The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-10-19

can be so mean as 10 JalK ABOUT MN IN
that way r.
Jennie's face got crimson, and she
hung her head and looked quite oowed.
was glad of it.
"I don't see where he can be, then,"
she murmured after awhile. "Ho might
have sent us word if he was not going.
Yon'll acknowledge it was humiliating
for us to sit and wait for him."
81 don't see why"
"You're such child" she said, pet
tishly.
4" If it is childish to be unreasonable"
but there I stopped. l saw Jennie's
face was twitching, and her color came
and went. She was always high-strung,
swift and spirited, and tonight she
seemed touchy and unnerved. 1 felt
sorry for her, and thought we would talk
about something else.
will expla n now what had detained
John. We learned about it in good
time. There was an Irish family living
little way from his fathers house,
They were always in trouble, and always
keeping the nei ghbors in trouble. That
night, Just as John was ready to start
for meeting, his mother came to his
door, looking quite distressed.
"John," she said. Maggie Nc
Creery and her children are in the kit
chen, and Peter has come home drunk
again"
els he very bad ?" said John, who
knew his neighbor of old.
eyes. Oh, John, he has given her q
terrible black eye She and the chill
dren just fed for their lives, and they're
crying and wailing so that 1 could
hardly get their story out of them"
"Well, what can we do"
"Why, somebody has got to go down,
you know, John. He was as wild as a
mad man. They left him crashing the
dishes upon the floor and putting the
he'd clothes and furniture into the fire.
Maggie is afraid he'll set the house
you know, and burn himself mp in it."
"The best thing he could do" NUT
tered John.
"You mustn't say SO, you know, dear.
| hate to have you to go down there,
but it's dreadful to think of the poor,
raving creature just left to himself"
Where are the others 2" said John.
"Why, Bess and Mark have gone to
the fair in Barton. There's only Buell.
at home, and he's hardly old enough to
go down there alone"
"No," said John, throwing off his
coat. II suppose I've got to go with
him. Tell him to get a rope. Well
have to tie the wretch, and then send
for the sheriff"
"It's dreadful you should have to go,
DEAR" said hi ) mother, pityingly, "and
just when we were all ready for meet
ing. Tie girls will be waiting for you,
too. But you'll feel sorry enough fol
Maggie, poor thing, when you see her
And there's no time TO be lost. YoU
can hear Peter cursing and throwing
things clear up to our kitchen door,"
AS John and Buell. were ready to start
Maggie said /: "Shure, sur, if ye set
me COW in the road, wud ye phase drive
her back forninst ye? Peter left the
\ gate open when he come in, and l wa
that distracted didn't see the craytu
till she was gone. The byes will b.
havin' her in the pound in a giffy, anC
sorra cint is Peter after LAWN mo t.
: get her out again |"
n
John did not see the COW. She wa
, like the rest of the McCreery's, unex
pected in her movements. But Jenni
and 1 saw her, grazing along the road
side, with her head turned the othe
way from home. 1 had a presentimen
of mischief the moment 1 caught sigh
of her. half stopped, saying: " There
Peter McCreerys COW How coul'
they let her get out Now, if the boy
) put her in the pound they never ca
, raise fifty cents to get her out. I've
great mind to drive her back littl
4 ways, Jennie, just to get her headed tc
/. ward home"
Q But Jennie was too impatient. "Pleas
| don't stop, Ph@be," she said. cit
s not your place to do it, and we're so lat
already"
1t was so late that all the pew
4 on the girls side of the choir-galler
were filed, except the two farthes
i back. By going to the head of on
of these I could be among the alto!
I and Jennie, by going to the head of th
:. other, could be among the sopranos
r while at the same time we could sit tx
@ gether. I was glad to be near her thS
Q night, and 1 knew she was glad to hay
d me, she was so nervous. hoped th
It singing would quiet her, and so it di
It for a little while, but she could not g.
e quite out of her hutter. Proud as 81
10 was, she could not help casting glanc
st now and then, toward the door, an
+ occasionally she would give little sig
it She was uneasy every minute till
Al came.
u And oh, dear she was a good de-
lg more uneasy afterward. For-will yC
le believe it?-who should walk in tn
!" door beside John but Jessie Sears
Q. She did look pretty that nigh
ye There was no denying her good lool
to even when you'd lost every bit of fNi