The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-08-09
hoh, no. MOI

more words he raised her IN MS arms
and began descending the slope again.
Maud crimsoned and q faint flush rose
in Travers' cheeks also. The wind blew
a stay wisp of her hair against his face,
and with it the faint perfume Of violets
she had on her handkerchief. When
he reached the foot Of the slope and
lifted her on her horse his heart was
beating rather fast, and Maud was
trembling little.
docs your ankle still pain 80 muchP"
he said, softly. She shook her head.
They rode slowly home through the
green fields, almost in silence. Travers,
while constantly watchful of his COM
panion, seemed to be distract. 81 sup
pose he is thinking of that girl he was
in love with" said Maud to herself,
and for a young lady to whom the mas
culine sex had grown Indifferent she
certainly allowed the supposition to
give her a considerable pang.
Miss Barrow, for the next week, lay
on couch which was wheeled from the
house to the grounds as she felt inclined
to sit indoors or out. Miss Hamersley
and Travers took turns in reading to
her, bat the latter's Office in this respect
was rather sinecure. he always found
after few moments that it was much
more pleasant TO have Maud talk to
him, and to be able to look at her.
This tendency, indeed, in q few days
grew into such distracting wish to be
always near her that Travers might
question himself and his feelings. But
he did not choose to.
One warm afternoon he came into the
library, where she lay on a lounge near
the open window, with q cluster OF red
moss-roses in his hand.
"They are the first of the season." ne
said. Maud raised her hand for them,
and he stood looking down at her. She
wore thin white dress, and looked
prettier than he had over seen her.
Her cheeks were a little flushed, and
her hair tossed about trifle as if she
had Just been asleep. She seemed too
listless and comfortable to move, but
thanked him with bright glance, and
pressed the roses against her face. Pres
emily his persistent gaze appeared to
embarrass her, for she said, not little
uneasily:
"How hot it isl Why don't you sit
DOWN.
Travers sat down mechanically, still
without speaking. Miss Barrow glanced
at him, and her eyes began to sparkle
mischievously.
perhaps I should not have asked
you to sit down, though" she said
demurely. "You might have been con-
templating a speedy exit for the pur-
pose of smoking cigar"
l assure you, l was thinking of
nothing of the sort, Miss Barrow"
"Not thinking of smoking 1 fancied
there was no hour of the day assman did
not think of that"
"He may make an exception when he
is in the society of ladies'"
Indeed he does not, or have yet to
learn it. Oh, women are not of as much
importance as that to men |" Her tone
had changed, and she spoke the last
words bitterly.
THAT is what that brute of a mar
she was engaged to has taught her,
thought Travers. "I should like to-
BE started up, and completed his piout
wish with regard to the said man at the
window.
But Maud was in strange mood thi,
afternoon. When she spoke her tone
was quite different again.
"Are you angry ?" she asked, softly.
"Angry-no." he replied, coming
back and standing before her. "HoV
tantalizing you are to-day" he brok,
out after a pause.
She took no heed.
"To show you did not intend to b,
rude, / will give you rose" she sale
-"shall 1 ?"
'Yes," he whispered,
Stoop down." she murmured. H,
knelt beside the lounge, and she passeC
the stem of the rose through his button
hole. Her little white fingers were yer,
near his face, and he saw that the!
began to tremble. Suddenly he caugh
them both in one of his. and before sh,
could stir, without knowing himsel
what he was doing, he threw his arm
around her and kissed her.
The next instant he was on his feet
Maud, crimson and palpitating, stood
before him, supporting herself agains
the lounge.
"You have insulted me-"
"Miss Barrow-Maud Forgive me
Pardon me did not know what wal
doing, / love you so ~
at is an insult" she cried again
'Leave me-leave me" And throwing
herself back On the lounge she burs
into passion of tears. Travers, ours
ing his folly, left the room.
That evening he told his aunt ht
should have to go to New York for
few days. Maud heard the announce.
ment calmly and took leave of him yer!
coolly. During the days that followed
she never spoke of him to Miss Hamers-
ley, except once when, in an elaboiately
careless way, she inquired whether thu
girl to whom Mr.. Travers had beer
engaged was very pretty. On the othe,
hand she did not seem at all averse Il
hearing her old friends eulogies of he
, faVorite nephew. This Miss Hamerslel