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

were good for nothing except to make
it pleasant to his swarthy, lean, ill
favored foreigner. But it was only
James way with everybody.
"That is one of the troubles with
her" said Helen. "She hasn't any
identity. She forgets herself in the
next person always. A bit of white
glass-that is all she is" And there was
such an assumption of authority in
Helen's sayings that, after a few repe-
titions, one was apt to take them as
gospel. Only DR.. Malatestata never
did; and his polite way of looking over
her and through her as if she were a
transparency or did not exist at all, was
the only way he had of moving Helen.
And that did move her. Presently ]
thought I saw that Helen had deter
mined to change it; and although she
did not care sou for him himself, she
could not brook q rebel within her
him care for her. In the full flow
of admiration long received her
pride had sailed upon smooth cur
rent, without an obstruction. This OBJ
struction of the oblivious italian doctor
caused disagreeable commotion in the
tide. What made me first think of it
was Helen's picking to pieces bunch
of yellow blossoms she had brought in
from the woods, and as she passed the
doctor in his chair scattering a rain of
them all over him, and then looking
back with laugh that showed her
glittering teeth and frightened all the
carnation on her olive cheeks and the
luster in her eyes. Well, she was too
beautiful for anything but dreams. The
doctor must have seen what thought
where I sat in the window frame, for
presently he said to me: "Too brilliant
for use, is it not AS for me, prefer
What was it Miss Jane read to me to-
day."
''You mean
"'A creature not too bright and good
For human natures daily foodF
That would be Miss Jane herself" +"
! said I.
est Jane" said he.
az suppose" 1 said, that one sees a
plenty OF such faces in Rome" !"
GAS Miss Helen's? Plenty"
81 always thought Helen looked like
Roman lady"
"Like Roman peasant girl, said
he.
But knew better than to repeat his
words.
$50 your peasant girls have that
| golden tinge under the carmineY' l
asked him.
"All of them"
In a day or two Helen, who often
came over to Aunt Elroy's, where she
saw group of us, when Emily and
Mrs. Knowles were having one of their
seances, was standing by pillar of the
gallery, twisting budding vine about
herself, and humming bird came dart
ing along, and hovered a moment, just
as if he took her mouth for blossom.
We all exclaimed and laughed, even the
doctor; and when the next moment a
saucy robin in the black-heart cherry
tree gave forth a burst of his music,
and Helen opened her lips and answered
it in delicious trill on trill, we felt as il
the scene was something ideal.
"You could hardly do better than this
in Italy," said to the doctor.
"The robins take you for one OF
themselves. Helen" said Aunt Elroy.
"It is one of the wise birds, said the
doctor. "He wants another song from
you, Miss Helen, as /, indeed, do too
And then Helen sang again. She had
been chary of her songs before; but
after this you always knew when Helen
was coming by the music that ushered
her, and where she was going by the
sweet sounds that went dancing after
her.
"How can he help falling at ner feet p
said I to Cousin Stanhope, on one of his
Saturdays with us.
"He is lame," said Stanhope.
"Nonsensei"
"And then 1 should have fallen il
love with her myself long ago, if it had
not been for her temper"
You, StanhopeY"
"Yes, 1; and if"
:" If what p
"If I had not fallen in love Will
somebody else"
But Just then the doctor, who had sc
far improved as to be able to use q
crutch, came down the garden-path and
took Stanhope off with him. l saw lit
tie Jane gaze after them intently mo-
ment; and 1 wondered vaguely if she
were too fond of Stanhope, and felt
vaguely disturbed and unhappy, and
went home and praeticed sonata till
was tired out.
How fair and sweet Jane was in those
June days, as they came There was
such an unspeakable tranquility about
her. / never looked at her without
thinking of perfect, placid dawnings.
"What a complete lady Jane is,
said to Stanhope once, as we were walk
ing in the wood.
"That is because her temperament is
so quiet. 1t gives her manners repose,
he answered. +" All her ways are pleas.
antness and all her paths are peace
And / knew had no right to be vexed
with him for speaking so. Who could
be blamed for loving Jane2