The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-03-10

start correspondence with the fellow
by writing a note of acceptance" she
continued, showing her displeasttre as
much in her expression as in her speech.
ITO be sure" Mrs. Lawrence said,
1T was peculiar way of seeking an
acquaintanceship which must OF course
follow should the picture be kept" and
she quickly decided that it must be re-
turned. So the next express to New
York bore the package which had
created the admiration and Mt last the
displeasure of the family A letter
written by Mrs. Lawrence was placed
within the package, In which she briefly
but concisely stated that she could not
fors moment think of her daughter
| keeping the wat er- color without the ac-
! quaintance, by legitimate means, of its
painter. Surely, Mr. Hart's letter was
on its face honest in purpose, but there
was no alternative; the rules Of eti-
quette must not be disregarded, or the
! lovely Marie might become connected
with vagabond advcnturer.
Months passed, but the circumstance
would not free itself from Marie's mind,
and her father and mother had spoken
Of it more than once.
One day the mail brought letter to
! Miss Lawrence from Margery Loveioy,
a dear friend, who summered at the
same rural town with her, and who,
womanlike, pretended to be a regular
correspondent; but it was only when
| she had some bit of news of q social ma
ture to communicate that she ever
wrote.
"Do you know, Marie" wrote Miss
Lovejoy, that l have found out the
name and all about the young gentle
man with the fine, manly face and lovely
| physique who stopped at Dixon's
up at Grosvenordale for a week last
summer. You will remember him, and
how we used to drive our heads almost
crazy with wondering why he took such
long walks every day, always carrying
portfolio under his arm. There is one
thing which you will certainly remem-
ber, and that is that you did nothing
| but rave over him, and when he caught
your eye one afternoon, as we passed
him while out strolling, you declared
that you knew you could love him with
iusta little urging. Well, ! won't keep
you in suspense any longer. A short
time ago ! went to New York to visit
my aunt Julia, and one evening cousin
Tom took me to the theater, where
almost the first face / noticed was that
of our - or your admiration of last
summer. After making sure that there
was no mistake, | asked Tom il he knew
who the young gentleman was, point
ing him out in ali unobserved way with
my fan, and he said it was young Hart
jerome Hart, he believed-and that
he was the young man whose water
color paintings were exciting the ad-
miration of every one who saw them,
artists and connoisseurs alike. When
my cousin saw that my interest was not
mere curiosity he told me that Mr..
Hart was received everywhere, not be-
cause he was a person of wealth or
family, but because he was a person of
rare refinement and marked genius
Everybody said that his fame would be
worldwide in n few years"
Marie could not deny that she had
thought of the young gentleman daily
since her country sojourn-so much so,
in fact, that she fancied that her heart
had becomed steeled against any one
else, although the subject of her grow
ing affection was unknown by name.
When she read the name her heart gave
a lump. Yes, it was the same person
who sent her the picture few months
previous. To think that it was the one
whose image was so impressed upon hel
heart.
her agony was intense.
"Ohl" cried she, "why were we sc
hasty in deciding to return Mr.. Hart'S
picture and letterP He is gone from mt
forever. i shall never know him."
She kept her grief to herself, not car
ing to tell her parents, and tried hard tC
hide her sorrow, and to appear in hel
accustomed joyous spirit; but it was o
no use: she could never forget the youns
artist, and could never forgive hersel
or her mother for their haste in giving
propriety its proper accord.
Four years later Marie, at the age o
twenty-five, found herself the wife of ,
moderately we'll o-do countryphysician
She had married DR.. Ostrander, not 81
much that she had any love for him, bu
that it was the desire of her father, whC
had from an early period dotted on tn
union of the Ostrander and Lawrenc
, families, the doctors father having beer
Il college chum of Mr.. Lawrence, ant
{ they had become more and more at
! tacled after leaving college, their home
being favOrably situated for such friend
, ship.
r Six months before her betrothal al
the New York dailies and journals de
voted to art had contained length
2 notices of the departure of Jerome Har
( for Europe, where he had gone to resid
r in furtherance of his profession, an
where his ability would be accorded th
t attention it so richly deserved.
Marie made the physician a good viii
e considering her regard for him cease
D with admiration, and they were cor
e tented and happy. His practice wa
4 quite extensive, and he had accumulate
t some property during the three year
h. he had been there, having welded Mari
year after entering into the activ
e duties OF his profession. 1t was wit
Il tender hands that she nursed him dul
e ing a lingering summer fever, but tn
?. disease seemed to battle the skill of hi
d attendants, and just as the sun wa
e sinking in the west on sultry Angus
d afternoon his soul took fight to the be
II ter world, and Marie was a widow.
A few months were spent in the Sc
rs tlemeut of the estate, and when pu
Ia chaser for the little hOuse had bee