The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-07-14
sTELLA's LOVER.

"Who is hep" asked Stella. She and
Felicia Martin were idly looking out
upon the driveway of Mr.. Martins
country seat through the narrow latticed
windows.
THAT is Colonel Audenreid," an
swered Felicia, adjusting her eyeglasses
/" Papa rs BRINGING him here to dine. He
Is u widowcr; he's lived abroad foT
years. Seems TO me I've heard that his
course of true love didn't run smooth.
He has the most bewitching melancholy
eyes, and such manner! You cant
helm wishing he was in love with you
That night, while the girls combed
out their braids and curls, in the low
wpscoted chamber. Felicia suddenly
remarked: believe there will be
second Mrs. Audenreid."
Stella gave a start and returned from
an excursion into the past,
DO you know" continued Felicia,
~ caught him looking at your rehec
tion in the mirror, with his heart in his
eyes | wonder the first Mrs. Audenreid
didn't turn in her grave"
Felicia, don't! you make me shud.
der" cried Stella. Your imagination
is better than your eyesight; you are al
ways seeing somebody devourIng some
body else with their glances. I'm sure
thought Colonel AudenTeid was as in
different as a star in heaven"
Modest creature! He had ears for
nobody out yourself, rs well as eyes. 1t
is Kismet. Why was not born under
some lucky planetp"
From that date Colonel Audenreid be-
came n frequent gJ%st at MIR. Martins
suburba retreat. He rode with Stella
and Felicia over the hills; he picnicked
with them at the edge of the pine
woods; he drifted on the lake at sunset
by their side, and filled the boat with
water lilies and spicy branches of the
wild azalea; he amused them with
glimpses of his continental life; with
stories of the war, in which he had led II
forlorn hope; of camp and hospital
regimen. Sometimes they took the
train to the city, and laughed together
over some comedy, or hung entranced
upon some famous singers tones; or
they joined a pleasure party to the Isles
of Shoals, or down the harbor, return
ing in the dewy evening, with the stars
leaning out OF heaven, and the whip
poorwill making the night melancholy.
Once they paused at the gate to listen
to his plaintlve voice. Felicia had
passed ON to the piazza; the pines stood
out tall and dusky ag inst the heavens; (;
whenever the wind touched them.
You should 44ear the nightingales
fluting about my home in Surrey, when
the night falls; it is like the refrain of
some sad poem," said Colonel Auden-
reid.
"You must have been very happy
there in. that beautiful country" re-
turned Stella.
Colonel Audenreid opened the gate
for her to pass on, without replying,
with distraught air, as if he were al
ready miles away from the subject.
~ think he did not like me to speak
of at time,a she confessed to Felicia.
fFiddlesticks," returned that young
person.
Perhaps it was too sacred"
"Pshaw Are you blind, StellaP None
so blind as those who won't see, I've
heard. ] fastened into the house OF
purpose to give him a chance to speaE
10 you. saw it in his eyes"
{" never knew such sight as yours
though I've always understood near
sighted people could see in the dark
He has nothing special to say to me-"
"Then he is the greatest humbug eX
tant. He leaves us next month. II h
says nothing before then, l shall never
believe in signs and omens again"
Nor in your own eyesightp Poo
Eel cis. I'm afraid you're doomed to dis
appointment
"I've set my heart upon the match.
The next day MI. Martin and hi
. family set off to the nearest beach for
weeks camping out" A little taste {
gypsy life," he said; and Colonel AU
denreid, eOniessing that a camp ws
quite home-like and irresistible, 70
lowed, bearing his part in pitching I'll
tents, in baking, and hewing, an
gathering the drift-wood to boil tt
kettle. They sat late on the beach