The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-09-29

could see no one, but she recognized
Mab's tones.
"Then you do not hate meP" sh
syllabled insinuatingly.
"Hate youP No. l believe / love
you: You are the most bewitching
grip
Lucy felt the rustic of the cypress
| vines, cool and dewy, about her face.
She did not know that she had fallen.
But the others heard the crash, and Nab
called "Lucyl" guiltily, and Allen came
and lifted the little figure in his strong
arms.
"My poor little grill" he said. =" what
| is the matter with youp There is fever
at the village. Do you suppose she is
coming down with itP" he asked Nab.
"FeverP-a contagious feverP Hor-
rors!" cried Nab; and skipping down a
side path, she flew up to her room, and
began packing her trunk.
Allen was busy with Lucy. Either
she had tainted, or falling Upon the hard
ground had stunned her, or she was very
| i'll. She was perfectly unconscious, and
her small white face lying upon his arm
was pitiful indeed.
He gathered ber up to his breast and
carried her to the house.
"There!" cried Aunt Lucretia, start
ing up from her seat in the doorway,
thought she would faint! She has
been miserable enough all day. Take
her right up to her room, Allen, at the
| head of the stairs, and | will come and
put her right to bed"
Allen marched steadily up the stair
case, carefully carrying his burden, and
pushed open door which stood aiar.
In an instant it was slammed in his
face.
Don't you bring her in here with her
horrid fever-dont you dare! I'm not
going 10 expose myself for anybody.
I'm going right to Boston by the first
train in the morning"
Allen Stopfords face changed color
violently, in the dusk. In spite of its
harshness, he had recognized Mab's
voice. He was painfully confused, but
not too much so to find another cham
! ber, which he entered and laid Lucy
gently down among the pillars OF the
white bed.
Then for one little moment he laid his
cheek against that cold and cOlorless
one. If Lucy could have seen his eyes
then, she would not have doubted that
she was dear to him.
Here's camphor, and ammonia, and
a cordial, and red lavenderP' cried Aunt
Lucretia. bursting in; "and she shan'U
stir off that bed till she is better!"
Allen wandered alone around the
garden till morning. He saw the light
burn out in Lucy's chamber.
Johnny Bottles and the housemaid
were around the house, where, in the
cool dawn, he sat, immovable and
moody, in an arbor.
Suddenly he saw the front door
opened. Nab, arrayed for travelling,
issued forth, and went down the road
toward the station.
You can send my trunk by express"
she said to some one who closed the door
behind her.
Did Allen start up and follow herP
He had not the slightest inclination.
He waited until it was a little later, and
then walked to the village and sent the
doctor to visit Lucy.
But Aunt Lucretia was doing all that
could be done for a weakness induced
by nervous prostration and sleepless-
ness. The red Law ender was all-suffi-
cient.
When Lucy came down again, there
seemed a new heaven and a new earth.
Nab was gone. Allen had never been
so tender, and she was too weak at first
to do aught but succumb to tenderness
which anticipated her every want But
by-and bye they could talk together
Mab's conduct was shameful" said
Allen.
You said you thought you loved her
that night, AllenP"
"Well, if / did / was greatly mis-
taken. was beguiled," said Allen.
woiully, with a contemptuous curl of his
lips, either for Nab or himself.
And Lucy, being a woman, forgave
him.