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

denly both comment and restlessness
Ceased, while the two faces, beaming
with loving mischief, watched the path.
Coming from the barn, round to the
front of the house, yet in his blouse and
round hat, was Ned, the idol of both
the warm hearts watching him. His
pretty bunch of flowers told one cause
of his delay, and his lingering step was
explained by the second figure now ad-
vancing from the path Katie had
watched so eagerly.
Slowly the two came toward the house
Ned trying to summon up courage to
address the pretty, neatly dressed
maiden, who had grown from a little girl
to young lady in her two years alb
sence while she, her loyal heart hutter-
ing at the sight of her old sweetheart,
tried to look unconscious of his pres
ence.
Nearer and nearer to the farm door
the distance between them narrowing
every moment, they sauntered on, till
at last they stood opposite the old
farmer. neither daring to speak the
first word. The pretty flowers were in
danger of being eaten up, as Ned bit
nervously at the stems of the pinks and
roses, while Susys pocket handkerchief
was rapidly becoming transformed into
rabbit in her gloved fingers.
How long they would have remained
thus can only be guessed; but clear,
ringing laugh from Kate, seconded by
her fathers hearty bass, broke the
spell, and Ned said:
Z" I'm glad you're home again, Susy 7"
and managed to present his flowers and
hold open the gate before her bushes
faded away.
1t did not need much urging 10 turn
the long walk into talk in Katie's
room, while the farmer and Ned
assumed their go-to-meeting garb,
and by some slight of hand Katie found
herself transferred to her father, while
Master Ned escorted the fair Susy to
church, and not a week passed before
all Allentown knew that Ned Clarke
and Susy Willis were still keeping
company"
Ned and Katie Clarke were the only
children of old Farmer Joshua Clarke,
whose wife had long before died and
left him to be both father and mother
to her handsome boy and girl. They
were still little ones when they became
motherless, but Aunt Kate, Katie's
godmother, had filed her sisters place
at the farmhouse until Katie was six
teen, when, thinking her niece trained
for perfect housekeeper, dear Aunt
Kate consented to go brighten an nother
home, whose master had waited for her
since her sisters death. So the three
in the old homestead were left to link
their love still closer in the abse nee of
the wonted housekeeper, and Katie's
pride was to let no comfort be missed,
no deficiency tell of their loss.
In easy circumstances, devotedly
fond of his children, finding love all
around him, Farmer Clarke was the
most CHEEKY, bright old farmer in Al
lentown. Universally respected and
beloved, his old age frightened by his
children's happiness, he was ready to
enter heartily into any youthful
scheme, to give his full sympathy to
all the young boys and girls who came
to him for advice, and above all to
watch, with almost boyish glee, all the
village courting. Katie, being a uni
versal belle, had as yet selected no spe-
cial favorite to torment, so the old man
had full leisure to watch Ned, visiting
his room for sly remarks, dropping
words that brought up the frank blush
so becoming to manly face, or even,
at times, letting mis- sympathy bring the
roses to Susy's cheek.
Never did the course of true love
promise to run smoother. Snsys father
was travelling peddler, whose journeys
often led him hundreds of miles from
Allentown, now east, now west, north,
or south, as his fancy or pack sug-
gested. His earnings were good, and
Mrs. Willis rented a pretty cottage and
lived in comfortable style, while Susy
could boast of two years " schooling" !"
a. the academy of B, miles away
from her native village. 1t is true that
Jim Willis, the peddler, was counted
hard man, one keen at bargain, and
close-fsted in business; but no one
doubted his love for his wife and Susy,
their only child. There had been al
ways kindly feeling between the family
and the Clarkes from the time when
Ned drew Susy and Kate to school on
one sled, or tossed apples from the
boys bench to the golden-haired lassie
on the girls side. Mrs. Willis knew
Ned's worth; his sturdy uprightness,
his frank, generous heart, his bright in
telligence and faithful love; and she
wished no more brilliant future for her
darling than the life of Ned Clarke's
wife promised to be. So the long sum-
mer walks, the confid ential talks, the
thousand devices to win favor that the
youthful swain proffered his love, were
all smiled upon by the inhabitants of
farm and cottage, while Susy's gentle,
loyal heart never dreamed of coquetry,
but let Master Ned read in every look
and blush the tale of his success in WOO
ing.
The summer months sped meTTily,
and it was well understood in Allen
town that when Jim Willis returned
there would be wedding, while not