The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-11-22

explained John Blagden TO q mutual
acquaintance encountered in the cof.
fee-room. Pouring over an old Her
aid, twelve days out-wlfat an occu-
patton for a man to take up in
/ Londonl
Poor Dwight, / never saw fellow
so changed in my life. He's all cut up
about something, and 1 wish l knew
what, for really, l have no notion
what 1 ought to do about him.
Nothing can say makes any differ
ence."
And nothing did make any differ
ence till, week after this conversa-
ton, Mr.. Blagden returned from an
excursion TO Hampton Court, to find
his friend busily engaged in cramming
| his belongings into a portmanteau,
with light in his eyes and color in
! his cheeks which made him seem |
different man.
"Halloa! I'm glad you've come, old
fellow. I'm off at once"
"Offl Where to?"
"Home! Liverpool train at 9 o'clock
and catch the Bohemia"
Home? The Statesl Why, what
does it mean? You were going to
Paris with me on Tuesday, you said"
"Well-so did intend, but I've had
letters and must get back as soon as
possible"
Nothing wrong, hope"
"Not at all; quite the contrary.
Everything is right"
Marveling greatly, John Blagden
turned to the table, where, amid torn
wrappers and other debris of just.
arrived mail, lay sheet of closely
written paper with little heap on it
of something odd and blotted. whats
that ?" he asked, with a natural curl
osity, stopping to examine it.
Dwight Edgar snatched it up. "It's
its nothing" he explained" only
a letter I've had" Then breaking
into a laugh at his friends discom-
flied countenance, the first real laugh
which John had heard him give since
they left America, he added:
Never mind, old boy, I'll explain
some day. It's all right, at least l
hope it is, and 1 know I've been oil,
unsocial dog all this time. You've
been awfully good to put up with me,
and I'll try to make amends next time
we meet"
Meanwhile the days were passing
heavily enough in far-away America,
where Rosamond bore her secret pain.
She had kept the knowledge of her
plighted faith choice secret, not to be
revealed until Dwight should come.
When he failed to come, pride kept
her silent still
The news of his departure struck in
her heart like a blow. What did it
mean? 81 will not be base, or little,
or suspicious" she told herself "there
is some biunder. He will come back,
he will explain"
But weeks of suspense and uncer-
tainty passed. She could school her
words and her manner, but not her
face, and that fair face began to look
piteous and wan.
Ashley, watching her with COM
punctious anxiety, felt an ever-deepen-
ing heartache. Three weeks had passed
since his letter of explanation was
posted. Any hour might bring re-
sponse, and he haunted the postoffice
with a pertinacity inexplicable to his
father.
81 can't stand it much longer" he
told himself. eff that fellow isn't
heard from by tomorrow night shall
make clean breast of it to Rosa, and
confess the whole thing"
And the next evening, that fel-
low" still not being heard from, he did
it. Rosamond, spirit-fair and fragile
in her white dress, was sitting on the
door step in the moonlight, and sitting
at her feet he plunged into medias res.
Rosa, do you recollect letter you
|, gave me to post more than a month
ago?"
I" Yes" with little gasp.
"Well, forgot it,"
, "Oh, Ashley y
Yes; it was in my pocket, you
know. l was going straight to the
Office, but something interrupted me
lawn tennis at the POrters, l believe
and then l sent my coat to the wash
with the letter still in it. 1 never
found it out till the confounded thing
came back some days after. AS put it
on / happened to feel in the pocket,
and there it was-what was left of
! it,"
! Rosamond sat perfectly still. Not a
: sound came from her lips. Ashley
> waited an instant, as if in hope of an
I answer, and then went on:
r "Rosa, darling, you mustn't mind,
= but couldn't help seeing who the let
Q ter was for, and that-that-it was
4 something of consequence, 1t was all
: blotted and blurred, but a word or two
could be made out here and there.
3 was awfully cut up about it. Icouldn't
1 bear to tell you, and l didn't know
! what to do. At last l wrote a full
> eXnlanatinn To DMioht and | nut the