The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-07-14
sTELLA's LOVER.

"V'ho is hep" asked Stella. She and
Felicia Martin were idly looking out
upon the driveway of Mr.. Martins
country seat through the narrow latticed
windows.
THAT is Colonel Audenreid," an
swered Felicia adjnsting her eyeglasses
Papa rs hrnAing him here TO dine. He
is widowVr; he's lived abroad tor
. years. Seems to me Eve heard that his
course of true love didn't run smooth.
He has the most bewitching melancholy
eyes, and such manner! You CAM
help wishing he was in love with you
That night, while the girls cOmbed
out their braids and curls, in the low
WI &pscoted chamber. Felicia suddenly
remarked: Il believe there will be
second Mrs. Audenreid."
Stella gave a start. and returned from
an excursion into the past
do you know" continued Felicia,
caught him looking at your rehec
tion in the mirror, with his heart in his
eyes | wonder the first Mrs. Audenreid
didn't turn i'm her grave"
Felicia, don'tl you make me shud-
der" cried Stella. Your imagination
is better than your eyesight; you are al
ways 81 eing somebody devourlng some-
body else with their glances. I'm sure
thought Colonel Audenreid was as in
different as "A star in heaven"
Modest creatuTe He had ears for
nobody out yourself, rs well as eyes. 1t
is 'Kismet. Why was not born under
some lucky planetp"
From that date Colonel Audenreid be-
came n frequent GUEST at Mr.. Martins
suburban retreat. He rode with Stella
and Felicia over the hills; he picnicked
with them at the edge of the pine
woods; he drifted on the lake at sunset
by their side, and filled the boat with
water lilies and spicy branches of the
wild azalea; he amused them with
glimpses of his continental life; with
stories of the war, in which he had led II
forlorn hope; of camp and hospital
regimen. Sometimes they took the
train to the city, and laughed together
over some comedy, or hung entranced
upon some famous singers tones; Oh
they joined pleasure party to the Isles
of Shoals, or down the harbor, return
ing in the dewy evening, with the stars
leaning out OF heaven, and the whip
poorwill making the ight melancholy
Once they paused at the gate to listen
to his plainuve voice. Felicia had
passed on to the piazza; the pines stood
out tall and dusky against the heavens
the roses shook out an odorous breatl
whenever the wind touched them.
You should hear the nightingale
huting about my home in Surrey, wheI
the night falls; it is like the refrain o
some sad poem," said Colonel Auden
reid.
"You must have been very happ!
there in, that beautiful country" re
turned Stella.
Colonel Audenreid opened the gat
r, IA 20, -prol lui ma
with distraught air, as if he We're al
ready miles away from the subject.
II think he did not like me to speal
of that time" she confessed to Felicia
Fiddlesticks," returned that youn
person.
Perhaps it was too sacred"
"PshaW Are you blind, Stellap Non
so blind as those who won't see, Nv
heard. / fastened into the house o
purpose to give him a chance to spea
TO you. saw it in his eyes"
never knew such sight as yours
though I've always understood neal
sighted people could see in the darl
He has nothing special to say to mc."
"Then he is the greatest humbug e1
tant. He leaves us next month. IL
says nothing before then, shall neve
believe in signs and omens again"
Nor in your own eyesightg Pot
Eel cia, I'm afraid you're doomed to di
appointment
"Ive set my heart upon the match
The next day Mr.. Martin and b
a family set off to the nearest beach for
weeks camping out" A little taste
gypsy life," he said; and Colonel A
denreId, coniessing that a camp "
quite home-like and irresistible, fl
lowed, bearing his part in pitching
tents, in baking, and hewing, a
gathering the drift-wood to boil
kettle. They sat late on the beach