The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-04-07
An Unexpected Meeting.


1t was a small, one-story frame struc-
ture, presenting some of the character
istics of cabin and cottage, built only
a little way in from the road, and APP
preached from it by narrow wooden
bridge, under which meandered, in
temperate seasons, gentle stream, but
which, in the fervid vigof of the sum-
mer and the rigor of the winter, was
dry and silent.
Away down in meadow behind this
little sentry box was large farmhouse,
with colony OF smaller buildings
springing up about it, and back of those
wasa wood, rising precipitouslyI to the
brow of protecting hill.
III summertime this homestead of
Farmer Gilman was a smiling, shady
place to look upon, as was, indeed, all
the country in which nestled the ham,
let of Fairbank, distant a couple of
miles away; but now that the iron fet-
ters of winter were on everything, it
looked cold, cherries and uninviting.
1t had been showing all day-snow
was everywhere. 1t was on the rich
pasture lands, on the closely-shaven
meadows, on last years tillage; it
crowned fences, and maintained pre-
. carious existence on the roofs of houses;
it, rendered sightless gaps in broken
roads, and lent a treacherous expansion
to highways; il in short, blotted ou
the ordinary landmarks, and was on
great, white. staring eyesore on the face
of the landscape.
Night had come on. and with it in
creased activity on the part of the storm.
1t was bitterly cold, too, and there was
an edge on the air like a knife.
II was night to enjoy a grateful
meal and a comfortable fireside. and
this was what May Seton was prepar-
ing for her fathers return in the little
cottage by the roadside.
The ample stove was aglow with the
cracking wood-fire; the bright lamp
light illumined the neat, decorous little
kitchen; the old easy-chair wore a look
of expectation as it stood by the table
that awaited the burden of the suhstan-
tial supper, and the blue-eyed rosebud
herself was blithely singing snatches OF
a ditty, as If in defiance of the g.oom
= and storm without.
For dozen years and upward May
Seton had occupied this same abode
with her father, and had been his sole
companion and housekeeper.
About that time George Seton haC
made his first appearance in Fairbank
bringing with him little else than fair
sweet child of four or five years old
and carrying about him an air of sup
pressed suffering that silenced in
quiries, albeit that it somewhat excited
curiosity. But this curiosity was sat
isied and turned to sympathy when
was learned that the stranger had re
Gently buried his partner, and that th
golden haired child he so tenderly cher
ished was mGtherless.
George Seton had not furnished Fair
bank with this information in so man
words. From the day of his arriva
to the tine whereof we write, he ha
never opened his lips on the subject {
his antecedents.
Abraham Gilman, or old Abe, as L
was more universally called, TO distir
guish him from a younger Abe, ha
once asked George, when they WEI
working in the fields together, if he w'
not a widower like himself, where;
Abe's new employee had bent his hea
and then maintained silence so impre
sive that the TACT was taken for granite
and never after discussed.
AS for May if questioned on the su
iect, she could only tell OF big tow