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

I
him. For Gods sake, why didn't Won
pity some one suitable?"
She trembled with excitement and
passion.
Lewis, if you have the least particle
OF love or respect for me, you win
never speak so again. 1 do love Nor
man, and it will kill me if ANYTHING
should break the engagement r'
Lewis quit her presence crestfallen.
The days slipped by. There had
been no date fixed for the wedding.
nor was the subject discussed by the
family.
None but Mamie knew the terrible
tremor in which the girl existed. She
was moving about, her hands CON
stantly occupied. Day after day. rain
or shine, the two women were out of
doors. They had always an errand.
usually one Of mercy. Mamie. how
ever disinclined, would have felt it a
sin to oppose, and SO 4 gatha DRAGGED
her off through the fitting sunshine.
the moodiness, the chill, or the storm
OF The sprlngtime, until one last morn
ing.
1t had been raining for three days,
and 50 steadily that the sidewalk flags
were cleaned and whitened.
Agatha said they would not be ham,
pered with a carriage, and they took a
car for mile or so, alighting to walk
few squares TO another line. The
storm had abated, and the rain was
but listless drizzle.
\ tbn glipral opI I
Mamie gave frightened exclamation.
My overshoes are useless said the
girl, carelessly. 81 must have another
pair. have good deal of shopping
to do soOn."
Your outfit" ventured Mamie,
and stopped.
Agatha sighed, but the sigh was
lost in the noise Of the street,
A poor little yellow dog limped out
from under passing vehicle. holding
up one paw and yelping pitifully.
"Oh, see" cried Agatha, with her
eyes wet. "Poor, poor doggiel 1 am
so sorry ~
The yelps died away in the distance,
and the ladies went on.
a blind man crying Cough lozen-
ges? upon the corner detained them
for moment.
In the next block an old building
had been torn away to give place to a
new one. Careless wOrkmen had left
the sidewalk unguarded in one place, a
step from which would have landed
one in a deep cellar, where lay a num-
Der of loose foundation stones.
just as they had reached this spot
they were brought to a sudden halt by
loud cries and confusion. Down the
street, and directly toward them, came
arunaway team dragging a splendid
carriage.
Agatha took an irresolute step for
ward, and then sprang back as the
horse dashed up against the sidewalk.
The women were thus separated,
and in a second Mamie was reaching
forward, cold with horror.
Agatha - she cried, but too late.
The girl had lost her balance, and had
fallen backward from the unguarded
sidewalk down into the deep cellar.
and there lay upon the stones limp and
unconscious.
She would live, sadly crippled and
helpless; the spine had been injured
and one hip dislocated. so said the
best of surgeons. She would hence
forth require all care and tenderness.
"Thank God She is not poor !'' cried
Mamie. AS for the boys, George was
completely crushed, and Lewis paced
the floor for hours, crying for his
Poor, poor sister -
Agatha insisted upon hearing the
worst, and, when it was made known
was silent. By-and-bye Mamie could
see great tears trembling under the
long, dark eyelashes.
Il would not mind" faltered the
sufferer, "but for him. Who will
love and care for him nOw?"
Then she asked that he be sent fol
at once. When he arrived Mamie
and the boys were in the room, but
they withdrew TO the window. Peters
face was as pale as Agatha's own.
Norman, DEAR" she said, without
preface, 81 am a cripple for life. /
may never walk again. sent for you
to give you back your freedom"
A frightened expression oyerspread !
his countenance; his lip quivered, |
and he sank on his knees by the bed |
his face.
"Agatha, darlingp he cried, with
real pathos, don't, don't cast me off !
You are a thousand times dearer to |
me now. All ask is the right to
care for you"-his voice broke, and he
fell to weeping
BY the window three persons heard
it all. They looked in silence at each
other, then Lewis strobe swiftly across
the room.
"Peters," he said, "we haven't done
right by you. l, myself, have acted
despicably. But if you win forgive
and forget, it win be very different in
The future"