The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-06-23

crafty all our whims, and an oak
mantelpiece carved to match the vain
scot would cost pretty penny, as
sure you. If only the original one had
been left Harry remembers it per-
fectly, and says people would rave over
it now. Great clusters of fruits and
flowers on the panels, connected by
dropping wreaths-exqui itely done,
too. And they split it up, and burned
it for kindling-wood, the Goths and
Vandals, when this new and elegant
monstrosity took its place."
"But couldn't you have the lovely
Duteh.tiled mantelpiece in the dining
room moved here at very little ex-
pensep"
"Ah, my dear, don't pride yourself
on striking out brilliant idea. Did
not suggest that to Harry long agoP
No, indeed, he won't have this hideous
thing removed, because it was his
uncle's dying wish that it should be
kept here. can't blame him either,
dear fellow. .O'd Mr.. Van Schenck,
with all his eccentricities, was very
kind to him, and in his will left him
his whole fortune, but the wretches
who murdered him took everything,
stocks, bonds, and all--it was one of
his peculiarities to keep his property in
a portable form-and the will was
doubtless among them. The law gave
Harry the house"
"Tell me all about it, Kate" inter-
rupted Elsie. "You know l only had
the bare facts while l was abroad, none
of the particulars, and the three days |
spent at home before coming down to
you"
"Wcre filed with descriptions of
travel, displaying your finery, etc. Yes,
know. There isn't really very much to
tell; but, to begin at the beginning
I'll inform you how my bette noire came
to be the bane of my life. 1t seems that
thirty years ago old Mr. Van Schenck-
then rich bachelor of fifty-tell des-
perately in love with a beautiful girl,
whose father he had befriended. She
engaged herself to him, and he began to
remodel the house to suit her taste
fancy the taste that would DESTROY a
lovely carved oak mantelpiece to make
way for that monster when an old
lover appeared on the scene; and she,
probably fearing that her father would
torce her TO keep her promise, ran away
with him. 1t was terrible blow to
Mr.. Van Schenck, an excessively proud
man. He stopped the repairs Just where
they were, dismissed all his servants
except one old woman, and, in spite of
The entreaties of all his friends and rela-
tives, persisted in living alone up to the
dly of his murder. This was the room
lie always occupied. The bed stood in
that corner, facing the mantelpiece.
The mnrderers entered by one of TIE
western windows, aud had doubtless
been hiding in the wood, watching their
| opportunity. His eccentricities were
well known in the ntighborhood, and
| he was reputed to be immensely rich.
Only a week before Harry had been
| here. represented the danger, and beg
ged him to have at least trusty man
servant on the place. He obstantly re-
| fused, and tine next news we had was a
summons to his death-bed. My hus-
band reached here few minutes before
dusk, and found his uncle still alive. but
unable to speak-the principal wound
was n deep cash in the throat. The old
man seemed terribly anxious to tell him
something, and made motion of writ
ing on the coverlet, but his strength was
failing, the room growing dark, and
Harry could not understand. At last,
struggling to sitting position in bed,
he pointed TO the mantelpiecP, gasped
Kept, kept then the blood gushed
from the wound in his throat, and he
sank back on the pillows-dead."
Horrible! horriblem cried Elsie
Poor old man. how he must have
loved the girl, to think, even on his
death-bed, of preserving the, one thing
she had given him time to prepare il
his home for her sake! Doesn't it len6
the ugly old mantelpiece q touch o
romanceP No wonder Harry won
low it to be removed! l should fee
as if it were sacrilege."
don't want it removed either" re
piled Kate, slowly. "But with sud
den animation" how hould like t.
cover it up, every inch of it!m
Elsie looked at her inquiringly.
"rm half ashamed to tell yOu," con
tinued Kate, lowering her voice, A" bu
l believe shall actually grow afraid o
that thing unless / can find some wa,
to change it. Ofcourse it sounds sill
enough to say so now, sitting here il
this broad, bright sunlight; but it
quite another matter when the dus
comes stealing in, casting shadows il
l every corner, and the wind howls an
shrieks around the old house. A wee
l ago l sat yonder at one of the windows
4 watching for Harry, who was a littl
! later than usual. 1t had been a gray
< raw, chilly day, like a forerunner {
: November, with one of those dreary
!, moaning winds signing through til
e trees that always do make me disma
and l was troubled, too, about Harry
S business. / can trust you, Elsie, l kno'
b. of old, so l will tell you the whole story
: He is on the brink Of ruin. Hard time
: have sorely crippled the old firm int
e which he was admitted when he marie
S me, and Mr.. Van Schenck was to hay
, advanced 100000 the week he died
r carry them through to the first of JAM
If ary. Harry has always reproached hin
(, self for his carelessness in discussir
It the arrangements while walking wit
n his uncle in the wood behind the hous
He thinks the murderers may hay
le overheard them, and killed the old ms
II TO obtain the money, for he was to hal
% delivered it to him the day after Il
N murder, and not trace of that or al
v, other property could be found. Wi
he this amount the firm would have be-
II safe; now, it is very uncertain wheth
g. | tbav oan hold ont That's the rpagO