The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-02-16

little among gay and thoughtless youths,
whose homes are all of this world. You
areiwilling to crafty your own small and
worldly ambition. by sacrificing the
boys only true interest"
Mother" he pleaded, 81 wish you
would be little more reasonable"
cay, reason =" she broke in.
" Reason is the will-oIthe-wisp that
leads you astray, not only to your own
undoing, but that of others. You think
yourself wise; and you may be wise in
the ways of this world, but God has
said, " l will destroy the wisdom of the
wise, will bring to nothing the under
standing of the prudent"
She was ready with quotations at
every turn to justify herself, and TO con-
demn Ter son. He would gladly have
avoided giving her pain, had he known
how to do so, but having made up his
mind as to what was best for the lad,h
did not shrink from carrying it out; and
as he walked the fields alone, month af.
ter month, he was oppressed by dull
sorrow, which he was compelled TO bear
in utter solitude, for to no living soul
could he complain of his mother. His
only consolation was, that in his college
career Teddy fully justified every expec-
tation that had been formed of him.
His last long vacation had come, and
he was to spend it with his old school
chum, who had been his dearest friend
also at college, but had left the univer-
sity in the previous year. Turenne Jer-
myn was young man whose friendship
was worth having, clear-headed, sound
hearted, OF exuberant vitality. He had
often heard from Teddy of "dear old
Charlie" and in arranging for this long
vacation an earnest invitation had been
given that he should join them. It
offered a tempting break in a dull,
monotonous life, and was accepted.
Sir Frederick Jermyn's seat lay on the
slope of lovely Berkshire hill, shut
round by woods, but overlooking a wide
and charming landscape. AS Charles
Pemberton passed the lodge gates, and
saw ON either side the evidences of
wealth and social station, he began to
regret his acceptance. feeling that he
would scarcely be at his ease amid sur
roundings so much above his own
| homelier state. The cordiality of his
welcome, however, soon chased away
these misgivings, and he had not been
| many hours at Wilmore Court before a
| new set of feelings took possession of
his mind.
He had exchanged greetings with Sir
Frederick, Turenne, and his brother, was
reading, with their assistance, the noble
view from the window, when he was
suddenly conscious of another presence
in the room, and turning beheld Miss
Jermyn, concerning whom, curiouSly,
Teddy in his letters had said nothing,
but whose presence, as he thought, made
of the hall temple. Not that she was
a beauty. A fair-haired girl, with large
gray eyes and rather blunt features,
there was nothing of classic grace about
her; but in every line of her fair face
there shone the light of beautiful soul.
There was faint flush on her face, and
two good little dimples marked her
| pleasant smile, as, looking straight into
his + with frank, clear eyes, she held
out leI hand to greet him, and made a
captive of him forever.
Your brother" she said, is already
one of the family, and he has made you
so well known to us that teel as though
were welcoming an old friend"
g Thank you very much" said he. 81
hope l may yet be privileged to give you
better reason for regarding me as such"
That night, as he sat in his room, long
after the household was asleep, he could
but ask himself, with beating heart,
whether it were possible that there was
in store for him compensation for
much WEAKNESS in his life hitherto, so
immeasureably rich as the love of this
| girl. Was he too old TO hope for such
blissp He was barely thirty-seven in
years, and he was younger in that he had
never been hackney ed in the ways of
love. and his heart had never bowed to
meaner passion. When he descended
next morning, there was the light of
hope and love in his face.
"Why, Charlie" exclaimed Teddy,
"how young you lookl If you grow
backward at this rate while you are at
Wilmore Court, mother will hardly
know which is which"
He watched Teddy and Lillian in frank
and happy Intercourse, and thought
with delight that they were already as
brOtherand sister. Her manner to him
was confidential, almost afiectionate
He was sure Of his ground; more and
more sure each day until the very last,
on the eve of which he sat in his bed
room, musing much, for he had deter
mined that he would know his fate on
the morrow.
There was tap at the door.
"Come in" he cried, and, turning,
saw his brother. with brilliant flush
on his face and a strange fire in his
eyes.
"Charlie," said he, in voice that
quivered with some deep feeling. =" /
want to tell you something"
YES" said he, kindly, and scarcely
noticing these signs of unusual emotion.
g And have, think, something to tell
you. What is your newsP"
Teddy walked to the window, and
stood there, looking out for a few Sec
onds before be asked, speaking abruptly,
and without turning:
Charlie, what do you think of Lillian
JermynP"
Had the boy then discovered his
secret, and was he coming to urge him
to the step on which he had already de-
terminedP His agitation was go great
| that be could scarcely find - Ords to
speak, but he began to ans Wor slowly,
in low tones: