The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-12-06

'"N|"" - - 'HtNt
Tllrru ladies' were seated ia Agatha
Fosters parlor: Miss Fortescue, large.
dark and Of uncertain age, who mon
opolized the most comfortable ARM.
chair; Mrs. Becker, shruplxen and
sandy, who was constantly sliding
on the sofa aild reinstating herself
with a jerk, and Miss Agatha herself,
who sat apart from the others, qlanc-
ing uneasily out Of the window, as if
distressed by their garrulity. Miss
Agatha was fair young woman. with
a noble head and countenance ex-
pressive OF all grace and goodness. Yet
at this moment she entertained feel
ings decidedly hostile to her callers,
who had run I'M. with the familiar free
offelloN boardcrs in a family hotel,
to chat away the afternoon. At heart
theFWefe Immensely sorry that Miss
Nannie Foster hadnot yet returned from
a suburb, where she had gone the day
before. Miss Mamie, Agals cousin,
companion and chaperone in one, was
fan more 10 their taste; she was more
attentive. more easily Impressed mora
sympathetic. they Thought. She Aavei
sat looking cut the window when they
were retailing their choicest lits Of
scandal for her especial benefit But
then she was woman Of years. How
ever, they still fingered; it was d
pleasant place. The Fosters had tha
handsomest suite in the building -and ID
furnished with such tastel Such car
petsl Such decorative artl And the
Fosters were tip-top people. There
were four Of them, Miss Agatha, her
tNo bachelor brothers, ten and dozen
years her senior, and Miss Mamie, who,
since their parents death, ,had kept the
children together. The winter day
drew TO close, the room grew duslSy,
and still khe ladies' fingered.
Agatha could endure it no longer;
this Ql a|l days, she was without pa
tienrg She rose quickly.
she said, with an indig-
nant CULVER in her sweet contralto
voice. you must excuse me. cannot
AsteA to such conversation r
There was silence moment; then
Miss Fortescue lifted her cumbrous
frame. Oh, certainly. ! quite un-
derstand. We viii withdraw. We
do not wishto offend"
Oh, certainly family echoed Mrs.
Becker, sliding from the sofa for the
last time and preparing tofollow.
Agatha's impatienca only increased.
Aud allow me to say" she ex-
claimed, with no conpunction. "that
think ladies might be better employed
than with their neighbors' affairs"
Good-afternoon, said Miss Fortes-
cue, savagely, ,
Goed-afternoon," sneered Mrs.
Becker.
Coed riadance r cried Agatha,
sharply. ere the door had closed.
To-day Of al days" she said, as
she walked to and fro in the dusk.
Presently tho door opened.
Az in the dark, Agatha9" asked a
CHEEKY voice.
thought you would never come,
Nannle,' was the swift, unneryed re-
ply.
Why, what is the matter, my
dear2p
I have just put Mrs. Fortescue and
Mrs Becker out Of the room, and it,
has annoyed me"
Dear lne, what had they done?"
THE same old sickening gossip.
Miss Bruce flirts on the street; Mrs.
Cray holds her step-child to the IRE to
burnett. and 80 on and SO on
They get their ideas from the
morning papers, said Mamie, calmly,
unclasping her fur-lined circular.
The stepmother holding the child to
the fire is favorite paragraph when
news is scarce. Sometimes she heats
the ilat-iron. For my part / would
nevergo to that trouble"
But Agatha could not respond to her
staid humor. She helped put away the
wraps, and inquired after thesuburban
friends.
You look pale aren't you well ?"
asked Miss Mamie when they were
seated
The girl dropped her eyes. "Nannie,
! have some news for you," she said
with an effort .I-last night
promised Mr. Peters-to-to marry
him" Then She sighed as if relieved
Of a great burden.
The room was still, utterly stu. If
Miss Mamie were surprised or shocked
She oave no token She only sat quietly
locking ai the girl and taking time to
collect Agatha meyer lifted her eyes