The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-08-23

comforting" "Now, goodbye. Be
sure to dodge every time y and with q
quick little peck Of kiss on each rosy
cheek, brave-hesrted Monte trudged
away.
"Now we'll get ready for our sur
prise" said Dill, as the street door
closed. "Nonie needn't be the only
sacrificer What do you thinkP" Then
followed an absorbing conversation, of
which more anon.
Monte was abundantly equal to the
new situation. At noon she ran around
to Aunt Edie's to explain, and was re-
galed on goodies, while the bright eyes
Of her fathers only sister glistened aith
o suggestive moisture, as she promised
to keep the secret, and "dodge" most
circumspectly, Whenever she should call
at the Derrell mansion.
Pleasant odors greeted Nonie's en-
trance at 6 o'clock. The tea was spread
with delicacies inexpensive but appetiz.
ing), and the girls were in chronic
state of giggle. "Don't ask questions.
Eat your supper first, and tell us il it's
good" said they.
"This cream toast is delicious and so
are the Saratoga potatoes. Joanna
fries them better and BETTER" said hun.
CRY Monte.
The girls gave an unequiYocal litter.
"What is the matter I shan't eat
another mouthful till you tell" said
Monte, holding particularly tempting,
brown, bloated "Saratogs" suspended
in mid-air.
"Joanra didn't do it'll That's the
joke. Dill and | got it up" said Meta,
"Joanna's gone"
"Joanna gonel Oh, not for good ?"
cried Monte, with an apprehensive start
"You haven't gone and had any trouble
with Joanna, girls?" and the forf
dropped from the unnerved fingers.
"We had no end of trouble to make
her go, but we're just as good friends as
ever" said Dill.
Monte looked completely puzzled.
"You see," said Dill, bringing some
hot cream ''dip" for the toast, "Meta
and made up our minds that we would
have surpsise, too; 80 we explained it
to Joanna, and, after great amount of
coaxing she consented to go to heA sis
ter's for q few weeks, but msdA ne
promise solemnly that we would 5end
for her if we got into any very bad
scrapes. We may just as we'll do the
work while mamma can't hear cur Aes-
sons, and we shall save $3.50 q week.
beside Joanna's board, and that will Ibe
our share toward the Doings of the
Dodgers"
Monte gave tragic groan. "Yo9ll
never be able to keep it up, in the
world It would be hard enoughIto
do if mamma was around, but with both
of them sick upstairs you will half kill
yourselves T.
"No, we won't. It will make more
dodging, of course, but it will sharpen
our wits and train us in housekeeping.
Here's Mrs. Boecher's blue book, 'All
Around the House,, and plenty Of good
recipes besides, and you acknowledge
that the supper lei superb" argued Meta,
of Saratogas for her sisters plate.
This is q chronicle of surprises. II
will, therefore, be sufficient to state that
the domestic machinery creaked omin'
ously q few times, and once or twice
came perilously near to deadlock, but
the blue book invariably afforded bill for
the springs and wheels, on consul tation.
Meta spice6 the gingerbread with mus
tard, brought boiled beets to table in
their dusky overcoats, put too Imuch
powder in the washtub, and blibtered
her hands, and once actually Drowned
the bsefsteak in lardl Dill lscorched her
prettiest ruffled white apron one Ironing
day, and burned her plump wrist be.
sides (but zealously hid the scaf from
the unsuspecting eyes upstairs), grated
too much nutmeg into a rice pudding,
and baked beans (the first time)I with
out putting any water in the bed IN pot.
Through all culinary tribbel0k kiOnS, u
however, the invalids were tended most
faithfully and cheerfully. The amount
of dodging required was weIi-nigh
Machiavellian, but with help from Aunt
Edie and the family doctor, the happy
pilots steered their craft of id nnocent
secrecy past all reefs and snags.a
Two or three days before 9hanks.
giving Monte acted strangely, gave ir-
relevant replies, several times seemed
on the point of making an important
communication, then provOkingly
checked herself.
"What can be the matter?" said Dill
to Meta.
"I Just knew those horrid clerks
would fiirt with her I suppose one
of them's the matterl" groaned Meta,
in disgust.
"Nonsensel Monte don't lose hel
wits over boys with fancy cheek-ties
, and their hair parted in the middle
Monte has some staminap This waf
} Dil's favorite term of admiration fol
her elder sister.)
. "WhateYer it is, she'll tell us before
long. She can't keep it to herself,
! said Meta.
, Dill likewise became infected with
secrecy, and went through mysterious
t performances in her own room the day
before Thanksgiving. She dressed
: herself for going out, made dive at Q
certain little drawer in her own special