The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-01-14

tying it about the wounded arm, in
serted a stick picked from the ground,
thus making an effectual ligature, and,
to the abatement of her terror, saw the
frightful jets of blood subside.
The strangers white face, the deluge
of red blood, the sudden relief from
squirting terror, turned Delicia faint.
Then she struggled hard against q ter
rible reeling sensation, and held her
own.
She thought wishfully of the glass of
cordial upon the hall table, but her feet
refused to stir.
Suddenly steps sounded at the gate.
To her inexpressible Joy and thankful
ness, Aunt Thankful and Bob appeared.
Delicia explained to the former,
briefly, though her voice sounded far
away to herself.
ed-hurt-bleeding awfllly (!
Bob, ride for a doctor fast as you can
go!'' cried the old nurse, instantly in
her element
The wounded man was making visi.
! BILE efforts to keep from swoOning, but
when Aunt Thankful had administered
a cordial and bathed his temples in cold
water, he rose and walked weakly into
the house, where, at her solicitations.
he stretched himself apon a sofa, and
then unexpectedly tainted.
" don't In the least understand who
this man is, remarked Aunt Thankful,
steadily applying restoratives, " but
such a ragged coat and fine shirt
never saw together before. Wanted to
shoot him for? OF all strange actions
| -0
The driving of the doctors buggy
into the yard stopped her remarks,
when Delicia returned to Alta Vanne-
var to find her in a wandering delirium.
Three strange days were devoted to
nursing the invalids. A burning fever
made the young girl unconscious.
Aunt Thankful's charge was con-
scious, but very weak and silent. In
deed, he seemed TO himself to be in a
dream half full of delights, but pervaded
by a great trouble which lie could
scarcely name.
The radiantly lovely face of Delicia,
the rustic of her dress, the sound of her
| footsteps pervaded his consciousness
! like blessing, while his desperate quest
and misfortune were only halfrcalized
| by him in the bodily weakness and in
action of brain caused by excessive loss
of blood.
How long have been here ?"
Delicia sat by him, having taken
Aunt Thankfuls place for few no.
mtnts, and started from a momentary
absence of thought to find Guy Van
nevar's eyes fixed piercingly upon her.
This is the fourth day. Are you
hetter ?'
." am not sick, only in a sort of dream
which l cannot wake myself FROM"
You are very weak"
9 II was you / saw when came here.
wasn't it P"
1t was l who shot you," replied
Delicia, blushing.
III remember. oh, my sister
Altar-trying to rise on his elbow.
Lie down, please. You must not
exert yourself l have something to
tell you," said Delicia.
have been here four days, you say.
Good God what will become of her?"
Drink this coffee and try to be quiet.
Alta is safe"
"How can you knowP"
81 have her in my care. Wallace
Munroe is dead--accidently killed"
And they were not married."
No"
THANK Godm
And then he asked:
- Are you sure of thisP"
g Entirely sure"
He could talk no longer, but was visi-
bly, better in few hours.
The next day, pale, wasted, but
strong, in simple earnestness, he said,
quietly, to Delicia:
How wonderfully beautiful you
are!"
Something in his eyes kindled hers,
and FOR the first time in her life Delicia
felt within her pure breast the warmth
] and sweetness of love.
Half alarmed hv har aYnOtiona aod fha
growing power of the beautiful eyes
bent upon her, she rose from her place
beside him.
- You can see Alta to-day, you know,
if she is better. will go and see."
Alta Vannevar was better in body,
but suffering in mind.
She looked like a living wrath in
| one of Delicia's long white wrappers,
and turned from her brothers kiss and
sat down in Delicia's lap like Tired
child.
"Oh, if 1 could die! know you love
me, Guy; but you did not love Wallace.
And he is dead. Oh, Delicia, you
understand-you are woman. loved
him!"
Guy Vannevar looked down at the
two figures, buried in the great easy
| chair, the serene woman folding the
suffering child to her bosom, and look
inexpressible filled his soft dark eyes.
And Delicia, glancing up, saw it and
knew it was for her.
cannot tell you how in few days
these two grew together; but when
Guy Vannevar had told her of his pO-
sition as a gentleman and the son of
gentleman, and discarded his disguise,
which had facilitated his pursuit of
Wallace Monroe, the atmosphere Of
mystery and suspicion was entirely dis
PEELED, and as weeks and months brought
their developments and occurrences,
Delicia realized that the prayer of her
secret heart was granted one great and
good loved her, and had asked her to be
his dearly beloved wife.
All had come to her--love, romance,
marriage and happiness; but to-day