The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-09-01

anu, Wueu you utVe BTOWu very much
interested, have looked me over so crit
ically, for all the world like q milliner
when she is selecting the shade best
suited to ones complexion, and then
your talk for the last few months about
the ebeauty and safety of early marriages,
combined with your anxiety about my
back hair-all these things / have put
together and added up, and my figures
tell the truth, and you know it."
=" shall give you an opportunity soon
to be ashamed ofyourself," said the old
lady, quietly, "when / inform you that
the gentleman you speak of is engaged to
lady in Berlin. You will perhaps see
the propriety of doing your sum over
again, with a view to correcting its for
mer mistakes.p
ooh, Grandma Gregory" Gertrude
exclaimed, her sweet face radiant with
delight, you may rig me now just as
you pie Sc, and you can hoist my back
Lair to my eyebrows, and fasten it on
with spikes, and I'll never say word,
and I'll forgive you for ever planning
about me, you naughty, designing
grandma, because l know you did, and
papa, too"
At this juncture servant entered and
presented a card to Mis-. Gregory. With
VIII } had thrown herself into an arm
chair by the fire to think it all over,
the old lady ordered the visitor shown
in, and the next moment q gentleman of
most distingue appearance entered the
room.
Grandma's greeting was very kind,
and the visitor seemed sincerely glad to
see his OLD friend again.
"This," said Mrs. Gregory, leading
the gentleman TO Gertrude, !" is the little
girl you used to tease so long ago, and
who, suppose, has quite outgrown your
remembrance. Mr.. Bently-Gertrude.
Indeed, no." the gentleman replied,
as he shook hands with the young lady.
:" She has grown quite tall, to be sure,
but should judge, Mrs. Gregory, if
may be pardoned the remark, that your
granddaughter has not outgrown her
mischief"
"Quitc correct" said grandma. Il
think not.
Gertrude replied, with blushinG
smile:
81 do not remember you, Mr.. Bently,
though, if you will excuse me, should
not be afraid to hazard the remark that
you have held on to your fun also"
Court Bently was twenty-nine, and
looked twenty-five, and Gertrude, as she
conversed in her unaffected and ladylike
manner. was not quite. seventeen, and
locked twenty.
Grandma was the picture of serene
contentment as she listened to the
pleasant chatter; and once, as Gertrude
surprised n peculiar expression on the
old lady's face, all her old suspicion re-
turned for q moment; but as she had
never known her grandmother, with all
her tact and diplomacy, to tell false
hood, she dismissed the thought as un-
worthy, and gave herself up to the
pleasure of entertainment.
The next evening Gertrude, in a
white silk dress, her hair la mode, was
escorted to the wedding by Mr.. Bently
She had kept her promise to her grand
mother, but she felt altogether over
dressed and uncomfortable.
Her own ideas in regard to what she
should wear on all occasions were eX-
cellent and her taste unexceptionable,
and now she grew more distrait and un-
happy.
Her companion, noting the change in
her manner, whispered laughingly to
her as they took their seats in one of
the front pews in the large church:
You seem out of tune, Miss Ger
trude. Is it envy of the bride, or dis
satisfaction with your escortp"
Gertrude's eyes flashed they had
been all ready to flash ever since the
hairdresser finished his work-and re-
piled. considerably above q whisper:
"You are all that is desirable, Mr.
Bently-at least, l suppose so-though /
have not had enough of attention from
gentlemen to really be able To tell. And
as for Carrie Sheville, who is going to
marry n man ever so much older than
she is, just for his money, don't think
l feel anything just now but contempt
for her."
"She may love him, Miss Gertrude,
Notwithstanding the damaging fact of
his fortune" Mr.. Bently venturea to re-
spond little satirically.
" "Fudgel" said Gertrude, with curl
of her lip. -;
not Jealous of the bride, Miss Gertrude,
may, inquire why you appear So
So"
"CrossP" his companion interrupted.
"You had better ask why l came to this
wedding, Mr.. Bently."
"Well, why did youP"
TO show off my new dress and the
arrangement of my op-knoI, sir, and for
no other reason in the world, unless in
deed it might be thai Twas. expected to
come"
"Ohl" said the gentleman, with Pc
culiar mystifcation OF countenance and
tone, which, for the moment, seemed to
quite restore the young lady's good
spirits.
An hour later, at the reception, Ger
trude, who was slipping a cup of coffee
and chatting gayly with her new friend,
heard her father, who, with her grand
mosher, had seats directly behind her,
remark cautiously-indeed. the ears they
were intended for scarcely caught the
low tones:
Z" He says there isn't the slightest
truth in that report we heard"
Mr.. Bently went to get an ice for his
companion, and on his return Miss Ger
trude was nowhere to be seen.
"She has gone to have chat with the
BRIDE" Mr.. Gregory explained; but the
genteman's manner of looking about the
room seemed to Mr.. Bently to contra