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

Colonel Audenreid's artic expedition
as well as his Indian voyages furnished
material for conversation, even had he
not been once shipwrecked. and once in
peril from mutiny; but he seemed the
merest dilettante while he lounged upon
the sand, quoting poetry and caroling
snatches of ballads to two pretty girls.
"'The sea hath its perils,
The heaven hath its stars;
But my heart, my heart,
My heart hath its love-"
he repeated one night. as ne gave his
hand to Stella to rise.
= Did you notice" said Felicia, later;
he spoke in the present tense. He
ignored the past"
He was quoting from the German"
How stupid you are, Stella! If you
will not respond, how is lover TO know
if you care P"
"And what makes you think that l
care ?"
How can you help it Oh, why
doesn't he make love to me that way!"
Nonsense. Felicia; he makes the
same sort Of love to every girl he meets,
suppose"
~ don't suppose anything of the
kind"
The following day the wind turned
east, driZzling lazy rain set in, blot
ting out everything, and obliging them
to fold their tents and take refuge in the
little Sea shell House at hand; and by
night all the powers of the air were
abroad the air seemed to beat and bel
low under their very windows, the wind
| whipped ii into fine feathers of spray.
and the darkness was Ike a garment,
| There was a gray sickly dawn creeping
up the sky, when Stella, looking from
her window, saw in the distance the
outlines of wragged wreck painted
boldly against the horizon, and the
shore swarming with people moving
shout uncertainty.
"Oh, Sic la" cried Felicia, ''here's a
real shipwreckl Let US put on our
wraps and creep down to the shore, ana
hear all about it. wouldn't miss it
for worldsw
Felicia's teeth were chattering might
lily as they took their way to the shore.
and mingled among the groups Of men
and women.
"She',l go to pieces in no time at all y
some one was prophesying. Jim saw
folks a-clinging to the masts and things,
with his glass"
That's n master glass of his'n," said
another: But amt they going to for to
do nothing I"
They've sent out lifeline; but il
amt no pleasant places that lines fallen
into, let me tell you. Jim he was a. GO
ing with it but for me and the children.
I'm powerful glad he didn't"
"Girls! girls" cried Mr.. Martin
bustliDg up, this is no place for you
Better go bacr to your beds. Trying
scene. None of these men would
carry out the line to save n soul. Aud
enreid has gone out with it himself-s
terrible risk. So much briiliancy and
cultivation, so much wit and experience
as good as thrown way. They'll have
to pull the line In presently, no doubt
and it would be painful for you to bt
here, my dears, after so much pleasant
companionship. Oh. Stella! Stella! my
dear girl"
Stella had tainted away.
1t was n stirring morning that fol
lowed at the little Sea-shell house, pro-
viding for the rescued, listening to theil
story, and talking over the event. Wher
} Stella left her room, about noon, sh'
was met by q fishernfan's wife bringing
her sealed note. 81 found it in th'
pocket of Jim's pea-jacket, and made
out how it was for Miss Stella Ames
/, and they told me you were the lady a!
tainted on the beach," she explained
You see, Jim has gone for the doctor
: up to town, and he changed his Goa
J first to look ship-shape like"
"Thank you," said Stella. WhC
J can have written to me here9" as sh,
tore it open and read:
81 am going to carry the lifeline ou
to a shipwrecked crew. / shall probably
never return alive, but it is their onl!
chance. While you are dreaming OF
! your pillow l shall, perhaps be tasting
the bitterness of death and parting
Verify, death is this'-to see you n,
I more till the sea gives up its dead. M,
Z darling, my daTling, let me have tn
happiness of rel Rting l love you, l lov
you, Stella. Uood-bye, sweetheart
goodbye" p"
JOHN AUDENREID.
Then she turned to the torn envelop
q addressed TO Miss Stella Ames, Sea
. shell House. To be given her only i
> case / never return" The revelatio
was premature. Colonel Audenreid ha
/, returned, but so spent that the doctO
had been summoned from town. Nj
!, Martin took his family back to MartiI
vale, but Colonel Audenreid RENAME
ut the seaside fortnight longer undo
o treatment. In the mean time, Stel
9 went home-home for Stella meaning a
: tendance on the whims of wealth
: hypochondriac, with a small stipen
without relaxation. One morning Il
post brought her a letter from Felici
p Perhaps it contained news of Colon
Audenreid. 1t did with vengeance.
DEAREST STELLA (it began)
Z "How odd that the very thing l wish,
le should come to passl I'm almo
n daft. To think that, after all my no
sense, it should be me-myself-li
,r insignificant, near-sighted Felicia Ms
3 tin, whom Colonel Audenreid asks
marry him! l can hardly believe 4
- ears; and all the while believed
is was smitten with your charms. HC
3 glad am that you didn't care for hi
of You must be my bridemaid. Mann
u says it shall be white satin and pear
as Yours. in the seventh heaven,
~ FELICIA
q III