The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-04-20


to me
Mr.. Wetherbee has his faults no
one knows them better than I. But
where" added she, touchingly, "where
will you find q man who hasn't faults"
"Where, surely !" responded 1.
CT don't look for perfect happiness
here below" continued Hannah, pen
sively; GIVE seen too much of life for
that P'--Hannah is some years my junior
and must at this period have arrived at
the mature age of nineteen years.
returned home and two years slipped
away. 1 was still hating between two
opinions and looking inquiringly at a
third, and the opinions had bgun to
manifest lively symptoms of taking care
of themselves, when one day in neigh
boring city, strolling through paper
box factory whose proprietor was my
friend, came across Hannah.
"How in the world came you here?"
bluntly calculated 1.
"By the fortunes of life and the rail-
way"
didn't know whether she was to be
addressed as Farley or Wetherbee, and
observing that she was dressed in deep
mourning, avoided anything that might
suggest explanations. She presently
told me that her father was dead Then
as L sought her confidence-on the fra
ternal basis-she told me that her father
had left his estate incumbered.
"Those disagreeable Wetherbees hold
q mortgage on the house." said she,
"and they are Just the exacting, unac-
commodating kind of people who
wouldn't hesitate in foreclosing the day
! the time expires J"
She had set herself about earning
money to pay the indebtedness.
"You see," said she "the property is
left by will to mamma and myself con-
jointly. If it is disposed of at forced
sale it must be at great sacrifice, and
( then poor mamma will be left without
| home. She has done everything for me"
| here Hannah's large eyes filled with
! tears" and it is a small thing for me to
try to save the home for her."
! | said [ wondered she hadn't sought
different kind of employment and sug-
| gested teaching
"Oh, I've tried applying for schools.
Two or three times I've received invita-
tions to examinations; and they've given
me perfectly dreadful lists of questions
asked reasons why we performed
operations that l never before knew we
did perform"
" Music, then"
81 love music; but there are three
teachers to every pupil. This is pleas
ant work, and am happy in feeling I
shall save the home for mammal
When reached home that evening 1
sold an opera ticket I had purchased in
the morning, and, whereas had always
smoked fifteen-cent cigars, now pur-
chas ed a box at ten cents Il gave them
away before the close of the week and
went back to fifteen's) and asked mother
if there wasn't place somewhere in
the city where they cleansed and dressed
over-soiled kid gloves to look as well
as new.
For the next few weeks had consid-
cradle business in neighboring city,
and used to transact it in season for
the three o'clock train, and then con-
clude to wait for the express. Hannah
was always in fine spirits, buoyed up by
! the belief that she was making sure
progress in paying that debt. I should
, as soon thought of discharging the
national obligation by peddling matches
One warm Saturday afternoon, wher
stood by her side, and she leaned bacl
fatigued, but distractingly pretty will
| the loose hair cmling around he
temples, she inadvertently laid her han(
, on the corner of the table next me. L
I was growing thin and the H formed b.
the blue veins on the back, and which
( in the days of youthful simplicity sh
had told me stood for Hartman, stooC
out with great distinctness.
I L suggested being allowed to make Al
arrangement removing her from tn
. necessity of hquidating those debts
= She refused to listen. pressed th
' matter unavailingly.
3 I then went to the proprietor, toll
= him Miss Farley was an old schoolmat
: and friend of mine, who was heroicall
trying to save the family residence fo
+ her stepmother, and asked him if h
: could not furnish her q better position
Q but Frank is the most obtuse OF creatures
d He finally asked me if she could kee
l. books. Remembering the splurges
that useful epistle of hers, felt by u
s means confident, but said j:
# "Give her the books, any way, an
II look to me for damages"
= He found that she wrote neat han(
@ and had o slight inkling of doubl
h entry but when it came to the subjet
s of remuneration, and she asked hi
h how much he had paid his last bool
q keeper, he had the stupidity to repl,
l. " Ii He had $500, but shall allow 70
1 $1,000.
1 I" Ali r. said she, "he was an old an
Il experienced bookkeeper, while I kno
d little about it. Why under such ci
d cumstances do you increase the salary
rs Frank wouldn't have scrupled at q
10 entire series of equivocations in his oW
behalf, but since only my interests wei
ot at stake, his conscience became as tel
N der as George Washington's. He final
g. acknowledged that the increase was pr
[e vided for by friend.
L Ill ha AZ