The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-11-30
"Mr. McIntyre, that will be of nj
use-I cannot read"
sGT Tiv1;a ~

l1ZHlo J.
Her violin slipped from her grasp and
would have fallen to the ground had
not Mcintyre caught it. and she GOV.
cred her face with both hands.
But Lizzie" persisted her com
panion, in some perplexity, ct do not
understand, There are good public
schools in the city, and surely your father
must have known that it was his duty to
give q girl like you an education, to say
nothing of Neddie, who is growing up
such q splendid young fellow"
1t is very kind of YOU to say such
things of Neddie and me; we are COM
mon people, and ours is common life.
Neddie did spend two years with our
uncle who lives in York State. He went
to school there. But father doesn't
think much of book learning. Aunt
Jane never had time to help me, and
Neddie is too restless to keep still long
enough, l suppose" She continued
quantity, "You who live out in the
world look at these things in a different
way but know of many who are Just
where l am. Why, there is a whole
family on that island" pointing to a
tiny speck away to the eastward, "who
cannot read or write. Once in three
months, perhaps, they go to the main
land. ] scarcely ever go. 1 suppose L
shall always live here, and 1 am con-
tented-I think" and look OF doubt
gathered in her eyes; sat least was.
But lately have wished SO much that
could read and had books-for it is so
lonely here in the winter"
"Well, dear child" said the young
man, gently, "this gives me the priv
ilege of paying my debts, doesn't itg"
"Your debts p echoed Lizzie, in sur
prise.
Certainly. Did you not fish me out
of the water a week agoP Well, now
you shall put your six feet of driftwood
to some service. 1 will teach you to read
and to write"
After that Mcintyre proved the most
faithful of teachers, and his pupil made
steady progress in her lessons. Neither
was the violin any longer in disgrace.
Lizzie played to attentive ears while
learning q deeper lesson than either at
first realized. Mcintyre was the irst
to wake up. He was man of the
world, and understood himself, or
thought he did, thoroughly. Accord
ingly he started one morning for stroll
along the beach to think it over.
GAS the case now stands" he solilo-
quized, as he lit cigar and threw away
the match, cit is either Lizzie or the
world; and 1 confess the world has
charms for me-"
His gaze wandered absently over the
orunllincr xryoxr o,o1 1,,,o Co.,
off sail that dipped and rose, dipped
again, until it sank below the horizon
His lip curled involuntarily as he
thought of the delicate ladies in his
set, and how wretched they would make
the poor girls life in their own high
bred fashion. No-but would they,
thought
A faint amusement fingered in his
face as he recalled Lizzies rather
stately carriage and stately dignity that
redeemed her from being common
place. He laughed out.
:" 1t would be fun to see her among
all those peacocks. Poor Lizzie What
shame that she has been neglected
If she had received half the advantages
of any one of my acquaintances she
would have surpassed them all. Well,
well, it is high time l returned home.
l have been here six weeks. Yes, 1 will
go away tomorrow and forget her, as
she will forget me-"
So saying, Mcintyre threw away the
end of his cigar and started into brisk
walk along the shore, coming directly
upon the object of his thoughts,
who was pacing to and fro, drawing
primitive music from her violin. She
wore scarlet jacket over her gray
dress, and white handkerchief tied
over her head and under her chin. His
heart throbbed faster at the sight OF
her.
"FoolW he muttered, "to think |
could leave her. Now, then my man,
SITS all for love, and the world well lost ,"
Lizzie greeted his approach with a
mile, but played to the close of the
strain before she spoke. 1t was a
little German air that he had taught
her.
" Is that right" she queried, as she
finished.
cannot tell YOU"
Then, meeting her look of astonish-
ment with his own earnest gaze, he
said:
Lizzie, will you care very much
when l go away from here ?"
Her eyes dropped, the red blood
dyed her cheek and brow for moment,
and then faded away, leaving her quite
pale.
81 think it will be we'll for you to
60" she said.
And why, Lizzie, will you tell me ?
You need not fear to tell me anything,
he added, as she hesitated.
She looked away from him, and her
voice was almost inaudible as she an
sWered:
"Because-because - Oh, / cannot
tell you You know"
81 have thought of going, Lizzie;
but realized to-day that cannot leave