The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-07-27


ly large blue open eyes"
"By JoveP' thought Lord Pelham,
'I wish she'd look at me. I'd like to
see what her own eyes are like"
Bnt this wish at least was vain. Not
even her gratitude-and shy Lizzie was
overpowered with gratitude for all his
attention-could give her courage to
look up OF him.
He remained near her, chatting, till
the carriages we're announced, and even
fingered to place her cape round her
shoulders, and bid quite cordial Good
night to her parents but, after all, his
curiosity was not satisfied.
"And so Lizzie did dancel" said her
elder brother next day, as the ball was
eagerly discussed.
"DanceP said her father, in high
good humor-"I should think so
Danced with Lor Pelham, above alp
eyes ;" said Mrs. Morton, reflective
ly, cit was very good-natured of him.
heard him say something about COM
passion he was sorry to see her so
lonely"
Lizzie herself was SO convinced that
this was the case that she was not the
least annoyed, only when she went up
stairs she staid a moment longer than
usual before her glass, and, raising her
heavy lids, looked herself straight in
the face.
"He'svery good natured, " she thought
''I wish were not so very plain"
Lord Pelham's curiosity about those
eyes was singular. He found himself
speculating more unreasonably on the
subject, and wondering what color
would suit her face.
Almost any color, he was forced to
admit, would do. The dull, sallow skin,
the Informed nose and wide mouth, no
eyes could wholly redeem them, and
probably the fringed eyelids were a
compensation.
Well, we'll, what did it matter? He
supposed they should not meet again.
Why should they? He did not intend
remaining in the neighborhood, and,
had lie intended it, he had no excuse
for calling.
But they did meet. Somehow, on
Sunday morning, a sudden and most
unwonted impulse seized Lord Pelham
to attend service in the village church.
He went in late, little embarrassed, if
the truth must be told, at his own
action.
He sat very quietly in the corner of
the pew to which the old verger con-
Quoted him, and only felt at home when
the droning choir began the Psalms.
Then he looked about, and soon caught
sight of Mrs. Morton's handsome
face.
"By Jove what O pretty girl !" he
thought, as his eye wandered past to
rosebud OF girl-''the beauty" evident
ly, of poor Lizzie's tale-and next to
her sat his shy friend herself, the down
cast lids more dropping than ever, the
dull complexion more leaden beside
the bright blue eyes and pink and white
of the pretty sister.
Still, Lord Pelham's glance rested on
the plain face of his earlier acquaint-
ance. The service seemed wonderfully
short, and when the congregation left
the chancel he found himself side by
side with Mrs. Morton.
"Going our way?" she asked, in the
porch and so, naturally enough, he
accompanied them homeward, even
walking through their park up to the
very door.
''Mr. Morton's in the conservatory,
If you care to join him." Mrs. Morton
ventured to say, her motherly heart all
in futter for here, she decided, was
chance for pretty Rose.
And Lord Pelham did care, it ap-
peared, and had a chat with the master
of the house, found sundry points of in
terest in common, and even stayed for
the family dinner.
Horribly unaristocratic he must
think us |" feared Mrs. Morton, as she
explained that the early dinner enabled
the servants to go to church.
Little Lord Pelham cared for her
chatter; he was wholly occupied with
the plain face opposite to him.
In vain pretty Rose bridled and
,blushed in vain she peeped up at him
with her most bewitching air. He was
only conscious of one fact about her,
which was, that she snubbed her elder
sister.
So did every one else, it appeared to
him; for when Lizzie ventured the re-
mark-which she rarely did-it was
generally met with: "Oh, dare say
you think so !"
L. no u61RADOInOOu D6Bdn W bd4h VOL
soon after this eventful Sunday in the
Mortons' life. Lord Pelham remained
at his friends-Sir Harry Wells's-and
came so often to the Lodge, evinced
such an interest in all Mr.. Morton's i'm.
rovements-actually invited the boys
to his manor for the September shoot.
ing-that he seemed almost like one OF
the family.
One day in the early winter, when
the hedges were sparkling with hoar-
frost, and the roads were beginning to
harden, Lord Pelham took his familiar
way to the Lodge.
He was thinking, as he walked along,
of many things about his intimacy there,
and his thoughts involuntarily turned
to Lizzie. He went back in his mind
to their first meeting.
-sU daclare he said To himself 0she