The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-10-26

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his father, to bear his cross patiently
and so, if his merry whistle had ceased,
his voice gradually resumed its clear
cheerfulness, and his manner grew
doubly tender toward Katie, as he
marked her sympathizing love. Not
word dropped from any of them that
could give one shadow of reproach to
Susy, and some vague ideas of a rescue
occasionally suggested themselves to
Ned, where his love might win her from
her fathers tyranny or melt his OBJ
stinate resolve. The idea that Susy
could ever be his wife without that con-
sent never occurred to him.
The winter had set in before one
word of the fugitives reached Allentown,
then Katie had a treasure to show,
letter from Susy.
"Dear, dear Katie" (so it read), "I
may be doing very wrong to write to
you, after all that father has said but
mother has given me permission to
write once, so l am now trying to tell
you that my love for you-for Ned -
there great blot told of tear) Z" and
your dear father, is just the same, though
we shall never see each other again.
have been very sick so sick on the
road here that we had to stay nearly two
weeks at town where father had some
business, and that is why 1 did not
write before. Oh, Katie L must mind
father, who says 1 must never think of
Ned again but it is terrible hard not
to. Nights I lay awake and think of all
the nice days in Allentown where we
were keeping company, and my heart
seems breaking when I think we may
never meet again on earth. Oh, Katie
comfort Ned. Tell him that will never,
never let any other boy court me-tell
him never can forget him, though
must try /; tell him did love him with
all my heart and don't let him quite
forget me, even if he marries some
other girl. Bon't write to me-mother
says not; but think of me sometimes
and give my love to Ned and your
father. SUsY."
That was all; but Ned felt when Katie
told him he might keep the letter, that
mines of wealth could not purchase it
from him.
Five years passed, and no word came
from Cincinnati. Katie was wife now,
aud mother to bouncing boy crawling
about the floor, but Ned was true as
steel to his old love. No word of court
ing had ever passed his lips since Susy
left him, and if his tall figure had de-
veloped to manliness, his voice grown
rougher, his frank face older, the boyish
love still nestled down in the depths of
his heart, and he resolved to live ever
bachelor for Susy's sake.
| kotia'a naw pQreq ba6 cnraou-bat
clouded her pain at Susy's departure,
and the name that had once been so
sweet o household word was now rarely
heard in the farmhouse.
There was something very touching
in the manly courage which Ned
brought to bear upon the sorrow of his
life. Never, save on the one night
when the suddenness of the blow pros
trated him, had he given way to the
passionate grief in his heart, and his
calm pursuit of the weary routine of
life evinced more moral courage than is
often given to great deeds that make
the world ring.
1t was Sunday morning, and every
body at the farmhouse had gone to
church except Ned and the baby. The
! junior member of the household was
fast asleep on rug before the fireplace,
and Ned was reading, when a shadow
fell upon the floor, and voice, low and
sweet, spoke his name.
He scarcely dared breathe as he
looked up. So pale and thin as to be
almost spirit-like, dressed in the heavi-
est mourning, the large, earnest eyes
! hollow, the lips white and trembling,
surely that could not be Susy? He had
pictured her living in wealth-forget-
ting him, perhaps-but never, never
this Tale, grief-stricken woman.
Ned, don't you know me?"
Still doubling, he rose and came to
meet her, till, with a glad cry, he
opened his arms and folded her closely,
as if never again to let her go.
"Susy my Susy Oh, how can I
ever be thankful enough2 Oh, Susy p
and the hot tears fell on the sweet face,
as he marked its white, wasted lines
Father took to drink after he got
rich, Ned, and it is three years since
mother died. We were very wretched, !
Ned; for city folks did not care for us
and we were not used to their ways:
after mother died, father was scarcely
ever sober and hadNlhard time taking |
care of him, till about months ago
he was taken sick. We'd< kpent nearly |
all the money long before; but I did |
sewing, and sometimes father earned !
something, until he was sick. Then we
were very poor; bnt just before he died
somebody sent him some money they
owed him. He gave it to me, and told |
me to come here with it, and ask you to |
forgive him for parting us; so after he /
died, came to see if you still cared /
for me, Ned"
"Care for you Oh, Susy, will care
for you all my life if you will stay,
Susy"
But the white lips gave no answer,
the head fell back nerVeless, and as he |
had seen her on that heavy dnY of mart |