The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-11-15

udIuy nOnOr ana MS own,
He sat down, and dashed off in
heavy black letters:
MOTHER You are using the power
given you by my fathers villas you
have always -tyrannically. But ]
khaye no alternative accept your
Hconditions on these terms First, that
the young lady be told that L am
marrying as my only means of obtain
ing sum of money which is matter
Of life and death to- me. Secondly, that
4 the marriage take place tomorrow
afternoon. / will run down to Arden
on the 3 o'clock train. You can
have a clergyman waiting in the grand
drawing-room, who can unite the
happy pair at once. Your son,
"MAx ARDEN"
There never was a gloomier wedding.
A heavy fall Of snow had impeded the
train, so that the early winter twilight
was already falling when Max Arden
stood in the great, dim room by the
side of his yelled bride.
The clergyman hurriedly repeated
the solemn service. The responses
were duly made, and it was done.
Embrace your wife, my son." said
Mrs. Arden, with a vain attempt at
cheerfulness.
"WiR y cried the young man, draw
ing himself up to his full height, with
flash in his eyes. " have no wife.
This young lady understands the terms
OF our bargain. have made her Mrs.
Max Arden--to that you could compel
me, mother-but no woman shall be
wife in more than name to me whom
! have not loved and chosen-ay, and
wooed on my bended knees. Is my
horse saddled, Stevens? 1 return to
town tonight. In the future, as in
the past, our paths lie separate.
4 x 4
Scene-the heart of the Black noun
tains. Time-September when they
are at their loveliest. Dramatis per-
son@-for one, a tall young man, with
wide-awake pushed back from his
good-looking, sunburnt face, gun
over his shoulder, but little thought of
shooting in his mind. He was peering
through the boughs at what? Only a
girl whom he had once seen in town,
and of late watched many times from
his leafy covert, feeling, as Olivia says
her "perfections with an invisible and
subtle stealth to creep in at his eyes,"
She sat on the other side of the
mountain brook, busily sketching; and
as he watched, her sketch-book fell
into the little stream.
In a second he had sprung after it,
fished it out, and was presenting it
with low bow, saying: "May l not
claim acquaintance by virtue of this
happy chance and our last meeting p"
sour last meetingw The young
lady shrank from him in undisguised
terror
"Good heaven, Miss Harding! how
have alarmed you? Do look like a
tramp in my shootiag-clothes? In
deed l am respectable. Ny name is
Arden-MaX Arden. had the honor
of an introduction at Mrs. Montfort's
reception, last winter"
A sigh of relief, then hesitatingly:
ooh, yes, l. remember you quite
well, Mr.. Arden; but I-I-you must
excuse mel have heard of you since
then, and IL"
You have heard of me; nothing to
my credit, L fear" he said, slowly,
after waiting in vain for her TO finish,
g and you wish to decline knowing me.
Is it not so? Well, l must submit to
your decision, bitterly as l regret it.
Then he lifted his hat and left her.
Now which of his wild doings had
come to those dainty ears and brought
this blow upon him? for blow it was.
He was surprised to find how severe a
one. For, after all, what did he know
of her? And yet with unreasoning
intensity, he longed TO look into her
face once more, perhaps inquire the
reason of the soft, regretful gaze that
had followed him as he turned away.
Patter patter Big drops broke in
upon his meditations. A true pelting,
binding, mountain storm was coming
up. Arden fastened TO take refuge in
small cave he knew of. Was it kind
chance or irony Of fate? The cave
was occupied A sketch-book, an
umbrella, slim serge-clad figure pre-
sented themselves to his view. He
began to retrace his steps.
Don't go away" said the fair oc-
cupant, hastily.
81 would not force my company
upon you," he returned, stifly.
Pray, pray, don't let me drive you
out into this pouring rain," she en-
treateds "you are Furnishing me
severely for my late rudeness. 1 was
so surprised and frightened then-I-I
scarcely knew what l said"
She put out her hand to detain hin.
Like a flash Arden's mind weno
back to the last time soft fingers had
lain in his-On that strange bridal
day.
eff yoRgrant me shelter, it is equiya-
lent to accepting my friendship" he
said allnAuinn. hiuasalE 10 Ln dr.n ...r, i1atn