The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-03-31

| was the answer. She seems above
her position, however, and she does her
work very we'll"
Mr.. Falconer almost said. "I don't
wish her here any longer;" then some
thing-an undeinable ieeling-checked
the words on his lips; he had TO dree
/ his weird"
After while he took TO coming 70
the mill every day, and occasionally
walked through the long rooms full OF
busy men and women.
Once he stopped at Eleanor Eliot's side,
and gravely discussed some fabric with
the manager, noticing absently the
pretty contour Of the small. bent head,
and the slender, well kept fingers.
An irresistible desire seized him 20
make her look up. Bending down. ne
stretched out his hand, and suddenly
how 1t happened no one could tell-his
hand was caught in the machinery. In
an instant all was confusion: in an in
slant the works were stopped. the
wounded member extricated, but all
bruised and bleeding.
Eleanor's fingers bound up the lacer-
ated hand in her own small handker-
chief, the master thanking her cour-
tcously; then he drove away in his fine
carriage, and did not come TO the mill
for several days.
| Some time after the mill operatives
had a halfholiday. Mr.. Falconer, rid
| ing slowly through the woods near his
house, noticed the fiutter of woman's
| dress, rode closer, and saw the outline
ofa figure; then galloping TO the stables.
| left his horse, and walked rapidly I'm
the direction of the light dress.
Nor was he mistaken. Under the
shade of a wide-spreading tree, her hat
| of, her lap full of early wild flowers.
the sunlight falling through the leaves
on her bonny brown hair, sat Eleanor
Eliot. A small boy, about two years
| old, lay with his head in her lap, laugh
ing and throwing his legs about pro-
miscus," while she pelted him with the
| blossoms.
oh" she cried, kissing him, "you
dear, good little man, what comfort
you are to me-"
The leaves rustled, and Mr.. Falconer
came into view. The girl put the child
off her lap and rose to her feet.
Don't let me disturb you," he said.
You made pretty picture in the sun
light, you two. This is the first time |
have seen you since my accident. Let
me thank you for your promptness that
day. | have your little handkerchief
yet, with an infection in his voice that
was new to Nora and that did not please
her How could she guess that her
winsome eyes and coldness had piaued
and interested the master as none OF the
willing advances of fair and wealthy
neighbors had done?
He was surfeited with Aattery. Nora's
coldness was a welcome stimu .ant-ay,
more welcome than even he knew him
self.
You are perfectly welcome to any
thing l did" she replied, coldly. Then
there was a silence.
"Who is that childp" asked Mr.. Fal-
coner, feeling ra her snubbed, making a
motion to pat the little fellows head;
hut he shrank away, hiding his face in
Nora's dress.
ellis name is Willie Marshall" an
swered Nora, quickly. His father is
the man you horsewhipped and dis
charged some months ago, and since
then he has never done days work
can't get it to do. The whole family
are livingsin one room, almost starving.
Many q night this poor little creature
has gone to bed hungry. Can you
realize what it means to be hungry
starving Eyou, who haXe SO much, VS
have never known whit or the SEN
blance of n wantP Oh, Mr.. Falconer,
where God gives so much he surely will
require mach! You will have to an
swer for a great deal one of these days
Your men, with theiE wives and chill
dren, are living in novels that you
would not let your dogs occupy. Those
novels are yours; they are paying you
rent for them. The ventilation is
wretched, the drainage is simply mur-
derous. Some day fever will, must
come, and many souls will be hurried
into eternity, and You will have to
answer for them all. Oh, surely, rich
mems hearts are like neither mill
stonesm
Her face was flushed, FER eyes were
shining with unshed tears; she looked
lovely. Mr.. Falccner drew closer.
"Tell me what to do" he said, SIM
ply, trying to keep down great rush of
feeling "What shall l do for Mar
shall? How can help himP Tel
me-"
"Repair the injustice you didl" cried
Nora, eagerly, drawing n little back.
Give him employment, at once, before
he is quite mad with his misery before
the brave mothers heart is broken, and
the poor little children entir ely forget
the taste of decent food. Pray, do it,
Mr.. Ealconer, you owe ii to them.h
Gilbert came swiftly close to her, his
hands outstretched, his eyes bright, a
feeling stronger than himself-a feeling
he did not stop to analyze-urging him
on.
g l will, Nora, he cried eagerly-"I
will without fail tomorrow. Now ask
me something more, my darling.
would do much more than that for
YOU"
He caught her hands tight in his. In
an instant Nora wrested them away.
How dare youP" she cried, in blaze
of anger. "How dare you touch mep
Go away! Oh, you are had man.
hate you"
" Don't be so unkind to me, Nora"
he pleaded. unabashed. Indeed, | am
in earnest. I do love you. If YOU
would only listen to me-if YOU would
only love me little.n