The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-04-27

ing, Miss Helen ?" said DIR. Malatestata,
in his smooth English, to which the
slightest accent in the world was like
sauce piquante to favorless meat.
"Oh," said Helen, coolly, with her
finest air of insolence. "I did not no.
tice that you were there, Signor."
But you will notice the hidalgo,
with the string Of titles and the rent
roll? Well, hidalgos are often poor"
"Then / should have no use for
them," said Helen.
EDO you mean to say, Miss Helen,
that you would not marry q poor and
untitled man? What is the matter
with you American girls? What better
title is prince than doctor? l fail to
see the secret of it. There is a legend
in my land that once the Roman purple
was put up at auction. Diavolo Is
all this beauty for sale, too, to the high
est bidder"
Helen stared at him q moment, an
swering nothing.
BY the way, Clara" then she said,
entirely ignoring him and his remarks,
" did you see the Spanish lace cape Mrs.
Knowles gave Emily? l should have
liked it myself; and, indeed, it was not
expensive"
"She made a real April fool of Helen
with it," said Clara; /" for when she un-
folded it, Helen thought, of course, it
was for her.
And 1 had just began to thank her,
when she turned it over to the nun.
However, it is the only time that l ever
was made an April fool" said Helei
with her most superior gesture; "and I
defy any one to do it again"
Why, Helen How you forget !" !
exclaimed. Little Jane has made you
one every year since she has known
you"
"Ohl Little Janel Her fooleries
Sweetmeats under your breakfast-plate
Yes, if you count that, little Jane has"
"And will next year too, I'll be
bound, said DIR. Malatestata. cat least,
she would if" And / was thankful
that he wheeled his chair away and
round the corner of the gallery, for a
knew he was going to say, :" if nature
had not been before her; andif he had
said it Helen would have had her foot
on all our necks before peace could have
been declared.
DR.. Malatestata was Cousin Stanhope's
last importation-an Italian gentleman
who was visiting America, q graduate of
some wonderful old university, who per-
haps might settle down and practice in
America if he had inducement, Cousin
Stanhope said, with laugh, and who
had found his way to the italian lega-
tion at Washington, where Stanhope
had met him. 1t was quite unfor-
tunate for him that he fell on the slip
perry pavement and broke his ankle; but
Stanhope, who had taken fancy to
him, had brought him up to our village
as soon as he could be moved, and had
installed him at Aunt Elroy's, where he
was waited on by inches, Aunt Elroy
outdoing herself In fancy dishes, and
little Jane now and then venturing lest
he might be homesick to let him hear
his native tongue again, while she spoke
little of her timid italian with him,
half sure that he was laughing at her,
but willing he should laugh if that di-
verted the poor gentleman any from the
pain in his ankle.
"As if it wouldn't make him home
SICK" said Helen, high and nightly.
But it didn't seem to do so. He used
to watch little Jane good deal. Per-
haps it amused him. When she came
back, with her basket on her arm from
Aunt Elroy's errands among the poorer
people of the mountain land she was
always sure to have one or two cases of
want IN reserve as her own property,
he would ask her a swarm of questions
and apparently derive infinite entertain
ment from her answers. But he was
occupied the most part of the time with
notes that he seemed TO be collecting
and arranging for book:
" Singular personr said Helen, in
her sweetly scornful tone. "What
could Cousin Stanhope have been think
ing of to bring him here2 He hasn't
even the manners Of gentleman"
Why, Helen p came chorus.
81 think he is consummate gentle
man." said Aunt Elroy.
"Just about as much of a gentleman
as Jane is lady," continued Helen.
" Look at her now, bringing in the
eggs. She hasn't a soul above hel
hens"
"She gives every egg to the poor and
sick people up the hills"
"Goody goody just my ideal Of
an old maid. Scanty gown, puritanic
collar, plain hair, generally drab. Well,
there must always be one such in every
circle"
Zone such" cried. "I wish there
were dozen such"
"Oh WE'LL" said Helen, we won't
quarrel over little Jane. She's tee
small, dear"
1t was lovely April weather up oul
hillsides. Everything was blossomine
into May. All life and the future seem
ed to our hearts as bright as the bloom
ing world was. We passed the time il
one long picnic Mother and Aunt
Elroy and Uncle John and Mrs. Knowles
and all-climbing the mountains catch
ing the brook trout and broiling then