The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-10-19
She was as composed and complacent

as possible.
Somebody moved up to make room
for her and John found place across
the aisle. Before she was fairly seated
she had contrived to drop her hand
kerchief, and John was obliged to stoop
and pick it up for her. I saw his face
then. It was not gay and smiling like
Jessie's, but he looked pale and tired.
1t somehow set me considering. When
I had first seen him coming in with
Jessie my heart had stood still, and then
was so angry could have shaken my
fist at him. But now 1 began to
be confused in my thoughts about
him. There he sat, the same old John,
and I couldn't believe he was traitor.
Yet, what had brought him here in
Jessie's company The more cooled
down, however, the more sure I was
it would be explained in some way.
But of course my feelings couldn't
help Jennie at all just now. 1 knew
she had jumped to her own con-
clusions. How she Strengthened up
There were no sighs and no more turn
ings OF her head. The color was fixed
in two bright spots upon her cheeks
She looked right at her book and be-
gan to sing so clear and strong that I
was startled, and was afraid everybody
would notice the change. John knew
we'll enough where she was by this
time. He gave one half glance round,
that was all. Poor innocent John He
told us all about it afterward. Well,
as was saying, Jennie sang firmly for
verse or two, then she suddenly
ceased.
"What is the matter?" 1 whispered,
for was frightened about her.
"I'm too wicked to sing words like
these" she said.
She did not sing another note that
night, but when the meeting was about
to close, she whispered to me: "Now
Phoebe, mind you don't loiter. We're
nearest the door; get outside just as
fast as you can, before the people get
round us"
Now in my heart would rather have
fingered little just for the chance Of
learning something that might explain
it all, but of course couldn't refuse to
do as Jennie said. We got out the door
quickly-Jennie first, though hurried
as fast as I could. Once outside she
took hold of my hand and started of
like deer. The sky had become over
cast, and it was perfectly dark. 1t was
one of those hushed, breathless nights
that sometimes precede summer rain
storm. It seemed as if the very crick
cts were smothered by the dark and the
silence. We ran headlong, but we knew
the path well enough, and it was toler
ably smooth. We got we'll away from
the crowd coming out behind us, an6
had turned off the main street and were
halfway down the second hill beyond
was going to ask Jennie to stop run
ming, for was out of breath, wher
some obstacle in the path struck oul
feet from under us. We fell headlont
over a mass of something hairy, soft an(
warm, and our heads and hands were
thrown sharply against the gravel be
yond. We could not recover our sense
before the heap ever which we haC
fallen began to rise under us. l wa
rolled to one side, Jennie to the other
and with a snort of dismay and dis
pleasure Peter McCreery's COW switche'
her tail across my face and galloped oi
into the road.
She had been lying across the warn
gravel, and we had run full agains
her.
When 1 began to recover my wits
, heard Jennie laughing in weak, hys
terical way then she began to sol
and then to half shrek again wit
laughter. I slowly picked myself uI
lame and bruised. and very much SUI
prised to find that no bones wer
| broken. Half the plated founces of m
dress that had got over the cows hor
was ripped off and dangling under m
/ feet. I could dimly see Jennie sittin
on the path where the COW had left hel
weaving to and fro, her face in he
bands, crying and laughing both q
} once.
5 I went to her, asking if she wer
, hurt. "Can't you get up, dear ?"
said. "Just try and see. The foll
S will be coming along pretty soon."
? thought already heard feet upo
t the path, and I did not want any bod
Q to see Jennie quite like this. She mad
a great effort to control herself and
3 get upon her feet. I took hold of he
/, to try and help her. But no soont
: did she attempt to raise herself tina
{ she fell back with q little cry of pail
Q and then began to laugh again in I'll
Q same distressful manner.
] "I can't" she said. "It's my foo
t Phoebe. The COW trod upon il. an1
Q can't stir. What shlM we doY
}, By this time I hat caught her e,
d eitement, and was near to giggling {
/. insanely as she. "What shall we do
q I echoed.
But now there were approachin
i steps upon the walk that we both hear
u Jennie knew them in minute, al
It that minute restored her to herself.
Phoebe" she said, firmly, ST
t. tell you what we must do. You mu
IS run home and tell father to come wi