The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-04-06


fort you. Stay with me always, Lola.
No one can love you as will"
At first think she did not understand
my meaning, but when she did she
wrenched her hands from mine and
sprang to the middle of the room.
"How can you? How can you be SO
cruel ?" she said. "Do you think I could
ever love any one else after having given
my love to him 2 No; have loved him
only-I have given him all my love-and
worthy or unworthy, he has it still"
"Lols, my little child" said, "you
must face the truth. You cannot live
in this strange country all alone. You
have neither friends nor money. You
cannot work, and if you could you must
not be alone. I cannot help you and
maintain you unless you take my name
and occupy the honorable position of
my wife. But 1 will not force it on you.
For the present / will find some safe place
to put you in, and we will see what
can be done. At all events, whether you
can love me or not, I love you and will
always love you"
"Do you love me ?" she said, facing
me and speaking with eager vehemence.
ooh, do, do ]" Isaid.
"Then find him for met
could not speak at once. For one
moment wild hope had budded in my
breast, and it would not die without a
struggle. Then I looked ct her and
said, calmly:
81 will try. 1 will do my utmost. I
will give it my most conscientious eff
forts. But, Lola, if 1 failp"
eff you fail to find him." she said,
cor if you find him to be false, then /
will give you the reward you wish. I
will marry you"
It was not a rapturous consent, but /
found q wonderful satisfaction in it,
despite my fond sympathy for her.
was not being selfshly happy at her ex-
pense, for, on my own part, entirely
believed in her lovers treacherousness,
though there was nothing that could go
for real proof. 1t was foregone con-
clusion with me, and it was, therefore,
only its issue rejoiced at.
In my present state of feeling it was
easy to fall into hopeful dreams of the
| future it was impossible not to. And
now, as she sat meekly onthe sofa, after
all her passionate struggles were over, 1
felt convinced that, if 1 could win her
hand in the way we had agreed upon, I
could also, with time, win her pure
heart for my own. 1t was glorious
! goal. Something to live for, something
! to work and struggle for. My life and
utmost energies had found the incentive
they had lacked 30 long.
We fell now into a composed and
quiet talk, and she listened patiently
while unfolded my plans for her. But
there rested on her lovely face. such a
look of unutterable sorrow that had to
turn my eyes away. How blessed it
would be to smooth away this look-to
recall the gay vivacity of my own bright
Lola! What happy task In spite of
all, felt should succeed.
! A long silence had fallen upon us
both. The room was warm, and / had
set open the door leading into the hall.
was glad of an excuse to do so, as it
took away some of the air of privacy
which l feared she might find irksome.
She did not seem to notice my action,
but sat facing the door, with her dropped
eyes resting on the little hands clasped
in her lap. Presently footstep was
heard coming along the hall, and she
listlessly looked up. AS she did SO,
the light of great, ecstatic Joy rushed
over her face. She sprang to her feet,
with the glad cry:
Richard !" and flung herself into his
arms. He clasped her tight to his heart,
and drew her into the room. Was he
true or false? knew that need only
see his face to tell. In that moment of
extreme excitement he would forget to
don his mask. He stopped above her
and covered her neck and face with
kisses. Then, after that moments rap
ture, he looked at me. 1t was noble
face-honest, manly and kind.
/ ought to have been glad, bat I heard
myself groan.
I would have left the room, but Lola
detained me, telling her lover in en-
thusiastic terms how kind had been,
and begging him to thank me, which,be
did in such terms as only a good and
honorable man could have used. had
to listen, too, to his explanation. He
had, indeed, gone West, having accepted
a promising appointment which would
give him permanent aud remunerative
employment. Having settled matters
there, he had obtained leave, and was
now on his way to Spain and Lola. 1t
was all as clear as day.
That very evening they were married.
1 was the only witness besides the cler-
gyman, and I never viii forget the radi-
ance of her face as 1 watched it during
the service. 1 rather feared her Joy
might be dimmed by some remember
ing thought of me, but it was not so.
I don't think she ever comprehended
my feeling for her, and, of course, it
pleased her to fancy now that it had
been chiefly pity for her loneliness.
The service ended, there remained
nothing but to take Lola to a jewelers.
shop nearby and let her choose a pres
ent from me, which she munihcently
paid for with kiss.
1t was, indeed, the last