in the,smooth face. She laughed a great
deal, and showed me sketch she had made
a ridiculously long-necked bird was perched
on the umbrella, and in its mouth bit of
scarlet ribbon, over which it seemed puz-
zled. There was real expression in the
small, uncanny eyes, and laughed heartily.
Chow well you sketch, Miss Carew P'
said May, who was looking over my
shoulder.
Yes; that is one of my Bohemian pro-
clivities. One learns many things like that
travelling over the world without chdperone
There was no malice in the tone. 1t
seemed merely an explanation. Mr.. Skid
more looked up quickly, and then went out
of the room, abruptly. Miss Carew laughed
Have shocked anybody ?" she asked,
lightly.
"Come out on the beach," whispered
And when we were alone, said, "Tell me
about it, Miss Carew." .
1t was in substance what had heard
once before that afternoon. She cared
nothing for the boyish lover, and was glad
to have the engagement broken, but the in
solent, unjust words of Mr.. SkidmorU had
hurt her cruelty.
"Why," she said Z" l suppose he hates
me as he hates no one else in the world"
"And do you dislike him ?'
Miss Arden, despise him."
"I am very glad to hear it, believe me-
and tall figure strobe past us down the
beach. Miss Carew burst into laugh.
have added the last straw now," she
said.
After that there was not even the sem.
blance of politeness between them. Each
ignored the others existence. We walked
and talked and played croquet indolently
| as before Mr.. Skidmore was always with
Victoria Derry, and l was drifting into g
dangerol liking for one of our company
a man with neither money nor good looks
think we were all moderately happy but
[ was alarmingly so. All through the
month we were favored with fine weather
May Derry said she was " full to bursting
of pure delight Living was a pleasure
and life grand holiday. Once or twicC
we all went to Brunswick for a drive, bu
| for the mos. part of the time were lying
under trees, or in the warm sand, Crusoe
like, reading or thinking. All the fisher
men have high tenor voices at Harpswell
and sing songs of the sea, and wear ole
straw hats and look picturesque. 1t wai
pleasure enough to sit on the rocks and heal
| their melody rising free and unrestraineC
while they mended their nets. 1t wal
beautiful, too, to watch the shadows coming
over the tree tops, and the hush of nigh
falling on all the land
One night we were out in the boat, anC
Mr. Price drew in the oars and let th,
boat drift. 1t happened unfortunately tha
Annie Carew was placed beside Mr.. Skid
more, making it uncomfortable for both.
soon forgot it, however, in watching th'
beauty of the beach and ocean in the mel
low, softened light, and drinking in TIN
sweet fragrant air.
"Such a scene as this brings up sleepin,
memories" said Mr.. Skidmore "With th
glamour of this soft beauty on a man h
might De forgiven for almost any rashness
1 am strangely susceptible to mOonligh
and the fragrant spring air. Miss Carew
won't you favor us with a song and breal
the spell%
1t must have affected him indeed Il
cause him to speak like that, in that hall
tender voice to Annie Carew.
" I shall be happy to oblige you if yo,
really desire it,"
ooh, yes, do sing, Miss Carew," SAT-
several voices.
She sang little boating song, all abou
"waves and "ripples" and Z" the sand
upon the shore" and She sang it beauti
fully. felt like falling in love with hel
she looked so handsome, and there was
haunting pathos in the voice. Certainl
Annie Carew was not plain girl. She wa
a dangerously fascinating one. realize
it fully as she sat there in the moonlight
her splendid eyes sparkling and her clea
voice touching ones heartstrings so closely
Bohemian she might be; she was NOR
beautiful in that tender, gracious moo
than any woman had even seen.
There was silence for a moment; the
Mr.. Price said;
You sing like the sirens of old, Mi
CareW. if one can iudge from ideas Tb