The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-11-03

tion,. met his fevered gaze" God bless
you"
With what thrill of anguish he read
| the words, and the unconscious little
shining circlet seemed a sad and silent
monitor. pointing him toward the
scenes of happiness and innocence now
so far in the distance and from which
his all too willing feet had sadly
strayed.
81 will not, cannot" he answered,
| hoarsely, as with pale and averted face
and trembling hands he replaced the
| loving token on his finger.
"Then, by, I'll make your yelled
the ruffian, and seizing him by the
throat he made ferocious lunge with a
sti)etto.
The parties in and around the saloon
had by this time gathered near, and ex-
citement deep and intense prevailed.
! No one needed the fact that a carriage,
with lady robed in deep mourning for
! its only occupant, had halted near the
door, as boy rushed in and called to
his companions without "Balfour's
gettin' cut by Mexican Joep
At the sound of the name the lady in
the vehicle called to the driver to per-
NIT her to alight, and trembling with
terror and agonized suspense, she found
her way into the saloon, where crowd
was rapidly collecting. With nervous
haste she threaded her way into the
room from which the noise of strife pro-
ceeded, the gamins making way for her
| in silent wonder rs she advanced. And
well they might gaze at her in startled
surprise. Such face and presence were
never seen in the purlieus of that region
before save to pass by in a public convey
ance, perhaps, and then as rapidly as
possible, as if to avoid contamination
with the .coarser elements of the de-
graded resort.
Tall, stately, with streaming eyes and
auivering lips, her black robes sweep
ing behind her as she walked, she en-
] tered and saw her son Just as he reeled
from the blow inflicted by the cruel
knife of his vindictive foe. His glance,
full of terror, despair and agony in that
dreadful moment, saw and recognized
her, and his bleeding form fell into her
loving, faithful arms with the stimuli
taneous exclamation: "Oh, motherw
and My dear Frederick, my precious
boy" fell on the ears OF the astonished
multitude.
A hush of respectful sympathy moved
those rugged hearts as quickly and care
| fully they assisted in removing the suf-
ferer from the dreadful scene. Speedily
summoning aid, the mother drove to
the hotel with her cherished burden,
once strong and athletic, now weaker
and more frail than herself.
| A physician was called in, and to her
| great relief the wounds, though danger
Gus, were not pronounced fatal. A faint
hope still fingered, and with care and
watchfuluess he might survive. And
need it be added that there would he no
lack of affectionate care, when devoted
mother keeps sleepless vigil beside the
couch of her suffering, yet youthful and
only son.
Reader. would you follow the fortunes
of Frederick BalfOur, go with me to a
great city in the West, where the lap
ping waves of a peaceful ocean caress
the beautiful concave of the Golden
Gate; where, amid the hum of business,
the dreams of the most visionary are
often a bright reality; where the for
tunes, like the far-famed palace of Alad-
din, rise in a night and gladden. the sur
rounding plains with their splendor at
the rising of the morning sun.
1t is the holy Sabbath day, and as the
voice of deep-toned bells, calling to
cathedral and chapel. inger family on
the air, the throngs of expectant and de-
vout people hasten to the temple of
worship. In one of these, the young
minister takes his place behind the pui-
pit, and for few moments bows his
head in prayer.
In this vast assemblage there is one
whose heart throbs with far deeper and
grander Joy than it ever pulsated before.
There she sits. Her pale face has bor-
rowed from excitement q faint tinge oi
youthful bloom; the clear dark eyes are
| fv-xro 90 nf
slightly curling threads of hair which
touch her placid forehead so carelessly
are now quite silvered, yet seeming to
wear heavens holiest benison nesting
among their waves of snow.
The choir began their solemn anthem,
"God is the refuge of his people" and
as the Deep sonorous chords melt and
lningle in the lofty temple, and ther
float away to heaven. a solemnity broods
over the hearts and minds or the eager
and expectant congregation.
The anthem finished, the minister
rises. 1t is the same Frederick. changed
more, perhaps, from within than with
out, for the frank, earnest eyes are still
there, the scarlet lips, surmounted now
by brown mustache, the waving lock-
are brushed smoothly back except wher'
here and there wayward curl will stea
! lJS ICStIdlubS bAAtAb DO9
hood was scarcely passed, though sterl
yet noble manhood, on the brow and il
the heart, now reign supreme.
> His voice, deep and musical, enchain
, and enrapts the hearers, as, filled will
, reverence, fervor and holy enthusiasm
he leads them in prayer, and points will
, unerring distinctness to the snares ant
, pitfalls of the path once trodden by hi
} own youthful feet, and with glowing
: zeal invites them to a fairer road ,wher
blossom the flowers of purity and hoi
l ness, conducting the tired wayfarer 3
Q the refreshing haunts of wisdom, who's
ways are ways of pleasantness and a.
{ her paths are peace. ."-LotttSUiLLe COuT
ieT-,lOnT11GL
There's girl in Kansas only ninetee
q years old who can knock a squirrel ou
4 of the tallest tree with her rifle, ride