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

On Saturday evening / sat upon the
doorstep, waiting for John and Jennie.
We had been to choir meetings together
all summer long--Jennie was such good
friends with me, and John was such
Gooi friends with Jennie. She lived
Just over the h IL from our house, and
John lived just beyond that. She
waited till he came for her, and wait.
ed for them both. should not have
thought OF starting without them, and
sat qaietly not noticing the fight of
time. was thinking what a lovely
evening it was, and that mothers china
ssters were coming into bloom, and the
crab-apples were ripening, and that l
always thoughs crab spple jelly the
prettiest mother ever made. was as
peaceful as the old cat that anne and
curled up leside me, and had no more
thought than she OF its being late.
But suddenly heard Jennie's voice
calling me il sounded so sharp, out OF
the quiet. that | was really startled. She
had paused at the gate and was saying,
"Oome. Phoebe !" / knew in minute
from her tone that something had wor-
ried her. / was wondering what 1t
might bs as I rose and went down the
path. and l suppose 1 went little
slowly. :.
Hurry, Phebel" she cried "don't
you know we are late ?"
But, instead OF huTying, / stopped
short, for l suddenly saw that John
was not with her.
Where's John p asked.
"I don't know" she answered, short
ly. "Don't stand staring, Phoebe j
tell you we're lale."
Now some people are afraid OF Jennie
when she speaks that way, with her
cheeks red and her eyes swapping. But
/ am not it only makes me little
cooler than l was before. l just stood
stin. She shan't drive me, if l do love
her.
"Suppose we are late 2" / said. 81
think we might wait little for him
Just for once"
"You can do it, them" said she, and
walked straight on.
/ looked up the road and reflected
John was not in sight. If anything hac
happened to detain him, it was Jennie'l
company he would be sorry to miss, Sc
nv waiting couldn't do him no good
/ might as we'll go with Jennie. raj
and caught her before she had gone lar
suppose it Modified her to have mad,
me run, for she laughed little as
came up. "You didn't wait as long a
I didw she said.
iThen you did wait while ?"
"Why, of course. Didn't tell yol
"WelI, you needn't have got ma'
about it, Jennie !"
"I didn't" said she, cor at least
was only mad at myself for waiting
There is no reason why we should eve
wait for John, or expect him to com
with us every night, just because h
lives next door. He never said wor
about always escorting us. He's JUS
let it be q matter of course, and I'm nc
going to have it so any longer. ID
might want to go with some OF tn
other girls some time, and then jus
think how ridiculous we should be, 81
ting waiting for him. I'll never do
again. Next week I mean to start ret
early, and you may wait for him if 20
like. I'll not expose myself to beln
slighted again. l don't doubt he's gor
the other way, by East side, tonight
Now Jessie Sears lived en- East sid
John was the only fellow in the villal
whom she could not possibly induce
firt with her, and it seemed as If Il
that reason he was the one she mo
wanted to make an impression upo
He said nothing about it, and kept o
of her way, but every body knew-e
eept Jennie, who might have known
she pleased-that he disliked her.
when Jennie made that insinuation
thought it was my turn to be angry.
faced about upon her with the facts.
Jennie Morris" said /, "you kn'
Just IA we'll as do that you're the or
girl in this town John ever cares to
n--..nI..,.o ..sih dnnlt aaa how V