The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-05-10

jumping up with alacrlty, "Oh, mere IL
is. I'll go to Dickerman's for the mo-
asses right You will need every |
spare minute for your brushes now
till you teach me how to make them
too. After all, don't see why it won't
be Just as respectable to sell candy as
anything else, if we deal in pure goods
and give honest measure, I'm sure au-
thors sell their books, and artists their
paintings. It's only a question of de-
gree"
"And even monarchs and great
statesmen receive compensation,
laughed Flo.
The molasses was soon bubbling mer-
lily in the porcelain-lined kettle, and
until the time of constant stirring
should arrive, Nettie sat down by her
sister to take lesson in brush-making.
"We can take a few dollars of your
pay, Nettie, and lay in small stock of
candy tomorrow. The school children
will soon find it out. can take some
comfort in having you at home, for
time, at least. Why can't we indulge
in good supper tonight, as long as
you have your payP I'm getting reck-
| less. Let's have oysters"
"Agreed |" said Nettie, delighted to
see Flo SO ready flor once) for COM
parative luxury, -" 'Scrimp-atlon has
its limits!"
"Oh, ohT' cried her sister, in mock
horror. "Labors of Max Millerl How
can you, Nettie? Therel The candy
nearly boiled overl Run and stir
quickl'
lin the midst of stirring and fun en-
ter Miss Mellavine in a sta e OF un-
wonted excitement.)
Such surprise, my dears What
do you thinkP But, first of all, sup
pose you've heard that Caleb Stone is
dead"
She dropped into the nearest chair
and famed herself with her brown
check apron, though it was wintry
March outside.
"Why, no ~ exclaimed the girls in
breath, while Nettie held her spoon
suspended. in midair, with ropes of tafy
gracefully pendulous therefrom.
81 must begin at the very begin
ming" said Miss Mellavine, cor / shall
be sure to forget something / ought to
remember. (He died at o'clock this
morning, but Mirandy couldn't bear to
have a mess of half-strange women
around, she said, 80 she begged me to
stay on-though I'm free to confess /
ached to come and tell you as quick as
I decently could) can't get over the
turn it gave me. To think that all this
time but shall be sure to let it out
before l get around to it, after all, if
I'm not carefully When I went up last
night he was asleep and Mirandy vas
sitting by the fire and the little fellow
had goneto bed. Pm so glad you've
come, Mellavine,' says she, for Caleb is
: that set on seeing you that l was afraid
: he might try to dress himself to GO to
, your house if you didn't come. He's
, been out of his head, more or less, all
| day, but the doctor gave him another
small dose of morphine and he's rest
5 ing easier now.' She hadn't more than
3 got the words out of her mouth when
he turned his head on the pillow and
5 opened his eyes.
3 els that you, Mellavine ?"
? "'Yes, sir, said l, going up to the
bed.
3 'Mirandy,' says he 'you go out and
I sit by the kitchen fire till 1 want you
n again'-and to humor him she went
Just as quick as she shut the door he
s clutched me by the arm and pointed to
r a heavy black box that stood on the
bureau.
"'There There it is = says he. 'It'i
clutching at my throat now, as if it had
Y fingers Take it away Take it away
!, he almost shrieked.
s "'Yes, yes, presently said I, to pacify
Q him.
} "'Why don't you take it The key
Is hangs around my neck. Here, UNLOCK
s the box, and take away the-the pack
q age. It's clutching me, I tell you'll Et
d quick Be quick p
81 did Just as he told me you've go
d to be with ravin' man, you know, no
expecting to find anything important
II unlocked the box, and the first thing
1 see-oh, pretty near let it out tina
Il time, but you've guessed it, like as no
o 1 declare, don't know when shall ge
over the turn it gave me 7
r (Flo and Nettie exchanged quick
10 startled looks, and drew nearer to Mis-
Mellavine, while the molasses bubbleC
,. unheeded in the porcelain kettle.)
n "Tell them,' he says, that I've no
g had an hours peace since l locked /
in there. Their fathers sudden deatl
d put it in my head-the temptation cam,
y Iike a whirlwind-then-oh the misery
You know the rest. Afterward coulC
u not confess. They are good girls-gooC
Is girls. John Rsndall's daughters coulC
- not be anything else. Tell them t.
rt keep it all-all. 1t is doubly theirs,
d have SO wronged theml do not wan
i them to pay another dollar on the olC
Il account. II is the only reparation cal
=, make. Beg them to keep my secret.
N don't deserve that they should hav
mercy on my good name-but OIL TO
le Mirandys sake and little Joe's-bel
them to keep it'll They are good girls
y Now call my wife, he says, and drop
IA bic hnnd hack ON the nillnW Withon