The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-12-07

She took up her life on the hill as II |
born to the place, and, to the astonish- |
ment of every one, Miss Diantha ac-
cepted the change with no break in the
immovable silence. But when the select
men appeared and appealed to her to
end the scandal and go in person for
the sister, who had banished herself in
the hope Of bringing about peace, she
listened till even old Lamson had said
his last word, and then, having written fer
few moments, laid the slate on the
table and left the room.
"She's got dumb devil" said' Dea-
con Piper, as he read slowly:
"'Chloe has made her own bed, and
she can lie in it. She chose to go, and
she can stay. II you will not have her
any other way, will pay her board
Miss Althea went to the town farm
but once, fury Of anger possessing
her as she crossed the wretched thresh-
old, and venting itself in words that
brought terror to every one within hear
ing distance. Underneath the storm
hurt feeling and affection really lay, but
Chloe had passed beyond any power of
interpreting the perverse and tumul-
tuous manifestation. She lay back in
her chair with closed eyes, her patient
face a little more patient, and slow
tears falling one by one.
"When Diantha comes for me, I'll
go back" was all she would say, and
Miss Althea, worn out with her own
vehemence, went unwillingly away.
The winter went by, Miss Althea
waiting upon Lucinda "by inches," as
the neighbors said, as if in this way to
atone for past lack toward Ohloe. The
reluctant New England spring came
slowly on, and in the "DeviI's Gully"
by the mill, faint green showed here
and there between the lingering drifts.
The road to the town farm, seldom used,
had been almost impossible, but Hiram
at intervals had brought word that
"Miss Chloe was about the same, fur's
he could see, but maybe her own folks
could tell better" The hint passed
without notice till one evening in early
April, when a messenger rode swiftly
up Breakneck and burst into the house
where the three sat by the dim lamp,
Lucinda keeping up her monotonous
flow of words, the two sisters silent.
"She's dyin'," he said. "The doc
tors said she might live till you got
| there"
"Who?"
Miss Althea had risen, and stood now,
fierce and rigid, clutching the fright
ened boy as she spoke.
"Miss Templeton," he said, strug-
Cling away. Hiram. told me to get
| you team"
"Run, them" Miss Althea screamed.
The fastest Wallis got. Tell him to
be quick"
Lucinda burst into loud crying.
"Be still, you fool |" rang out Miss
Diantha's voice, with it's old sharp COM
mand. "Tm goin' on the hoss," and
snatching her hood she ran to the
gate, climbed from the long-disused
horse-block to the horses back, and
with dangling stirrups and Tapping
rein she held her place by sheer will, as
the frightened animal tore down the
hill and through the village street, still,
as speed slackened, urging him on over
the four miles between her and the
chance of speech. Up hill and down,
through thick wood and between low
meadows, the rush of the swollen river
drowned in the clatter of hoofs, and at
| last the faint, twinkling lights of the
farm. The horse stood with dropping
head and streaming hanks as she slid
: from his back, and pushing aside the
startled and curious group about the
7 door went up the stairs and toward
= the room to which Hiram pointed.
She passed swiftly in, the doctor and
attendant were motioned out by hand
) so imperative that none could gainsay
hOIks~o. kIo door fr1V.,1 a1
| to the bed, and after one look at the
motionless form upon it, fell on hei
3 knees and buried her face in the cover
! let.
7 ST thought you'd feel bad, Dianthy,
Miss Chloe said, the words coming
3 family, and as if from some remote dis
tance. "I thought you'd come, an
: held out an waited. There isn't any
l time now, but, Disnthy, you must prom
4 ise me one thing. You must go home
r and let by-gones be by-gones. wan
1 you to be good to Althea."
I Miss Diantha raised her face, white
, and set, as if death had touched her
: too. She lifted her hand as she knelt.
"Don't, Dianthy - don't I" Chloe
8 cried, trying to rise.
"Before you that I've killed, l sweal
3 it." said Miss Diantha, solemnly. 'Tv'
D held my tongue for spite, an I'll hole
it now for punishment. The last wore
(: 1 say TO ivin' soul say to you now
: Chloe Templeton."
"Oh, Dianthy, don'tP walled Mis-
/ Chloe, falling back on her pillow, end
= ing with this last appeal the long en-
treaty of her life. When Miss Althei
r entered with the doctor, the elder siste
! sat motionless and silent by the bed. Il
s silence she pointed to Miss Althea a
Q the one to make arrangements, ant
t waited till nothing further remained L
s be done. In silence she rode home, ans
Q shut herself into her own room, an,
! there she remained till the hour for tn
s funeral. services, held in the old churcl