The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-11-15
Max Arden thought so as he an
oxvaroJ 1uro~as1.-

AFRAID OF Delng drowned With the rest
Of the sinners"
" Miss Harding"
"Who told you my name was Miss
Harding?"
"My guide, Luke Smith. He claims
to know everything"
He certainly seems to know a great
deal"
/" lam camping out near here, and
seeing you so constantly naturally in
quired about you. tt is lonely spot to
| see a lady"
"Iam staying at the Mountain house,
six miles from here" she explained.
al drive over every morning to sketch
this lovely glen, and the carriage comes
for me again at o'clock. 1 should
be going to meet it now but for the
rain"
Blessed rain p murmured Max.
The young lady frowned and ap-
peared to regret the momentary init
macy into which she had been drawn.
There was few minutes silence while
she turned over the contents of her
portfolio. Once more nature favored
Max. The wind blew a loose sketch
to his feet, which he looked at in
| amazement.
Why, it's me !" he cried, exultant
and ungrammatical, "and a capital
likeness, too"
You-you are quite mistaken in
in any conclusions you may draw"
stammered Miss Harding, blushing,
and clothed with shame as with gar
ment. you need not imagine l
sketched you because-that is-you are
not to think-anything."
81 don't. My mind is entirely
vacant except for strong desire to
possess my portrait. You probably do
not prize it very highly"
do not prize it at ALL"
"And 1 would give-even unto the
half of my kingdom for it,
Would you give that ring which
looks like an heirloom?"
Instantly it lay in her hand.
"Oh, no! l was only testing. l
cannot take it,"
You must. You named your
price and l agreed, so the bargain is
concluded. 1t is an heirloom, as you
supposed; and rejoice to see it in
your possession. 1 always meant
losing his head a little as ne gazed at
her flower-like face-"to give it to the
girl loved; but now"
"Well, now?" she echoed, softly,
with aYerted face.
"Now, L may never tell my love,
because with an effort-"I am
married man."
Mr.. Ardenw-angrily - "because
of that foolish sketch you think that
I You say this as a warming"
A warning to myself, perhaps"
CAS- if you needed anyr'
You are right. am past that"
He buried his face in his hands.
There was long silence. Then the
girl said, in an altered voice:
"The rain has stopped 1 think l
will CO."
Max Arden stood on the dark We
randa of the Mountain house listening
to strains of music from the ballroom,
and watching the dancers dancing in
time for queen among them moved the
girl he loved. How more than fair
she looked in her white evening dress.
Presently she seemed laughingly to
dismiss her little court, and came out
alone upon the veranda. Max stepped
forward. He had to apologize for
startling her, but he was afraid she
was sick, he said, as he had not seen
her for so long.
"Only week" she answered, cheer.
fully. at is my mother who was i'll
but she has recovered now, thank you.
So we are going tomorrow"
Going whereof with an eagerness
he could not repress.
"Why should l tell you, Mr.. Arden?"
with cold surprise.
"That l may follow you. By what
right? Because l love you"
$50 soon "-incredulously.
Gay; even so quickly one may
catch the plague" he quoted, with
bitter laugh, And the pursuit of
happiness is one of the unalienable
rights of man, you know"
But when man fancies his happi.
3. IS to be woman and she does not like
pursuit, has she no unalienable
rights ?" merrily.
"Donot jest with me-"
She was silent for a moment. Then,
in soft, vibrating tones:
"NO, 1 cannot Jest. 1 have some
thing serious to say to you, Mr.. Arden.
l, too, am married, and, alas to hus-
band who casts me off. Hush, and
listen. was persuaded into hasty
marriage, partly by love of his mother,
partly, perhaps, by-interest in him,
which she had educated me to feel.
Besides, ISnet him accidentally in so
cietys and fancied l could-lile him.
Max, lake your arm away. Believe
me, was not told by what means he
was forced into marriage What
kifeeling to me, Max? Suppose some