The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-05-04

| auu lHSJeau bpeuG every n1gnG OUTDOORS,
chafng when storms compelled him to
remain within.
He looks miserable lonesome" was
Msr. Harden's mental comment every
time she served his meals.
One day she brought him dainty
little handkerchief, with faint sugges-
tion of perfume about it, and asked if he
knew where the ladies had gone, so that
she might mail it to them. He took it from
her eagerly it had Zaida's name mark
ed in one corner.
They expect to spend their winter
in London" he replied, but did not
offer to return the handkerchief. She
fingered as long as she could possibly
find excuse to, hoping he would give it
back, then returned to the kitchen, say
ing, gloomily; 81 wanted to keep it my
self, it seemed just like her somehow !;
but that's just my luck born to dis
appointment"
Mrs. Burdett and her daughter had
gone to London, and were settled in
apartments for the winter. They had
their windows full of plants, some of
which were in bloom, and they had ca
naries Gagged among them. Their apart
ments were bright and cheerful, and
furnished in warm colors they seemed
suitably situated. Mrs. Burdett was
never weary of talking of Norman La
mar. He seemed to have impressed her
wonderfully. His fine presence, his
noble bearing, and his mild, beautiful
face were constant themes of delight to
her. She described him so often to the
rosy-cheeked little woman Swho served
their meals, that one day she exclaimed:
"In million I'd know him !"
You could not fail, for you do not
find one such in every million" had
been the reply.
Zaida never mentioned him. She did
not even appear to listen when her
mother talked of him, but usually
caught up her Kensington work and
became intent upon it.
The girl had changed. She had lost
some of her old vim and fire. She read
a great deal, and spent much time with
her cheeks pillowed in her hands, gazing
dreamily out at the window.
One day her mother said to her, a
trife sadly:
fed. / never have to correct you any
more"
1t was only when they were walking,
as they did every day, that she was her
old vivacious self. The crowded thor
oughfares gave her new life. They
seemed to have hope in them.
One day she said:
Mamma, the concealments and de-
velopments of crowd are positively
fascinating. One lives in momentary
expectation"
They were in a rush of life at the
time, and at that moment Mrs. Burdett
was rudely jostled by it.
"What Off" she demanded, a trife
sharply.
But the girl did not reply. She had
become interested in something they
were passing, and appeared to have for
gotten her own remark.
At length they had been in London
four months. 1t was February, and dis
agreeable and foggy, so much so that
they were obliged to remain much in
doors.
One afternoon mother and daughter
were sitting before the grate-fire. Mrs.
her hands folded idly in her lap. They
were unusually silent. The girl seemed
entirely absent. Her mother looked
perplexed. Presently she said
"What has come over you? You used
to be so merry. What are you thinking
about now-this minute? ?"
Zaida laughed.
"Why, mamma, / was thinking how
completely without results our winter
has been-nothing to show for it but
some Kensington work"
In the fall she had gayly told Norman
Lamar that their lives were without
purpose. She spoke sadly now for all
her laugh.
"Why, what would you have us
dop asked her mother in astonish-
ment.
81 am sure I do not know" replied
the girl, and she got up, went to the
window and began picking dead leaves
from the plants. There seemed to be
more of them than usual this afternoon.
Mrs. Burdett stopped her work and
looked into the fire.
81 had been married several years
when 1 was as old as Zaida is now," she
said to herself, vaguely, Perhaps
perhaps-I have been selfish. / have
hCpI ACA SO JSuAOu9AJ W my OOA4' IL
would, perhaps, be more natural for her
to marry and have family. II won
der if the thought has ever occurred to
her p
And she looked curiously over to
where her daughter stood.
The girl was intent ne dead
leaves; there was p( earned
from her face r.
Mrs. Burderts eyes wenv pacK to the
fire.
Certainly she has never cared for
anybody, We have never known any
one long enough; and yet-and yeti
fell in love with Mr.. Burdett the first
time saw him."
Suddenly she turned and again re-
garded her daughter. She had never