The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-06-16
Esther was heaping fresh pine knots

on the fire.
"I am so glad you came, George"
she said. feeling the cheeriness of his
presence through the lonesome room.
" So am l." he replied, laughing.
There, let me do this for you. Now,
we shall have a royal blaze What n
comfort there is in good, CHEEKY pine
wood fire, with the logs glowing on the
hearth, and the blaze lighting up the
walls. Have you had supper, EstherP
Mop Then if you don't object, I'll stay
and take cup OF tea with you, and
I'll tell you my errand at leisure"
Esther, as she drew up the little
square table opposite the fire, and spread
the white cloth and Aunt Pho be's best
old china teaset, wondered at the sud-
den brightness that seemed to have
come over everything. Her own face
frightened, and she found berself
smiling at Georges remarks, when it
had appeaIed ed to her that she could
never smile again.
And when Chloe came in, her broad
black face beaming benevolently upon
the two, and her hands bearing q tray of
crisp corn meal pones, and delicate milk
biscuits and ham and eggs, which she
begged them Ito eat a. once while they
were hot and sizzlin', for ham and eggs
warn't no count arter they onced got
cold" then Esther felt that she had
awakened from wreUched dream into
the returning light and warmth Of every
day life.
Estherl George said. wish you
could do that in mothers place, who
has never been able to handle teapot
properly since her wrists were
sprained."
Her wrists sprainedP"
Yes, quite badly, about two weeks
ago. She slipped on the ice in going
down the back entry steps. And, to
tell the truth, Esther, l came tonight
partly to ask if you could not come and
stay little with mother. You would
be such help and comfort to her, you
know"
ZIP" said Esther, with such an un-
conscious pathos in her look and tone
that it went straight to the young mans
heart.
"Yes, you. Mother would prefer to
have you to any one else in the world. l
am sure of it, Your nice, quiet, dainty
ways Just suit her, and you know she is
lonesome now that NJ ggie has married
and gone away. Will you come, Esther
say to-morroww
YES" she replied, slowly, 81 will
come, George, if l can be of any use."
And so it was that Esther went 10
the Harrison's pleasant home, intend.
ing to stay only few days.
But she never returned to live at the
old Keeling place, and this was what
George had intended when he, with 80
much artful delicacy, induced her to
leave it.
They would not hear of her going
back to the lonely old house until
spring, and in the atmosphere of kind
ness and happiness her bruised heart
slowly healed.
What tended more than aught else to
this result was tue report, soon con.
tirmed, that Doctor Farnham was to
marry Marcia Keeling, to whom he had
begun to pay attention shortly after his
rupture with Esther.
80 it was the money, after all, that
he wanted" Esther thought, with a
parting sigh to her broken idol. 81
wonder whether George. also, when he
asked me to marry him, had any
thought of Aunt Phebe's money!"
The doubt was speedily put at rest,
tor long before the first spring flowers
were in bloom George mad again asked
Esther to become his wife.
This time she did not say him nay.
Not long after he one day came in from
the village looking very yave and lit
tie troubled.
Esther" he said, II have news for
you-great news"
You mean perhaps that Marcia and
Doctor Farnham are married." said
Esther, composedly.
mo; though they are to be married
in q day or two-so l have heard. But
this is news which concerns yourself
alone. You know they are proposing a
track for the new branch railroad from
B to l.. Well, | have Just
learned that it is to pass within a mile
of our village, and that its course lies
exactly through your property-the old
Keeling farm"
How strange! But, George, it will
ruin the place"
Ruin the placep' he repeated, laugh
ing. "Why, Esther, it will be the max
ing of your fortune. The line runs ex-
actly through that long, narrow strip of
the old farm land by the river, and it is
the only u e to which it could be put.
l heard just now," he added. gravely,
THAT you will be offered seven or eight
thousand dollars for it. They think, it
a good place for a station between the
village and Ashwood."
Eight thousand dollarsl" said
Esther, with gasp, "why, l shall be
rich !"
Richer than l, and perhaps you will
look down upon me-"
He spoke lightly, but there was some
thing of an anxious look in his face.
Oh, George" satd Esther, looking
up into his face with fearful eyes, and
placing both her hands in his, - am
so glad that / shall have this money
80 glad for your sake !"
And Marcia, when she had heard
the news, wished that she had not man
euvered TO get Aunt Phoebe to make
that will in her favor. AS to DIR. Farm
ham, who had given up the woman he
loved as much as he was capable OF low
ing, for one whom he loved not all-his
feelings can only be imagined.
Years after, when George and Esther,
happy and prosperous, were speaking
OF the wretched domestic lite of DR..
4 H.. Il sfI