The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-04-14

pies and showers. I'm not bold enough
nor giddy enough either, for such an
enterprise"
Let's take drive"
Too hot"
"Oh, botherr' said Con. "No. IL
isn't. You're too lazy. "I'll take YOU
to see some girls. How does that strike
youP"
Norris was silent moment.
"Whop" said he.
"Ahoi" cried Con. That's IL. is itp
1 didn't think you were up to that sort
of thing It's more in my line, you
know: Well, we'll go on the warpath
this afternoon"
Norris quietly acquiesced, hoping
thereby to meet his vision of the morn
ing; but no such luck, and he was SO
abstracted as to drive Con to the verge
of despair.
81 declare" he said, " 1 don't know
what is the matter with you. You're
not half up to the mark"
Don't mind me-" replied Norris.
"rll thaw out after a while," ashamed
to confess what was the matter.
The next morning brought another
glimpse of the straw hat, AMI Norris
asked, with lazy indifference, looking
into the next garden:
Who's your neighbor, ConP"
"WhO - thatP Frannie Randall -
hasn't been here very long; her grand
father lives there"
"Know herP"
Eyes; used to play with her when we
were children. Haven't seen much OF
her since she came back, though. Well
go there, if you like, shall weP'
81 don't care if we do" said Norris,
anxious to find ifthe nearer view would
dispel the fancied likeness. But it did
not, and, during their call, he was driven
wild by his conjectures. She was so
like-the same expression, the same lit
tie ways.
81 tell you," he said to Con, after
they left, Give seen Miss Randall be-
fore"
very likely" replied Con; 'ashe
has been staying with her aunt in the
city, and has not been back long"
They walked on in silence for while
do you know where her aunt lives"
Norris asked, at length.
mo; / had the address, but have
forgotten it. ought to have gone there,
but / didn't. l had not seen Frannie
since her father died, you know; that
WAS some years ago. Now that she has
come back to her grandfather's, l have
felt little ashamed of my remissneas; !;
but it seems to me you are amazingly in
terested, all at once"
Norris said nothing for few mo-
ments, then he told part of his story,
much TO Cons amusement.
= IL isn't the same girl, Of course"
said he, she couldn't have two names,
you know, and l know this ones.
You're little daft, reckon"
Maybe am" said Norris. sighing,
for l don't believe two persons could
look so much alike"
However, he followed up his first call
vigorously, and received "A lot of chatting
from Con, on account of the sundry ex-
cuses he made to go down street, instead
OF up, and the persistency with which
he regularly walked round by the fence,
instead of directly by the gate.
I'm an idiot" he said, one day.
Just found it out?" replied Con.
"When / came on here" he went on,
without noticing the interruption, II
, was absorbed in my dream of Mercy
|, Hoyt. l was wild about her. Now
am just as wild about Frannie Randall,
J just because she looks like Mercy. Now,
l don't know which girl care for"
Psbaww said Con, "iet the other
girl go. She wouldn't know you if she
, saw you, and you don't know but what
she is married by this time"
Norris reflected a moment.
/ II reckon you're right" said he F;
"and yet when I think of giving up
, s"Bosh!" said Con. There's no
sense in that. you know. You might
, live for ever and never come across her,
and then there's Frapnie
True" said Norris, thOughtfully,
taking up his hat.
> You're of, are youF" said Con. 81
) wish you joy"
, He soon returned with a horror
stricken face.
CON-" said he, 'did you ever hear
of such thingp" She says her cousin,
Mercy Hoyt, is coming on"
: THE plot thickensr cried Con
What in thunder will you do? I'll
: have to take one. / never saw the
cousin, or heard of her; but if you like
I'll do the agreeable"
: NO" said Norris.
"All right. 1 won't. I'll devote
: myself to Miss Fran"
mo-" said Norris, again
/, "You Turk !-you dog in a manger =
: cried Con. "Am to have no chance
4 You see, old boy, you can't have both
' so make up your mind and I'm your
: slave. That accounts for the likeness
Q doesn't itP It's too absurd, though
1 What fun to watch it. I'm glad Tn
r not in your shoes"
: " IEdeclare," /" said Norris, 81 feel as i
8 l were going to see a ghost, or as Ont
e might feel seeing a face in mirror look
!. ing over his shoulder, and. turning
!, round, find it gone. Could it be posi-
Il BILE to see the real face and shadowy re
9 Election both at oncep"
}. "There you CO." said Con. "pvr
!, been expecting some such outburst
: ANYTHING more? Fire away, old fel
y lowp
"Feel shaky?" said he, several hour
Y Y later, as Norris was about to leave tn
porch; "rll go with you. want Il
see this act"
If "Come on, then" replied Norris