The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-02-11

| would be sufficient to purchase a small
farm adjoining the cottage, which would
enable them to commence life in quite
comfortable circumstances.
| But, as has been before stated, the
| great difficulty with Jacob was to con-
| quer his untoward bashfulness, which
he termed hereditary, and secure the
wished-for PROMISE; in consequence of
which failing he was placed in quite
quandary.
"Whew, but it's hotw and again Jake
threw down his hoe, and commenced
mopping his face with the red handker-
chief.
would give anything for good
/ cool draught from the spring, and n
! pocket full of the squire's best apples"
he soliloquized, glancing wistfully in
the direction Of the orchard, bent down
with its load of ripe red and yellow fruit,
and as the distance is not far, be-
/ lieve I'll run over for a few moments,
anyhow" And with this he started off.
and having allayed his thirst at the
spring which bubbled out below the or
chard, he mounted the fence and betook
himself the favorite family tree, whose
huge gnarled trunk supported leafy
caronet of interlacing limbs and
| branches, so dense as to preclude all
possibility of the suns rays penetrat-
ing through them.
Into this delightful shade Jake threw
himself, and for q moment forgot his
tolls and troubles. The sky was so
| light, the grass SO green, the luscious
fruit and gay flowers so fragrant that he
could not help but feel their beniQnant
influence. The dull dreaming of beetle
and the hOarse cawing of some crows in
a distant cornfield, mingled with the
| ripple of the water over the stones by the
roadside, lent enchantment to the scene
and poor Jake could not help but think
how sweet life must be to those who
have nothing to do but while away their
time in pleasant places, in the shadow
OF green trees and overhanging houghs.
Thus he unused, helping himself to the
fruit in the meantime, until, before he
was conscious of the fact, he had fallen
off into light doze from which he was
suddenly awakened by hearing voices
approaching from the direction of the
house. In an instant he was on his feet.
and peering through between the trees
who should he see but Jenny and Mr.,
Eldridge, the dandihed city cousin,
eisurely approaching the tree under
which he stood.
Here was dilemma, indeed, to be
caught trespassing would be disgrace
III in the extreme, and besides Jake
could not bear the thought of facing
his lady-love in his old, faded. homes
spun frCck, especially before the critical
eyes of Mr.. Eldridge.
What was to be done? Fer moment
wild thought of flight took possession
of him, but he Immediately realized
that should he adopt that mode of escape
his discovery would be certain, mas
much rs they were already nearly upon
him. Poor Jake was all in a tremble.
What could be doneP If he could only
find safe place in which to hide until
they should pass byl He glanced
around, nervously : but nothing presented
itself that could afford him a secreting
place. The voices approached nearer;
something must be done, quick! He
cast his eye up into the tree, and won
dered if its thick branches and dense
foliage would not protect him from the
eyes OF casual observer. Yes, he would
try it at any rate; better avail himself
of their pToffered covert than be found
standing there like trembling culprit.
And without taking second thought
Jake scrambled up the tree, and slowed
himselfaway in the remotest part, amid
n thick cluster of green boughs.
moment after he regretted the act,
for he realized that should he be discoy-
cred in his present position, his situation
would be even more ridiculous than be-
fore.
But it was now too late to indulge in
vain regrets-or, rather. in any hope of
altering his situation, for emmy and her
escort now advanced to the tree, and to
Jake's intense ehagrin and modification,
seated themselves directly under the
spot where he was concealed.
=" pretty pickle you're into, Jak
Muggins," muttered Jacob, as with
flushed face he, viewed the couple be-
low, and wondered if they couldn't
hear his heart beat; for it was bounce
ing so eonvulsively that he was fearful
lest it should knock all the apples from
off the limb upon which he sat.
And then he thought what beauty
Jenny was as she sat there with her
dark hair gathered into a graceful coil.
her sweet, expressive eyes containing
such depth of tenderness, and cheeks
like pink rose buds, and wondered if it
were possible for such a fairy creature
TO ever think of loving great, ungainly,
awkward chap like himself.
In the meantime Jenny and Mr.. FL
bridge were enjoying themselves be-
meath, little dreaming of the close prox.
unity of a third party. Mr.. Eldridge
! udu Opeucu anu commenced reading
| from u small volume of Tennyson,
which Jacob recognized from the bind
| ing.
After some time had been consumed
in this way the two proceeded to par
take of the fruit with which the ground
was strewn, conversing meanwhile and
amusing themselves by spelling out
the supposed name of each ones lover
upon the seeds of the respective apples
/ of each.
By some strange perchance, Mr.. Ell
bridge caused the seeds from Jenny's
apple to spell the name Of Jacob Mug
gins himself, almost every time. This
seemed to afford the city cousin great
pleasure, for he laughed incessantly, and
asked Jenny if she ever hoped to be
able to capture such shy creature as
Jacob Muggins.
Although Mr.. Eldridge was very
much amused over the coincidence of