The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-04-12


tween us, and come az another time for
my answerP You can whisper it in
mothers ear, in the shelter of mothers
arms, can you not, little startled bird
Shall it be so, then ?"
"Oh, yes, yes r. cried Elsie, frantic
to escape. Mamma will tell you all
about it. Don't say any more to me-"
OFF she dashed out of the starlit,
rose-scented evening, into the protec-
tion of the glare, the crowd, little reck-
ing of the long, black, tightly buttoned
figure with clasped hands and eyes
raised to "heaven's arch" which she
left behind. She was prettier than
ever, with her flushed cheeks and shy,
dazzled eyes, and was seized on at once
by series of expectant partners.
Dance succeeded dance. Young
Harry Blount, sulking in a corner, and
watching his rivals with pair of glow
ing, jealous eyes, suddenly gave great
start. He saw Elsie lay down the white
bouquet which had affected him as
scarlet affects bull, take up his flowers
yes, his land carrying them in her
hand approach his lurking place. She
made a saucy little courtesy, and said:
"Mr. Blount, 1 believe this is our
Dance"
Elsie, what fool I am r. cried the
boy, ready to kiss her white-slippered
feet in his revulsion of feeling. "Have
1 really been hanging about here like a
tramp, and forgotten that ?"
You really have, Harry" replied
the little belle of the evening. You
have neglected me shamefully, and
feel dreadfully about it, Now to atone,
don't let us dance at all, but Just sit
down and rest" Then noticing look
of blank disappointment, she added
quickly, "Or rather let us have snort
walk, and then go and hide somewhere
and have some coffee-if mamma isn't
looking, that is"
$50 we WILL" said delighted Harry.
CT know of a capital seat-on the south
piazza"
Anywhere elsep' cried Elsie. ct
hate that piazza. never want to see it
again"
"That's good one, when you've
been there half the evening with that
parsonl Didhe bore you so dreadfully,
poor little ElsieP I always knew he
was prig."
Mamma likes him, responded Elsie
demurely. And so do lin the
pulpit"
The two children-for they were lit
tie more-enjoyed their walk, and then
sought refuge behind the curtains OF
the deep bay window in the hall. Elsie
sank back on the cushioned seat with
a sigh of fatigue, too weary for more
than half attention to Harry's talk. He
was paying her outrageous compliments,
she vaguely thought, but she was used
to HarFy's nonsense, and she idly picked
his bouquet to pieces while meditalirg
on her late extraordinary interview with
Cyril Forsythe. Suddenly she came to
herself; Harry had taken her hand.
When? She didn't remember. Had
she been half asleepP He was say.
ing, in a strangely agitated voice:
81 know they will al. say we are too
young, but think that's the best of it.
It is lovely to begin young, to spend
our whole lives together; and am al
most ready for college, and after that
shall step right into the business, and
very soon there will be plenty for us
both to live on"
Elsie stared. "Why, Harry, 1 don't
understand you. What are you confid
ing to meP 1t sounLs like love affair.
Who is the devoted damsel who is to
wait till you get. through college, and
have something to live upon ?"
+" Elsie," cried the mortified Harry,
"you are perfectly unfeeling."
+" Pm not unfee ling q bit. But really
and truly, who is it? You haven't told
me her name"
"I thought you understood me, >
said the boy, humbly and bitterly
" You looked so pleasant, and never
said word to stop me. OF course you
know that l never cared a button fol
any girl in the world except you. I've
been waiting ever so long for the right
time to speak, and tonight you looked
so stunning somehow, and so kind
Now, -pathetically-" don't
tease me any longer, but tell me that
you will"
Will what ?"
"Wait for me, care about me, marry
me some day." blurted out the luckless
lover, appalled, at her changed look.
" Harry Blount," said Elsie. awfully,
rising in majesty to the full height OF
her five feet two, Z" 1 never was treated
so in my life. You have all conspired
to make me perfectly miserable at my
first ball" Her bosom began to heave.
"If you say another word of the kind
I'll never speak to you again." and with
blazing eyes she swept away, leaving
her boy-lover crushed in a heap behind
the curtains, and wondering whether
moose or poison were the speediest way
of getting rid of his wretched ex-
istence.
After this the evening was a weari
ness, but supper came at last, and fol.
lowing supper the german. Here
things took on a brighter aspect. II
was impossible not to enjoy dancing
with such a partner as Major Strange
hero of all the girls of the nei0hbor