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

read you can take it, and want you
to tell me some time, by-and-bye, what
you think OF it."
he handed her the poem-Ahl poor
Stephen.
81 hope it is something interesting,
aud Miss Percival slipped the folded
paper into the book she was carrying.
/" 1 will read it."
ooh, 1 don't know what you may
think of it 4; you see, II naturally
want your opinion. That will decide
it."
he was speaking with his eyes fixed
on the ground. He was striving to be
true to his friend-the friend who had
sal; ; "But / do trust you r.
Rick felt that his task was hard.
"Your opinion is all care for about
it,"
"Then you shall have it. will give
it my very best attention. But it must
be something very important, Mr..
Sheridan, you are so serious over it.
Yes, it is; it isl
They we're looking ut each other now
the strong and steadfast soul of each
shining in the clear brave eyes. The
high and passionate love of youth
youth fearless and enduring-leaped in
the light of those meeting eyes. There
was no mistake in the language now,
and each read-content.
So they, too, parted.
Into the dim greenwood, past the
sweet, wholesome fields, along the path
winding below the hills, past many nook
where last years leaves lie rotting in a
wind-tossed heap, children to sing,
ooh, happy, happy day." while Stephen
Norcroft, with his flute, made sylvan
music, and Rick tossed the tired little
ones on his broad shoulders, and sweet
Anne Percival, with her two matron
aids, watched and kept something akin
to order in the wild, merry ranks
ooh, happy, happy day. And it
would end so soon. Still there were
other days to come-this might end
but. Should he speak nowP Why
should he not speak2
Stephen Norcroft meeting Rick apart,
laid a OBTAINING hand on the young fell
lows arm.
"Stop, tell me in just one word, did
vou give her the poem? Has she read
itY'
Rick stood stone-still his face grew
cold and pale.
"I thought l could wait" pursued
Stephen, 81 thought I could bear il
still longer, but"-he drew a long
breath.
One could see that he was sufferinr
His thin, sensitive face had seemed tC
Rick to grow fine and clear-like some
thing purified by fire in these last days.
"In Just one minute, old fellow. Tn
sorry, but you shall see at once. Wait
| here.
He cast quick glance about him
then, darting down narrow path,
across bit of green turf, around the
belt of pine and sweet white birch, he
found her.
She was kneeling by pool of water,
cool and clear and green-"Venus
mirror" is it not, what Barne Jones
called them-her white arm deep down
pulling at the strong root of sweet-hae
growing there.
81 beg your pardon, but must ash
you now did you read the poem I gave
| you?'
eyes; I read it |" Oh, how beautiful
her blush was saying his.
"You did? And-and what do yol
think of it?" And hes pleading TO
another mamie win that voice, will
those eyes.
81 thought it was very beautiful
| very beautiful-but brief ~
ooh" his look fell. "Will you
have YOU by any chance got it with you
Miss Percjval. You see am not quit
sure wbst was in it. Will you let m
see it, please, one moment|
Strenge her face too changed now q
this, But she drew out the paper
folded. and withouta word handed 1t t
him.
Rick tore it open. What is this
What are the few hurried scribble
words scrawled here-scribbled in hi
writing over and over:
Il love you Hove you sweet Anne Perciv val
He glanced up into her face. Thei
eyes met and that one look was enough
Rick stretched out his arms.
"Oh, it is true! 1 love you'll Com
to me be my wife Come to me, Anne
dear Annep
1t was only step-one step-but
crossed a whole wide world and entere
those two into heaven
"Wellp An hour later Stephen me
and faced him. "Well, you have see
her ?"
No avoiding the end now; no DRAWN
back and away. Speak the truth, spea
boldly, it were better.
Rick grew deadly pale thinking ho'
he must wound this tender soul. II
felt sense of unmerited punishmer
and pain.
eyes, Isaw her It's no use, Stephel
for youv
The happy secret of his own succei
spoke in the very tones of his voice;
was in the light of his face, in the spa