The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-07-19

to say something of goodwill; he strove
to speak some word OF friendly parting
good luck or Godspeed him in his
wooing-but he found it impossible.
He could not lie. There was no good
will in his heart toward this man Of the
silvered hair, who was talking OF love
for "sweet Anne PercIval" to him.
"Must you gop Waltz Stephen
stretched out an eager hand. "There
is another thing"
"No," cried out Rick. "Don't-
don't tell ma anything else. wish, on
my soul, thu you had not trusted me
with this. You don't know me. How
can you cay 1 shall serve you more than
harm youp
an risk it and it's only a little
thing. You know how fond she is of
reading. Don't You remember that
little purple -and-gold volume OF poems
1 gave her, how she read it, how she
praised and wept verit-over one poem
in PARTICULAR 1t was one morning in
the garden"
eyes," said Rick, wondering.
81 can hear her tears fall even low.
Oh, how loved her for the gentle pity
she showed for the lovers sorrow had
written OF there I"
"You?"
"I wrote them, yes--those poems
They are mine-my work-the work of
lonely nights and restless, empty days,
when could only dream of her, remem-
Der herl wrote them all Of them.
The book is my memory Of her, Of
sweet Anne ePercival-my 'NAnnette r."
"But, man, how could youP Why,
you have thrown q name away, and the
praise Of all the world. / remember
that poem ITO NAnnette the one
she praised"
"Ah, and was not that enough--her
praise. Had she known wrote
them she would not 30 have told
me all her liking of it, all her pity and
generous sympathy; even her fault-find-
ing was sweet to me, it was SO freely
frank, so genuine All, yesl it is
enough that have heard her tears fall
on the flowers for N'Annette."
Tears sprang to Kicks eyes, his lips
quivered little as he realized how in
/ finitely below this man he stood, how
far above him was this gray.haired
ask no recompense except ayoung girls
tears.
Stephen fumbled in his pocket he
took out paper.
"Look, here is bit of poem !
, wrote last night for her. l want you to
take it and read it to her; mind, some
, time when am present She will say
; what she thinks of it then"
Rick took the folded paper humbly
enough.
! "11l take it, and I'll read it to her, as
soon as ! get chance. And, look here
Norcroft, I'm glad have had this talk
with you. No matter what comes, even
should-should things go against me,
] shall be better man all my life long
Z for this talk with you"
"I'm glad, too, Rick" answered the
other, gently.
/ The two men went their different
| ways, Rick hurrying, for it was later
g than he thought.
| "He's an old saint" he muttered,
eyes he is 1 felt as if ought to kneel
/ and kiss his hand-kiss those poor
old gray locks of hair that trouble him
) so. He is much more worthy of poUl
s little Anne's love than I. Aud to think
he wrote 'N'Anuette.' If he wins Ell
, she ought to take him-I can't FAY
. anything; but what shall doP I, too
+ love her, little 'N'Annette r"
' He did not care to go home, so he
' put away his lathe and carving tools
a and locking up things went out to the
t one restaurant the village boasted. Ht
;, got his dinner and sat long time ovel
| his cup of coffee, dreaming-dreaming
!. He told himself he was no poet; he hat
not the gift of writing, of making fine
q phrases. Still, there was one noble
poem consisting of one noble line, tina
4 line of three words; it has been writer
and sung since life and world and you'll
,. were young:
4 az love YOU"
4 Match that, poets immemorial, If yot
- Rick wrote that down and kissed tn,
words. Oh, tender, truthful words H.
y wrote them over and over on his shee
Il of paper.
u u II love you. love you, sweet Ann'
= Percival !"
J, Then he thrust it back in his pocke
q and went out, leaving his coffee un
- untasted.
= The next morning when Rick wa
e going to his work he met Miss Percival
- She stopped.
u u "Oh, Mr.. Sheridan, 1 have favor t.
~ ~ ask of you. We want your help"
- "Yes "-he stood looking at her
70 To look at her was enough.
y "We want to take the children ou
70 70 on Saturday afternoon for their picnic
q You knew we promised them a lonl
DC time ago, and we want you to g
:, with u.s.
r. at shall be glad to go if you wan
- me, Miss Percival," i" Rick answered.
% "Oh, it is the children; you knoV
y how much they think of you. / reall
~ don't believe they could be got to g
=, ~ without youW
10 "I am Glad somebody likes me, an