The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-06-16
and thought it pity to call him such


Marcia knows that / am stronger
than look" Esther answered, simply.
fear you take too much upon your
self. fancy you don't look as well as
usual. Doctor Farnham should take
better care of you" be added, with
constrained smile and a curious, dues-
tioning glance at her lace.
A conscious blush tinged her cheek.
1--WE don't employ Doctor Farnham,"
she answered, pretending to take his
meaning literally. You know my
aunty don't like his family. 1 don't
know why"
"She has reason. I've heard the
story from mother Old Farnham Jilted
her when they were young, and you
know Aunt Phoebe finds it hard to for
give"
Poor auntyw
She raised her eyes full to his.
i've never heard that said of Doc
tor Farnham," she answered, with un-
wonted spirit.
well, hope you never may, since
you think so much of him" said the
young man, with something like a sigh,
as he lifted the hewn logs and piled
them on his arm as lightly as though
they lad been so many twigs.
Passing across the yard, he laid his
burden within the entry door.
Marcia looked in with coquettish
smile.
Won't you come in, George. and
warm yourseltp"
mo, thank you, not now. am on
an errand for mother, and must get
back before sunset"
And he hurried away.
WHO was tbatp' inquired the old
lady from her armchair.
George Harrison, aunt"
A good young man. | wish he
would marry Esther. l used 20 fancy
that he liked her."
80 he did, and told her so last sum-
mer, and she refused him. His sister,
| Mrs. Temple, told me about it."
! Refused hitAi And what forp"
"Oh, because just about that time she
| got acquainted with young Doctor
| Fdrnhan, and he paid her attention at
| the protracted meeting, and walked
with her whenever he saw her after
ward. People begin to notice it, Aunt
Phoebe; They say that he means to
] marry her."
You don't tell me, Marcia! Doctor
Farnham! He's OF a bad stock-proud
ind sLuckup folks, who made money by
cheating and lost it specerlating. He'll
'pecerlate- only he's no money to spec
| erlate with"
"Oh, he thinks that when he mar
ries Esther he'll have your money to
USE"
"He does, heyP That's what he's
after, is itP Well" mumbled tue old
lady, her chin trembling with excite
ment, he'll get no money O. mine, nor
! Esther neither, if she means to marry
| him. Nara niece o. mine shall marry
IA Farnham, if | can help it. know
'em-and SO did my family afore me-to
our sorrow. We've had enough of them
| Farnhams."
An hour after Esther came in, her
cheeks crimson, her eyes fearful and
radiant with soft light.
To Marcia's question she replied that
she mad been to the mead Jw-so they
called che strip of marsh bordering the
! river-to fetch home the COWS.
| Aunt Keeling look at her with an
angry glare in her dim eyes.
That's Chloe's business. But,
Esther, what is this Marcia tells me
bout you and that young FarnhamP P
| You've deceived me, Esther"
! "NO, Aunt Phoebe. l knew that you
did not like h,m. and so would not
mention him. You see, L did not
dream until this evening that he really
| cared Tor me-"
This eveningp" repeated Marcia.
"Ohi 30 you met him down IN the
meadow. l thought L saw him down
there with his gun"
Esther" SAID the old lady, excitedly
tapping the floor with her staff
Esther, | want you to promise me one
thing, and tnat is, that you'll never
marry Farnham."
The 9 rl looked into the fire and was
silent.
Will you promise, grip Yes or
mel"
"That would be breaking my promise
to him, Aunt Phoebe" she said in a low
voice.
Your promise to him!" screeched
the old lady, humping the stick vio-
lently on the floor. " DO you mean TO
say you've promised to marry himP"
Yes-this eVening-in the meadow.
| meant to have told you and begged
| you to like him. You would like him
| if you knew him, Aunt Phoebe"
She clasped her hands on her aunt's
knee and looked up pleadingly, with
| eyes full of tears,
But the old woman was in a culver oi
rage, and she declared her solemn re-
solve never to leave Esther cent OF her
| money, except on conultlon OF ner CIV
ing up Doctor Farnham,
And when a week after this, Aunt
Keeling died, it became known to every.
body that she had left her fifteen hun
dred dollars to her niece Marcia, while
to Esther she had bequeathed the old
farmhouse and the strip OF barren ground
attached.
" That" she had said to the village
lawyer who drew up the will" that is
to prevent her marrying Farnham."
A week after the old lady's burial
Doctor Farnham came to see Esther.
In this time he had not fingered about
the river and the meadow. watching
opportunities TO waylay Esther as he
had previously done, and the girl missed
the sweet interviews which had thrown
light and glory over her dreary life.
Now, on this his first open visit to
her, she met MIN blushing and smiling
and with eyes overhOwing with tears
of love and gladness.