The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-04-07

ming order; land make all the haste
you can back with the doctor. l fear
this is a serious case"
els it the lady, fatherP" said May,
who had come forward and was hold
ing the lantern, as George clambered up
to the road with the unconscious bun
die in his arms.
"I suppose so, May" he replied, fol-
lowing her into the cottage. "Who-
ever it is, is, l dread, badly hurt"
May drew the lounge close to the fire,
and on 1t the insensible woman was
laid.
Abe did not exaggerate when he
stated that the lady was well protected
from the weather. She was wrapped
and muffled up till her face was no
were directed to relieve her from some
of this now unnecessary covering.
George Seton was bending anxiously
over the two women, watching for
glimpse OF the strangers face.
When il was revealed to him, ghastly
white, but still aggressively beautiful,
his breathing for n moment ceased, and
scared expression lit up his mild, blue
eyes.
May, too, was startled at the sight of
the death-like face; but when she
glanced UP at her father, and beheld his
ashen countenance and trembling form,
she was filled with terror.
"What is it, fatherP" she exclaimed.
"Do you think, then, she's deadP"
His dazed look wandered from the
PROSTATE figure on the lounge, and
rested on the innocent being kneeling at
her side.
"No, don't think she is" he replied,
"a 10, al -, lxr n
whisper.
The scared expression in his face had
stolen into his voice, and it was hushed
and frightened.
Tears welled up into Mays eyes, and
drop1ed on the cold hands she was
chafing.
The lady, after while, showed symp-
toms of returning consciousness. Be-
yond her pallor and insensibility. she
presented no outward sign OF injury.
81 don't think she's much hurt,
father" said May, leaning tenderly over
her patient, the tears still glistening ik
pearls on her eyelashes; but noting,
with hope and pleasure, the increasing
evidences of animation.
TIe made no response to Mays re-
mark, but continued to stare straight
down at the pallid, beautiful face of the
lady.
Suddenly q pair of eyes, larger and
more liquid than Mays, but of the same
azure hue, are opened out upon him,
and the conscious woman is scrutiniz-
ing his weird, haggard countenance.
For brief moment crimson flush
banishes the pallor, and the hands that
May holds are clutched convulsively.
Then the red blood deserts the face
again, and it becomes ten times more
| livid The beautiful, liquid eyes droop
abashed before the mans gaze, and trav-
erse searchiDgly the room, till they rest
on May kneeling by her.
"I'm not deceived, them" she feebly
mutters. Is this"
Her voice broke the spell, or sLupor
that had seized George Seton at the
first glimpse of her, and, in low and
decisive tone, he said:
"You mustn't speak just now,
madam, till the doctor arrives, and we
know what's the trouble. Prepare your
bed for this lady, May" he added, mo-
tioning the young girl to her room,
gravely.
May had scarcel y disappeared. when
he was at the woman's side, whisper
ing excitedly in her ear:
"You mustn't let her known nothing
It's better for her--it's better for you.
l don't want to reproach you now.
| don't know what strange fatality
| brought you to my cabin tonight; but
whatever it was leave us--leave her in
the peace and innocence that you have
found her. Since the hour that you de.
serted her I've led her to believe you
dead. I've striven to hide you and
your sin from your child with the
charitable mantle of the grave, and for
that sole purpose I've since hidden my
self here. Don't seek to undeceive
her. Let her still think of you with re.
gIet. Let her memory of you continue
to be a fragra mt one"
The erring woman listened with
closed eyes and blanched cheeks to the
mans passionate words.
MAY ] kiss herP" was all she fal,
tered.
Eyes, if-n
May entered, and George Seton moved
away, and flung himself into a chair in
far corner OF the room.
May resumed her watch by the lady's
side, taking the cold, slender hands once
more in hers. She noticed that the
lovely eyes, which were turned with in.
finite tenderness on her, were dimmeC
with tears, and that the hands sht
clasped pressed hers caressingly.
The monotonous tick, tick, of the ole
clock was all tIat broke the silence o
the room.
The lady closed her eyes, and May
was beginning to think that she was 90
ing to sleep, when a sweet voice whis
pered in her ear:
kiss me, darling"
The young girl crept closer, and wind
, ing her arms round the wOman's neck
! wrapped the poor soul in her chaste EN-
brace.
Was it the instinct of love or pity?
/ When George Seton awoke from hi
, painful reVerie an hour later to admi
Abe Gilman and the doctor, he foun,
the two women asleep, the elder restin
, on the bosom of the younger Tn
= girl was easily aroused, but the othe
e awoke no more.
e The friends who came for the dea
4 woman knew not the unhappy husban
= under his assumed name and altered ap