The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-03-02
Mrs. Chumleigh faltered and turned

Mrs. Chumleigh faltered and turned
pale.
My son, what have you to do with
this young person"
u have this to do with her." he
cried, impetuously. 81 wish to make
her my wife, if she can care enough for
me-"
"My Godl" exclaimed Mrs. Chum-
leigh, falling back in half faint.
mice time for your declaration"
cried Francia DOTmeT, who had heard |
these words, and now hurried in with |
ressoratives, her own face ashen pale, |
but still with malicious gleam in the |
eyes; "at all events you won't be able |
TO get recommendation for your wife !
from her last place!"
BY this ii ne Won Arnheim had come
in. and Bertha. To Gertrude the room
seemed full of staring, talking people.
She stood among them like queen,
tall, erect, with undaunted eye, but a
! fierce pain at her heart
Mrs. Chumleigh opened her eyes to
! say, traglcally:
"Search her things - and then sank
| away again.
Won Arnheim, with true politeness,
said:
"It will not be veil to suspicioned
someone's NIT not no grounds to stand
on" which was very lucid, but not
much calculated to console Gertrude.
on the whole. Bertha sat crying in one
corner-husband and fortune and coro-
net all to disappear like the baseless
fabric of q vision. Oh, 1T was too
much
Won Arnheim, who was really not
mercenary, strove to comfort her.
Gertrude walked up to the nursery
unchallenged, and sat down in the
empty room. The children had been
spirited away somewhere-the whole
house was in commotion.
Eric's words, 80 strangely sweet,
seemed somehow to span this sudden
storm like a rainbow-but never, never
would she listen to him while there was
o shadow on her good name.
1t was not hard to search the meager
contents of Gertrude's trunk but every
!, thing was tumbled out in a summary
way, pockets examined, even Innings
ripped, and she heard some one say,
"Wot's the use, she went out yester-
, day." with a feeling of desperate ex-
ASPIRATION.
She laid back her clothes, all of them
Sadly, for there was nothing now to DC
, but to 90. She strapped her trunk her.
} self. and did not wait for leave taking
7 Only she had kindly feeling for tho
= imps, after all, and looked about fol
! them as she went downstairs.
} She left also note for Mrs. Chnm-
leigh, merely giving her address. TheI
with such feeling of desolation as haC
never yet wrung her young heart sh'
E. started out.
e The children were not about; bu
| II, ho GIs dQrf1l
. out at her. His face was smeared sn'
I tear-stained.
e "They say you're goin' away" b
cried out, land wasn't 20 see you again
= but I've cheated 'em bully. want Il
b. give YOU this valentine. To-day's tn
. fourteenth, you see, and like you bet
n ter than any other girl know. hxe'
il yesterday-painted it all myself
there's two hearts on meat skewer an,
,! an altar and bride all right, you'll
n see."
!. "Thank YOU. Rod" cried Gertrude
v with sob in her throat as she stoope'
to give the boy kiss. do not eX
l. pect any other valentine"
# And she smiled through the tear
It that dimmed her eyes as she looked .
the huge envelope with its othclal-look
7, ing seals.to which Rod had conhded III
) treasure.
d A moment after quick step came bt
hind her. Then some one took the III
% tie travelling bag out of her hand, anC
ID looking up, she saw friend ly hanC
a some face looking down at her reproact
le fully.
g cried Eric.
Jr And from that moment halt her bul
te den seemed lifted. She to1nd herse
e. actually smiling AS she reached h'
le aunt's door.
e. "What is that billet-doux you al
e. carving so carefullyw exclaimed Ell
n rs he caught sight ofthe huge envelop'
st "My valentine" answered Gertrud
Then moment after she added: " Kod
d work.
:" They stood in the little par rlor, the
-. by the window, as the young girl turn'
lie over the epistle, and finally opened
ut with a half-hysterical laugh. Such
?" Misunderstanding couple as Rod hi
m, executed; but he had gilded ring
as the brides finger which obliterated n
hand, and had also a cable OF the saI
ed FURNISHED metal on her neck.
"By JoVe! what's thisP" eXclaim
or Eric, seizing the paper; " do you
what the rascal has tied on with bl
ribbon for n fancy cover-my mothe
.rv coupons. by all that's jolyW
~ Gertrude stared in speechless 81
he prise.
w The child had nicked a whole she
he Of coupons and used them rs a cover
9d his chef d'8uvre.
he The neat little squares and numb'
e,s had evidently taKen his fancy. Th'
a were only part, to be sure, but
err could probably give an account OF
"a scot M oOurqa he had n n idea that [
q beautiful paper he hal found in
M mothers desk was so valuable.
-' Gertrude gazed at it a moment, a
q " then Joined in the laugh.
iet- Sac looked up to soc Aunt Rachel
me the doorway regardin them with m
nIv wonder.
~ .IMu frat valantinflIn she exclaim