The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-12-01
WON'T AND I WILL.

iAQut DtA, butAA uCNoA AhnAAJ AAhht
Tho speaker was young girl scarcely
ehteen, and she Was addressing mid
|le.agcd lady, who wore look of an
s0yance that showed that the remark did
aei please her.
''Ie is far superior to Sylvester St.
bhn, the lady said in reply.
ltHe is eonceited; and don't like
was the answer. And the young
+ Hsl walked away.
Laura Moore was the only child OF
.Ifs. Monroe's brother, who died few
IArs before, and left his daughter in
care.
'he headstrong waywardness of her
.|Ies had caused Mrs. Monroe no little
I|Ilo in many ways. Lately she had
|.Asi' decided preference for a music
DaHler insthe neighborhood, Sylvester
John. q young man whose simpering,
''A6ied manners had fully disclosed to
Monroe the utter shallowness ofhis
) tAcler.
sA had talked with Laura, but with
ciIeot, and, anxious to prevent the
sh,ship from growing into more init
reIations, she had decided upon a
That she thought might avert such
famity.
Gerald Brown was the son of an init
ste friend Of Laura's father, and a
Ianr man with whom Mrs. Monroe
s well acquainted, and for whose
brad worth she had the highest respect.
Thinking that Laura might be di-
fled il she had the society Of another,
.|Ie had sent q pressing invitation to
.tfald to come and spend his summer
cation there; and it was accepted.
arald arrived at the house few days
before the conversation Just recorded
BOX place, and, as chante would have
st overheard it all.
A few moments later he stepped out
81 the balcony, where Laura was stand
Ing among her flowers, and said,
fsMiss Laura, will you take walk
With me down to the elmsp"
The young lady assented, and when
they reached the rustic seat, he con.
linued:
ct asked you to come here with me
because / wished to have little private
with you. I overheard all
that passed between you and your Aunt
Bel this morning, and wanted to tell
you that you are not in the least pos
sible danger, as at present I have no in
tention OF marrying any one"
Here he stopped, for Lauras painful
embarrassment made it impossible, fol-
him to proceed.
81 did not think you were going tC
haar roa . aha half sOhhad
ST do not blame you for one wordlyoJ
said he continued. ga young lady
should never allow herself to be coerceC
into marriage with any one. And yol
did perfectly right; and, as there is NJ
possibility that we can ever be lovers,
wanted to know if you were not willinl
that we should be friends. 1 canno
stay here unless you consent to this, ant
/ do not wish to go away. Are yo'
willing"
''Oh, certainly" she answered, to-
mortified to look up.
''Well, don't annoy yourself thinking
about it, Il" he said, kindly. eff you vii
excuse me now, I will go, as I promise
to take Mrs. Monroe to the village thi
morning"
The minute he was gone Laura burs
into tears, and sobbed out of pur
vexation.
sob, ] wouldn't have had it happe
for all the worldl' she moaned. ''Ho'
he must despise mel And 1 don't dil
like him at all. 1t was only because
wanted to tease Aunt Bel that L said it.
1t was some time before she recovere
her usual manner wien in Gerald's pre-
ence, although he took every means j
his power to make her forget what ha
happened.
During the two following weeks IL
young couple received many invitation
to parties and picnics, and Laura di
not fail to see how much superi,
Gerald was TO most of the young men
her acquaintance.
And when at home he engaged
spirited arguments with Mrs. Monro
who was a fine talker and very intel
gent lady, he often carried his point !
force Of sound logic, that showed a min
well-balanced and stored with info
nation.