The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-03-10
The Romance of a Water -Co'or.

Pretty Marie Lawrence sat in the ele-
ganuly furnished library, dividing her
attentions between the book she had in
one hana- ss,ds s9fre -sff4Ehtly hrtle kitten
in her lap, which playfully toyed with
the trimming on her dress, when her
father entered, having returned from his
Office intent on getting the cream of the
daySnews before dinner was served by
IL hasty scanning of the daily papers.
by the way, Marie" he said, rather
absent mindedly, rs he settled into a
large easy chair, " there's little package
on the table IN the hall which the eX-
pressman lett aJ tAe Office to-day"
"For me. did you say, pap Why, I'm
not expecting anything by express.
The matter was quickly settled by
Marie going into the hall and returning
with package about an inch and a half
thick and perhaps foot by loot and a
halfsQuare. There could be no mistake
about it, for there were the name and
address as plain as could be. The small
red label showed that it had come from
New York,
II don't sec what it is or whom it is
from" she said, as she laid it down to go
in pursuit of something with which to
cut the binding cord and wrapper.
A moment later she held at arms
lei 9Th little landscape done in water
colors and enclosed in an artistic gold
leaf frame.
She was not long in recognizing the
locality, however, from which it was
sketched, for it was perfectly familiar
to her, being the old mill in the town
where she spent Il portion ofevery sum-
mer. Yes, there was the pond stretch
ing back till it was lost in the distance
and the little stream rs it crossed the
roadway under the single-arched stone
bridge seemed true to nature. How
often had she visited that old mill, made
dear to her perhaps by eirlhOod's mem
ories!
But who was the artist that had
painted it, and why had it been sent tC
herP
Sure enough, among her long list Of
acquaintances there was not single
artist.
In the lower right-hand corner there
scrutiny, and which on closer eXamina
tion took the form of "J. H."
Mr.. Lawrence regarded the picture
for minute, and as he handed it bacl
to his daughter he said that whoever
the author of IL was he was far from be
ing novice, for such blending of ligh
and shade was rarely seen.
The remainder of the household wer
taken into the library after dinner Il
look at the picture, and many were tn
utterances in admiration of it, ant
many were the surmises as to why
had been so unexpectedly sent to Marie
The mother said that probably it woul,
be explained in good time. And sur
enough, for the next mornings mai
brought a letter for Miss Lawrenc
which partially cleared up ne mystery
"And so jerome Fart is n : artist an
strives to enter into corr, pOndenc
with me, does he!" and Marie stampe
her pretty foot in an impetuous mannC
and threw the letter to her mott er.
Mrs. Lawrence read it slowly, md 3
she returned it to the envelope sh
asked her daughter if she had any ide
who Mn. Hart was.
Not the faintest, only that the lettt
says he is an artist and has his studio
No. 1855 - street, New York, =" came Il
response, land he must be as poor
Judgment as such people generally a
in pocket to send me a picture one da
followed by a letter on the next, sayiI
that he has had desire for some time
know me, aud trusts that / will ke