The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-05-18


Humph" !" was all the answer she
vouchsafed him as she went on with her
digging, but she doubted the existence
of the toad and believed he was making
sport of her.
The minutes crept up, 12 o'clock
came, and Bob was waxing gavagely
hungry. AS he emptied the fourth
basket of potatoes, he said:
cit is noon now, Miss Embers, I'm
sure. See Old Sol is directly over
us. Come, let's have our lunch under
the apple tree. Tn hungry as a canni-
bal"
"I too," acknowledged Garnet. "Get
that parcel yonder, Bob, and don't
squeeze it, else you'll crush the cram
berry tarts in it. Aunt Sarah made
them, and she's famous pastry cook"
Cranberry tarts p his mouth begin
ming to water. "You bet I'll hold it
lightly. 1 am especially fond of them.
But what delicacies does the luncheon
contain. Miss Embers prepared by your
hands %
Not any, Bob" with something that
sounded like sigh. " am no better
cook than dressmaker. We have both
missed our vocation. l worked two
years in Madam Browns establishment
endeavoring to learn how to cut and
make dresses, but failed ignominiously;
was therefore sent home minus recon-
mendation. So it will be with you,
Bob. Although thoroughly good man,
Mr.. Denver is very exacting one, and
if your work to-day is q specimen of
what you can do he will not keep you in
his service any longer than what is alb
solutely necessary. What uphill work
life is for the poorl Dear me +! won
der what L am good for, anyway|'
" Good to look at" he muttered, un-
der his breath, wishing that she would
toss off the sunbonnet that almost con-
cealed her face. Then aloud, Good to
dig potatoes, l suppose"
At which both laughed heartily, and
together they wended their way to the
apple tree, weighed down with golden
fruit, at whose foot they were to par
take of their lunch. A musical stream
let threaded its way over pebbly bed,
washing the roots of the apple tree as
it ran merrily on. Here, on the grass,
in sound of its babbling voice, they
seated themselves and prepared to par
take Of the repast, which Garnet spread
.daintily out on newspaper, first throw
ing off the offending sunbonnet, which
motion caused the red-brown hair to
tumble about her face, making pic
ture at which Titan would have raved.
"By Jupiter !" calculated Bob, she
is even prettier than 1 imagined. She
is perfect witch"
He had dotted his sombrero, and his
picturesque, Moorish face, illumined
by darkly splendid eyes, Garnet thought
the handsomest in the world.
'If he were not a hired man." she
mused, "or even had ever so small an
income, I believe 1 could love him. AS il
is, the idea is simply ridiculous. 1 will
sound him to see if he is as intellectual
as he looks.
She did so, and they fell into a con
versation so agreeable to both that time
passed by unheeded. A mans voice
aroused them. 1t was Mr.. Denvers.
Heigho P' he cried, in q hearty tone
"having picnic on a small scale? Pla
guy mean of you, Miss Garnet, not t.
[ extend an invitation to your neares
neighbor When did you arrive 2"
E" Last night And, Mr.. Denver" as the.
shook hands, &c I took the liberty of so
Letting help from your hired man il
{ digging few bushels of potatoes to tax
l | to market
Q Ha, ha, ha I" The good mans laugl
rang out loud and clear. Did yo'
., really take Bob for hired man? Why
4 this is my guest, Mr.. Lincoln-th
S gentleman who owns the mortgage o
e your aunt's place. He, to use an eS
o preston in vogue, is fairly rolling /
t riches Ha ha ha my hired man
n Miss Embers, Mr.. Lincoln"
o He strolled away, and the two wer
left alone No reply; the fair face wa
It buried low in her hands, and Garnt
: felt as if she could never meet his gaz
It again. How came she to make such a
h egregious blunder. Well, no apolog
It would be admissible now, and she mus
5, brave it out as well as possible.
Garnet" and now the hands Wen
e removed from the flushed face and hel
r. in his warm clasp, listen to me. Yo
,e have made mistake, and the only wa
1t you can rectify it is to accept me as yor
u friend. VIII you ?"
t, And plucky little Garnet, with
le coquettish glance from under her je
re black lashes, said
le L will. That is" with pretty hes
tation to her voice, g. if you take me AZ
" auntie's potatoes to market with M
K Denver's horse. 1 wish to purcha
10 some groceries"
o It is needless to say that he did
IN she desired, and late in Novembe
he when the air was chill and keen, and Il
flakes of snow eddied to the ground al
,d covered it with mantle of white, Ro
nv ert Lincoln presented Mrs barley wi
y deed of the place and took Garn
of away with him to his city home, whel
he as his wife, she reigns quite royalty; al
he he always blesses the day when he d
aIf potatoes with her, and she took him
no 'sMr Denver's hired man"