The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-02-08
ETHEL's CHOICE.

Ethelyn Abbott has been spending
the long summer afternoon in pleasant
desultory fashion, half the time reading
the tastefully bound little volume which
is now slipping from her delicate hand,
have the time dreaming of--well, she
could not tell exactly what she has beon
dreaming OF. Perhaps she has been
dreaming over her delightful three
weeks at Newport; perhaps last nights
party has engrossed her thoughts. At
all events thinking has been pleasant
occune'ion Cor her face is very bright
and unclouded.
VIA, d charming picture of 'delce far
niente" she makes, lying back luxuriant-
ly in a hammock, her beautiful head
pillowed on soft, white arms, and her
hair, of that rich shade of chestnut
brown, shining in the sunlight which
slips in through the thick foliage of the
arbor. Very charming, indeed, is she
to pair of dark eyes, which. like sun
beams, are peeping at her through the
same medium.
"Ethel r.
Miss Abbott gives little startled cry
as the owner of the eyes-a tall, we'll
built fellow of twenty -four or five
comes quickly into the arbor.
"Jack how you frightened mel"
"Did I2' says the intruder, peni-
tently II am so sorry. The fact is,
Mrs. Abbott told me you were here, and
1 really was so anxious to see you"
"Very kind of you," murmurs Miss
Abbott, politely. But something in
her tone seems to have chilling effect;
for Jack reddens slightly, and there is
little pause.
"You wished to see me?" says the
young lady at length, turning with
polite interrogation to the other.
"You might naturally suppose 50,
as came here to find you," is the an
swer, delivered with repressed energy
which commands attention. Then,
with an abrupt change of manner
"Ethel, what is the matter? Why are
you so cold ?"
81 am very warm," sighs Miss Alb
bott, trying to be funny, by way oi
evading the question. Her effort il
rendered a lamentable failure, how
ever, by an emphatic "Pshaw !" which
escapes with more vigor than courtesy
The young man rises and comes tc
the side Of the hammock, looking down
upon its burden with eyes which are
very expressive.
''Don't trihe with me, Ethel" hC
says in low voice, which is just the
least unsteady, as il the speaker werI
suppressing good deal of emotion
"You know perfectly well why I came
here to-day"
Miss Abbott looks up with an air o
great surprise-only for a moment
however, for with all her faults she i
not one whit untruthful. Then he
eyes drop hastily.
WELL" she says, with a quick catch
ing of her breath, "what if do p
There is another pause, while tn
dark eyes grow darker with mingle
sadness and, it must be confessed, in
dignation, while the tremor of voice
more marked, as Jack speaks
What of it? Only this: The Arcti
expedition expects to leave port tC
morrow, and go with it or not, as 20
bid me. You know we'll enough that
love you, Ethel--surely need not te
you that again"
at is of no USE" says Miss Ethe
after a moments silence, with a littl
plaintive laugh. "No, Jack, we al
both too poor; and, though don't lik
to confess it, am too mercenary."
There is no reply, though Miss AL
Abott pauses for one; the dar
eyes rest upon her with an il
tensity whish is not pleasant, and th
young mans grasp on the hammoc
tichtens involuntarily. She goes o
hastily:
ST know it does not sound we'll, br
L
diamonds and horses and Worth COS
tumes-in short, everything money ca
buy"
Certainly, Miss Abbott's confessio
is not very pretty, though the hus
which follows it is.
So you prefer marrying an ineon